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Apache2 newbie: error.log full of "proxy.pac" erro

Posted: Fri Oct 06, 2006 7:12 am
by LiquidEyes
I've installed Apache2 on Windows XP so that I can
1. host a jobs database (Bugzilla) on my LAN
2. learn some PHP/MySQL (for now, client and server are the same PC)

Everything's working fine, except I've noticed my Apache2/error.log file is chock full of errors:

Code: Select all

...
[Fri Oct 06 10:27:17 2006] [notice] Child 4556: Acquired the start mutex.
[Fri Oct 06 10:27:18 2006] [notice] Child 4556: Starting 250 worker threads.
[Fri Oct 06 10:27:42 2006] [error] [client 127.0.0.1] File does not exist: C:/Program Files/bugzilla-2.20.1/proxy.pac
[Fri Oct 06 10:28:42 2006] [error] [client 127.0.0.1] File does not exist: C:/Program Files/bugzilla-2.20.1/proxy.pac
[Fri Oct 06 10:29:42 2006] [error] [client 127.0.0.1] File does not exist: C:/Program Files/bugzilla-2.20.1/proxy.pac
[Fri Oct 06 10:30:42 2006] [error] [client 127.0.0.1] File does not exist: C:/Program Files/bugzilla-2.20.1/proxy.pac
[Fri Oct 06 10:31:42 2006] [error] [client 127.0.0.1] File does not exist: C:/Program Files/bugzilla-2.20.1/proxy.pac
...
I have 'googled' it and I've gleaned that proxy.pac is a way of setting up a proxy server; I don't really know what this means or why I would want to do it though. I'm new to this and I can't find any mention of proxy.pac in my 'Pro Apache' reference book.

The errors are appearing constantly, for the whole time Apache is running ... irrespective of whether I am browsing the database or my PHP. After Apache starts up, typically I get a series of errors within the space of a few seconds. But then it settles down to (exactly) one error per minute. My access.log is empty (I'm guessing access logging is disabled?)

Any ideas what's happening?

Posted: Fri Oct 06, 2006 7:42 am
by timvw
Your webbrowser (probably internet explorer) is configured to automagically detect a proxy server.. Or use a proxy-configuration script located at localhost... solution: go to your internet options, network settings, and configure it properly.

Posted: Fri Oct 06, 2006 7:54 am
by LiquidEyes
When I said I'm a newbie, I really meant it! :D

I have done some googling, but all the tutorials I find on proxy servers seem to assume I already know what one is / why I would want one. All I want to do is learn some PHP, and access this jobs database across my LAN. I just installed Apache by following some instructions -- I definitely don't remember anything about configuring 'proxy servers'.

Please can you explain this in layman's terms, or point me in the direction of an idiot-friendly article? :)
Is it every webserver's responsibility to respond to proxy server requests?
(I'm guessing the answer is 'yes' because otherwise everybody's error logs would fill up, like mine has!)

Posted: Fri Oct 06, 2006 8:53 am
by timvw
The answer is no. And the problem is not related to apache but to your webbrowser (client).

http://support.novell.com/techcenter/ar ... 040205.gif
http://support.novell.com/techcenter/ar ... 040206.gif

Posted: Fri Oct 06, 2006 11:22 am
by LiquidEyes
Aha -- you're right, Internet Explorer was indeed configured to obtain settings from localhost/proxy.pac. :?
But every time I check 'automatically detect settings' and uncheck the 'script' option, it changes back the next time I return to the dialogue! :( Google time methinks...

But moreover, I find it hard to believe that everybody lets their Apache logs fill up with errors like mine has just because of a client-side setting...?

It's all very well blaming the client, but is there a 'proper' workaround for this, other than insisting on well-behaved clients?
After all, what happens if a different client comes along and accesses my website in the same way?
Or, will it only be a problem when the server and the client are running on the same PC?

Finally, do you have any idea how that proxy setting might have appeared in the first place? (I certainly didn't put it there!)
I infer from your tone that it's not the 'normal' setting?

Thanks for your help with this! 8)

Posted: Fri Oct 06, 2006 4:48 pm
by timvw
LiquidEyes wrote: But moreover, I find it hard to believe that everybody lets their Apache logs fill up with errors like mine has just because of a client-side setting...?
Basically, it's up to you what you want to log and what not. (Wait untill you see the error message that /favicon.ico was not found, etc, etc, ... )
LiquidEyes wrote: Finally, do you have any idea how that proxy setting might have appeared in the first place? (I certainly didn't put it there!)
I infer from your tone that it's not the 'normal' setting?
This is a setting i would expect in a typical enterprise environment, not in a home-user environment. My best guess is that you've got some virus/spyware/malware that messes up your settings.

Posted: Fri Oct 06, 2006 5:12 pm
by LiquidEyes
I get you. I'm pretty confident my PC is malware-free but I do have a lot of stuff installed -- MS Office Professional / Developer Studio .NET and various add-ons / Outlook / Apache / Perl / PHP / MySQL etc. Who knows, maybe something like my Google sidebar or web accelerator might have messed with my settings?

Anyhow, thanks for the advice Tim. :)