What is Squid.
Squid is a caching proxy for the Web supporting HTTP, HTTPS, FTP, and more. It can significantly reduces bandwidth and improves response times by caching ( like temporary internet files ) and reusing frequently-requested web pages content ( images/pages/etc ). Squid has extensive access controls/settings and makes a great server accelerator. It runs on Unix and Windows and is licensed under the GNU GPL.
Why use squid?
1. Squid allows us to save our precious internet bandwidth through content caching. Cached content means data is served locally and users will see this through faster download speeds with frequently-used content.
Can you imagine if your are in a large network ( like cybercafe, or school ) and every body are always going to surfing to a similar websites such as Yahoo! and Google mail, Friendster, Myspace… without a caching proxy, every body are requesting the same contents from the outside internet server ( Yahoo,Google,Friendster servers ), and isn't that such a waste of bandwidth.
The frequent/recently visited contents will be cache by Squid, and some of those which are same, are serve from Squid in local net, and thus saving a lot of bandwidth instead, and it will be much faster right! :)
2. Well, if you have no idea in sharing a internet connection through the network, try this. :)
3. I use it in my personal computer , and I really satisfy with the performance and I really feel the difference in speed and page load! :)
4. Bandwidth shaping? Blocks some IPs in local network? Hundreds of settings are available via squid.conf configuration file. I myself didn't use all the setting.. :P
5. I just love Squid. Already use it since year 2000 till now.. :)
Learn More
For more information, just visit their official website here.
Want to learn how to run squid in Microsoft Windows NT/2000/XP/2003? Go to here
Donation
And if you like it, or you want to support open sources projects, please donate to Squid here. Your donation will be really appreciated to keep the project alive. :)
