Installing the Cloud Link client for proxy mode with CensorNet Professional
August 01, 2011 • Customer Services
Synopsis
Formerly known as Remote Worker, the Cloud Link client can be used with CensorNet Professional to extend the filtering beyond the corporate network and on to mobile devices such as laptops and netbooks. This article discusses how to download and install Cloud Link for use with CensorNet Professional.
Article
Downloading the software
The Cloud Link client can be downloaded as a .MSI package from here:
For scripting and development purposes, you can also use the command line configuration tool and the configuration viewer tool.
Configuring CensorNet Professional for use with Cloud Link
Go to the System -> Configuration -> RemoteWorker Service option.
Tick the Enable RemoteWorker service check box and then enter in a password which will secure communications between CensorNet Professional and the Cloud Link client. Remember this password, you will need it to install Cloud Link.
Click Set Options.
Note about firewalls: If you intend to install Cloud Link on computers that are outside of the network where CensorNet Professional is installed, you will need to set up an appropriate firewall rule to allow communications from the Internet to the CensorNet server on port 8080. You can select your own public port to use, e.g. 8888 and redirect that to port 8080 internally, if you prefer.
Configuring the Cloud Link software
Note for Windows 7 / Vista: You should run the setup program with administrator privileges or have an administrator account to hand during installation.
Double click the setup program that you downloaded above, or right click and choose "Run as Administrator" if using Vista or Windows 7.
The Setup Wizard will start up. Press Next to continue.
You will be asked to choose a path where the Cloud Link files should be installed. Unless you have a specific reason, accepting the default is fine. Press Next.
The next screen will ask you what mode you wish to use. If you are using Cloud Link with CensorNet Professional you should choose Proxy Mode and press Next.
You will now be asked to enter the settings for Proxy Mode. They are:
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Proxy host: This is the hostname or IP address that the Cloud Link client will connect to. It should be the IP address of your CensorNet server. If the Cloud Link client will be using the CensorNet proxy remotely, this should be your public facing IP address (usually static).
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Proxy port: This is the port that Cloud Link will use to connect to your CensorNet server on. The default is 8080, but you may need to change this if you are using a firewall rule to redirect a different port to CensorNet on the internal network.
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Secret key: This is the password that you set in the "Configuring CensorNet Professional for use with Cloud Link" step above. Enter it here exactly as you set it above.
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Intercept ports: These are the ports that Cloud Link will intercept traffic on before forwarding it to the CensorNet server. The only ports supported are 80 (HTTP) and 443 (HTTPS). You can intercept both, or just one, by specifying a comma separated list here.
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Bypass hosts: This is a comma separated list of IP's, hostnames or subnets that you wish Cloud Link to ignore, i.e. it will not try and forward these hosts to the CensorNet server. It is always a good idea to bypass the CensorNet server IP address, and possibly any internal servers, anti-virus update hosts, and so on. You can change this later.
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Password: This is a password that prevents the user from configuring or removing Cloud Link from their PC. You should choose a secure password and also keep it safe.
Cloud Link is now ready to be installed. Click Back if you need to alter any settings, otherwise click Next to start the installation.
Just before completion, or immediately after, you will most likely be prompted by Windows to allow "ProxyTray" to access the Internet through the firewall. Please accept this exception, by clicking "Allow Access".
Cloud Link is now installed and running.
You should now see the Cloud Link icon appear in the system tray:
To test Cloud Link is working, you should open a web browser and try and browse to a site that is normally blocked by your Default Policy. For example, http://www.xxx.com is usually blocked. If all is working, you should receive the standard CensorNet Professional blocked page:
If there are problems, you should review the settings and any firewall rules that you have configured. You can alter the Cloud Link configuration by right-clicking on the Cloud Link tray icon and choosing Configuration. You will need to enter the password you set during installation above, in order to change the settings.
If you receive the blocked page then Cloud Link is correctly set up. You can now review the Who's Browsing report within CensorNet Professional to see your Cloud Link user:
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