The Oracle iPlanet Web Proxy Server, is a popular HTTP/1.1 Proxy server software developed by Sun Microsystems. OiWPS 4.0 is widely used for proxying, caching, and filtering web content, boosting network security and performance, as well as to protect and secure, and load balance across, content servers.
History
Earlier known as Sun ONE Web Proxy server, the Sun Java System Web Proxy Server 4.0 is a major rewrite of the older 3.x version of Sun's Proxy server, formerly known as Netscape Proxy Server. The Netscape Proxy Server version 3.x was essentially a coupling between the Netscape browser client, responsible for talking to remote servers, and the Netscape web server 4.x, which in turn handled the duty of talking to a client. Support for multithreading was absent, and the Proxy server operated in multi-process mode where each request was handled by a dedicated process. Sun Java System Web Proxy server 4.0 resulted from a major rewrite of Netscape Proxy Server in 2003–2004, when Sun decided to reinvest in Proxy technology. Switching to Sun web server 6.1's core architecture brought in support for multi-threading while still allowing users to configure the server for multiple processes when so desired. A brand new http client, admin and installer GUI, and localization were the other major changes involved. 4.0 retained other significant features of 3.x such as the ftp client, gopher client, connect client, batch updates, and so on. After acquisition of Sun Microsystems by Oracle Corporation in 2010, Sun Java System Web Proxy Server 4.0 was rebranded as Oracle iPlanet Web Proxy Server 4.0.
Product updates as Oracle iPlanet Web Proxy Server
4.0.14 was the first release with Oracle-specific rebranding changes. As of October 2016: 4.0.20 is the latest stable version suitable for new installations. 4.0.27 is the latest patch available. Oracle iPlanet Web Proxy Server 4.0 now supports the following new features:
Support for Proxying of NTLM sessions
Enhanced platform support, including SUSE Linux
Include file capability in server's obj.conf
Routing-related admin GUI enhancements
Miscellaneous performance enhancements
Improved HTTP compliance
Cookie rewriting features in updated "URL Mapping" functionality
date/time parameter support in tags
Miscellaneous GUI enhancements for server monitoring, ACL subsystem, etc.
Updated NSS/NSPR
Multiple new configuration parameters for http client's channel handling
More information on new features, platforms support, and resolved issues can be found in the product release notes
ICAP Support
While Oracle iPlanet Proxy Server 4.0.17 does not provide official Internet Content Adaptation Protocol support yet, version 4.0.17 is capable of talking to ICAP servers. Official support may be added in a future release, subject to market demand and business justification.
