How to install and configure squid on RedHat 8.5

To Install And Configure Squid on REDHAT 8.5

Introduction

A proxy server is a system or router that acts as a gateway between users and the Internet. As a result, it prevents cyber attackers from entering a private network. Essentially, it is a server that acts as an intermediary between end-users and the web pages they visit online. Squid is a full-featured web proxy cache server application that connects to Hyper Text Transport Protocol (HTTP), File Transfer Protocol (FTP), and other popular protocols to provide proxy and cache services.

Installation procedure:

Step 1 : Check the Installed version of OS by using the below command

[root@linuxhelp /]# cat /etc/os-release 
NAME="Red Hat Enterprise Linux"
VERSION="8.5 (Ootpa)"
REDHAT_SUPPORT_PRODUCT="Red Hat Enterprise Linux"
REDHAT_SUPPORT_PRODUCT_VERSION="8.5"

Step 2 : Install the squid by using the below command

[root@linuxhelp /]# yum install squid*
Updating Subscription Management repositories.
Unable to read consumer identity
Installing:
 squid                  x86_64        7:4.15-1.module+el8.5.0+11469+24c223d9        1        3.6 M

perl-Digest-SHA        x86_64        1:6.02-1.el8                                  1         66 k
Transaction Summary
==============================================
Install  3 Packages
Is this ok [y/N]: y
Complete!		

Step 3 : Allow HTTP access by using the below command

[root@linuxhelp /]# vim /etc/squid/squid.conf
:set nu  in this case line number 63
	# And finally deny all other access to this proxy
     	http_access allow all

Step 4 : Create the block list of the sites by using the below command

[root@linuxhelp /]# vi /blocklist.txt
www.facebook.com
www.amazon.com

Step 5 : Open the configuration file and create some rules by using the below command

[root@linuxhelp /]# vi /etc/squid/squid.conf
:set nu  in this case line number 51 to 54
iprange src 192.168.6.0/24

acl site dstdomain "/blocklist.txt"
http_access deny iprange site
http_access allow iprange

Step 6 : Enable the squid services by using the below command

[root@linuxhelp /]# systemctl enable squid
Created symlink /etc/systemd/system/multi-user.target.wants/squid.service → /usr/lib/systemd/system/squid.service.

Step 7 : Start the squid services by using the below command

[root@linuxhelp /]# systemctl start squid

Step 8 : Check the status of squid server by using the below command

[root@linuxhelp /]# systemctl status squid
● squid.service - Squid caching proxy
 Loaded: loaded (/usr/lib/systemd/system/squid.service; enabled; vendor preset: disabled)
 Active: active (running) since Fri 2022-04-15 11:45:21 IST; 11s ago

Step 9 : Check the IP address by using the below command

[root@linuxhelp /]# ip addr

2: ens160: <BROADCAST,MULTICAST,UP,LOWER_UP> mtu 1500        inet 192.168.6.121/23 brd 192.168.7.255 scope global noprefixroute ens160	

Step 10 : Go to your favorite browser, set proxy and check the links as shown in the below images set proxy check youtube.com check facebook.com check amazon.com

By this to install and configure squid on REDHAT 8.5 has been completed

FAQ
Q
What is the command to start service squid?
A
The command to start service squid is systemctl start squid
Q
Where does cache gets stored by squid?
A
Squid stores its cache in /var/spool/squid
Q
In which file format does Squid store data?
A
Squid stores data in ufs format, the old well-known Squid storage format.
Q
What is the configuration location for squid?
A
The configuration location for squid is /etc/squid/squid.conf
Q
What is the default port of squid?
A
The default port of squid is 3218