HTTP Redirect

See the HTTP Redirect section for related information on these screens.

HTTP Redirect Overview

HTTP redirect forwards the client's HTTP request (except HTTP traffic destined for the ZyWALL) to a web proxy server.

Web Proxy Server

A proxy server helps client devices make indirect requests to access the Internet or outside network resources/services. A proxy server can act as a firewall or an ALG (application layer gateway) between the private network and the Internet or other networks. It also keeps hackers from knowing internal IP addresses.

A client connects to a web proxy server each time he/she wants to access the Internet. The web proxy provides caching service to allow quick access and reduce network usage. The proxy checks its local cache for the requested web resource first. If it is not found, the proxy gets it from the specified server and forwards the response to the client.

HTTP Redirect, Firewall and Policy Route

With HTTP redirect, the relevant packet flow for HTTP traffic is:

Even if you set a policy route to the same incoming interface and service as a HTTP redirect rule, the ZyWALL checks the HTTP redirect rules first and forwards HTTP traffic to a proxy server if matched. You need to make sure there is no firewall rule(s) blocking the HTTP requests from the client to the proxy server.

You also need to manually configure a policy route to forward the HTTP traffic from the proxy server to the Internet.

Configuring HTTP Redirect

This screen displays the summary of the HTTP redirect rules.

Note: You can configure up to one HTTP redirect rule for each (incoming) interface.

Network > HTTP Redirect 

Label
Description
Name
This is the descriptive name (up to 31 printable characters) of a rule.
Interface
This is the interface on which the request must be received.
Proxy Server
This is the IP address of the proxy server.
Port
This is the service port number used by the proxy server.
Add icon
Click the Add icon in the heading row to add a new entry.
The Active icon displays whether the rule is enabled or not. Click the Active icon to activate or deactivate the rule.
Click the Edit icon to go to the screen where you can edit the rule on the ZyWALL.
Click the Remove icon to delete an existing rule from the ZyWALL. A window displays asking you to confirm that you want to delete the rule.

HTTP Redirect Edit

Network > HTTP Redirect > Edit 

Label
Description
Enable
Use this option to turn the HTTP redirect rule on or off.
Name
Enter a name to identify this rule. You may use 1-31 alphanumeric characters, underscores(_), or dashes (-), but the first character cannot be a number. This value is case-sensitive.
Interface
Select the interface on which the HTTP request must be received for the ZyWALL to forward it to the specified proxy server.
Proxy Server
Enter the IP address of the proxy server.
Port
Enter the port number that the proxy server uses.
OK
Click OK to save your changes back to the ZyWALL.
Cancel
Click Cancel to exit this screen without saving.