Any problems with Net.purum are stored in the log file named netpurum_log.log. You can find this file in the subfolder “\net_purum_data\log”.
Which is usually here: “C:\Program Files\Alwil Software\Net.Purum\net_purum_data\log“.
It is important to set to all users proxy server, to the location where the Net.purum filter is active. If you install an integrated proxy server, then you should set the name of the computer with the Net.purum installation as the address of the proxy server, and with the port 8090.
Minimum System Requirements
- Windows server 2000/2003 (Windows XP/2000 with Net.purum proxy server)
- MS ISA 2000/2004 (or Net.purum proxy server)
- MS SQL 2000 (or MSDE – it is part of the Net.purum installation)
- PC Pentium III
- 512 MB RAM
- 1 GB free space for HDD
Initialization
Installation will register the Net.purum filter to the proxy server, and the content filtering is activated. If you have an integrated proxy server installed, then that also starts automatically.
All users are automatically assigned into the group: “Unknown users” and they are, by default, set certain blocked categories.
You should start the Net.purum Administration center, and configure the user group: “Unknown users” including setting all the basic parameters. You can then select the group: “Unknown users” and edit the “Limitation for Web pages”. You can then define which categories should be blocked.
You can then use the menu and choose: “Settings” - “Main settings” and set the main parameters in the settings dialog. The first checkbox “User will be recognized by IP address” is important. Recognition by IP address should only be used when your proxy server does not use NTLM authentication. A Net.purum user can be recognized by his login name, or by the IP address of his computer.
You should then Set SMTP configuration and define an email address for the Net.purum administrator. The administrator can receive emails about errors, about user requests to change and about user limits etc.
All other settings are not so important in the first step.
First testing
You can now configure the proxy server with the Net.purum filter for your Internet browser, and test if there are blocked web pages. If the category “Pornography/ Nudity” is set for blocking, then http://www.penthouse.com/ should be blocked. You should see the Net.purum page instead of girls from penthouse.
If you have any problem with the first test, then you can see the netpurum_log.log file for more information, or check main Net.purum configuration again.
Use the Administration center, and “Reporting” menu for the first monitoring of user activity.
Cache in Net.purum filter
The Net.purum filter tries to speed up responses to user requests; therefore it uses internal cache for server address searches, and for text analyzing phrases. When the Net.purum administrator changes the configuration, or when new phrases are inserted into the Net.purum database, then the internal cache must be reloaded. This command will reload the cache immediately.
This command can disable the Net.purum filter for several minutes.
Inform Net.purum users
It is very important to inform all users from your local network who will use Net.purum filter.
The following rules should be used:- Administrator will inform users about the new installation of the Net.purum filter and that some categories of web pages will be blocked.
- Users should have the possibility to access more web page categories in "Non working hours"
- Users which are still trying to visit blocked categories should be warned and more limitation should be used for them later.
- Administrator should analyze all users requests to change in Net.purum configuration
- Users should be informed about limits, and about pages where current values and limits can be monitored (limit for transferred data and limit of time spent with Internet connection)
Administration center
Net.purum configuration can be set in this application. Try to understand to all parts, and read the help documents.