What should be used as a proxy?

Question

proxy

Hello.
And what is usually used in small offices to connect to the Internet? From the software in the sense. Some kind of proxy? Any names please, so I can google myself further?
(And is the proxy always soft?)

Answer 1

Some kind of proxy?

1. Net Squid - True option.
2. Squid + Webmin - For those who have not mastered option (1).
3. Squid + Snapt (or other proprietary GUIs for it) - For those who have not mastered option (1) and who have itching budgets to fork out for a glamorous interface.
...
127. Alternative crafts (such as TrafficInspector) with a closed code, created according to the TOR, written off (partially) from Squid + ipfilter + GUI.
The proxy server is the software. The only question is on what hardware it works. There are options here:
1. On an expensive router (a cheap one won't work). - Expensive, but Kommersant admins splash boiling water from this.
2. On a separate old machine, turned from a desktop into a router. - Cheap and even suitable, but ugly and noisy.
3. On a separate piece of hardware, a single-board device for $40 - $80 (like a motherboard for a nettop), even optionally x86 compatible. - IMHO, the most adequate option.
4. On one of the working machines. - A typical variant in offices with a goon-director.

Answer 2

Usually in small offices they use what they bought and, as a rule, not proxies, but SOHO class routers .
Sometimes they use a separate computer (workplace) to distribute the Internet using regular means.