WPAD Deployment Tutorial

PAC File Configuration

The WPAD specification demands that the PAC file be renamed to: wpad.dat
This is the only change required of a normal PAC file.

Web Server Configuration

IIS Server
1. Login to the server through Terminal Services or Remote Desktop Connection.
2. Click Start, select Programs, and then click Administrative Tools.
For IIS 5.0: Open Internet Services Manager.
For IIS 6.0: Open Internet Information Services.
3. In the left column you will see the Server Name.
In IIS 5.0: expand the Server Name to find the domain name.
In IIS 6.0: expand the Server Name and then Web Sites to find the domain name.
4. Right-click on the domain name and select Properties.
5. On the HTTP Headers tab click MIME Types.
6. Click New.
7. Enter the below information:
Extension: .dat
MIME type: application/x-ns-proxy-autoconfig
8. Click OK.

Apache Server
1. Create .htaccess file.
2. Add the below line into the file:
AddType application/x-ns-proxy-autoconfig .dat
3. Upload file to same location as wpad.dat file.

DHCP Server Configuration

We must configure the DHCP server to include a 252 entry in the DHCP information sent to a user. When configured this entry includes a direct link to the wpad.dat file.

Windows 2003 DHCP:
1. Click Start > Programs > Administrative Tools and then click DHCP.
2. In the console tree, right-click on the DHCP server, click Set Predefined Options, and then click Add.
3. In Name type: WPAD.
4. In Code type: 252.
5. In Data type select String, and then click OK.
6. In String, type URL of PAC file in format: http://url:port/wpad.dat
7. Right-click Server options and click Configure Options.
8. Confirm that the Option 252 option is selected.

Once created we must then enable the option for a DHCP scope.
1. Click Start > Programs > Administrative Tools and then click DHCP.
Right-click Scope Options and then click Configure Options.
2. Click Advanced, and then in Vendor Class, click Standard Options.
3. In Available Options, select the 252 Proxy Autodiscovery option and click OK.

Linux DHCP:
1. Edit the DHCP configuration file (usually /etc/dhcp/dhcpd.conf).
2. Edit and paste the following into the file:
option local-pac-server code 252 = text;
option local-pac-server "http://wpad.example.com:80/wpad.dat";
The first declaration must go in the global section of the configuration file.
3. Restart the DHCP server.

DNS Server Configuration

Windows 2003 DNS:
1. Click Start, click Programs, click Administrative Tools, and then click DNS.
2. In the console tree right-click on the applicable forward lookup zone and click New Host (A).
3. In Name type: wpad
4. In IP Address enter the IP address of the web server hosting the wpad.dat file.