Thanks all: It is pretty much as Mark said that without knowing more detail it is impossible to help and I appreciate any input that was forthcoming. I think the e-mail was rather a hands in the air frsutration sort of thing. Squid has been working well for over 6 months and I managed to set it up and keep it rolling along, but whatever problem has happened has left me at the edge of my linux experience with nothing left. I have checked all files and tried everything I know (admitedly small) to no avail. I will percevere but I can see people being put off. Since schools seem to find endless money for computers and yet I can't find enough for a set of books for my year 10 GNVQ, I wonder if the £250 license for Win Proxy et al is not more of an option. At present, I am the only person in the school with an inkling of an understanding of Linux and when I am teaching, which like everyone is 3 dillion hours, problems with the Linux proxy get amplified. I am puzzled as to why a re-installation did not solve the problem though? Mark's mention of the named.conf file seems useful as that is one I overlooked. IF I get another chance I'll try that out. It was a bit of a sickener to see the Win Proxy fire straight up and I had (have) the added humiliation of using it to send this. Fear not, I will win...lin? Paul