C# Web API – Understanding Proxy Server and Connecting via Basic Auth

cPROXYweb-api

Hopefully this is the correct channel for such a question and my quest for further knowledge.

I've currently built a significant platform which allows clients to communicate with our API, which in turns allows "items" to be pushed to a print queue.

Most third party developers and app users have no problem consuming the API, and I only assume this is because they authenticate over basic auth outside a proxy environment.

We have one client, that appears to be locked behind a proxy of sorts, which prevents the consumption of a particular endpoint. I'm regrettably faced with the 407 – Proxy Authentication Required.

I'm very keen to understand is this something the end user (client) should resolve by adjusting proxy security settings (if needed) or a developer problem?

I'm also keen to understand what is actually happening? End user behind proxy calls the API, to try and authenticate via basic auth, and then tries to authenticate via proxy-authenticate?

Ideally not looking for a fix but more knowledge on what is happening, so I can fix myself.

Best Answer

Your consumer is probably accessing your API from behind a proxy. Do it's completely his/her responsibility to handle this.