* @return a configured CURL request
     */
    protected CurlRequest createCurlRequest(final String url) {
        final CurlRequest request = Curl.get(url);
        final Proxy proxy = ComponentUtil.getFessConfig().getHttpProxy();
        if (proxy != null && !Proxy.NO_PROXY.equals(proxy)) {
            request.proxy(proxy);
        }
        return request;
    }

    /**
     * Deletes an installed artifact.
     *