Network Proxy

Language:

The Network Proxy Preferences enables you to configure how your system connects to the Internet.

You can configure the Oracle Solaris Desktop to connect to a proxy server, and specify the details of the proxy server. A proxy server is a server that intercepts requests to another server, and fulfills the request itself, if it can. You can provide the domain name or the Internet Protocol (IP) address of the proxy server. A domain name is a unique alphabetic identifier for a computer on a network. An IP address is a unique numeric identifier for a computer on a network.

Since you might need to use a different proxy configuration in different places, Network Proxy Preferences enables you to define separate proxy configurations and switch between them through the Location setting at the top of the window. Choose New Location to create a proxy configuration for a new location. To remove a location, select it and click the Delete Location button at the bottom of the window.

The network proxy preferences are described in the following table.

Table 10-4 Network Proxy Preferences

Dialog Element	Description
Direct internet connection	Select this option to connect to the Internet without a proxy server.
Manual proxy configuration	Select this option to connect to the Internet through a proxy server and configure the proxy settings manually. HTTP proxy – The domain name or IP address of the proxy server to use when you request an HTTP service. Type the port number of the HTTP service on the proxy server in the Port field. If the HTTP proxy server requires authentication, click the Details button to enter your username and password. Secure HTTP proxy – The domain name or IP address of the proxy server to use when you request a secure HTTP service. Type the port number of the secure HTTP service on the proxy server in the Port field. FTP proxy – The domain name or IP address of the proxy server to use when you request an FTP service. Type the port number of the FTP service on the proxy server in the Port field. Socks host – The domain name or IP address of the Socks host to use. Type the port number for the Socks protocol on the proxy server in the Port field.
Automatic proxy configuration	Select this option if you want to connect to the Internet through a proxy server, and you want to configure the proxy server automatically. Automatic proxy configuration works by means of a PAC file, which your browser downloads from a web server. If you don't specify the URL for a PAC file in the Autoconfiguration URL entry, your browser will try to locate one automatically. Autoconfiguration URL – The URL of a PAC file that contains the information required to configure the proxy server automatically.

If you use hosts that should connect to the Internet directly without a proxy, add them to the Ignore Host List in the Ignored Hosts tab. When you access these hosts, you will connect to the Internet directly without a proxy.