Setting Internet and Network Preferences

This section describes the internet and network configurations that you can set.

Network

By default, Oracle Solaris uses a feature called Network Auto-Magic (NWAM) to simplify network configuration. The Network preferences tool enables you to configure this feature.

The NWAM feature simplifies basic network configuration by automatically configuring and managing wired and wireless networks. NWAM addresses basic Ethernet and wireless configurations and enables you to perform various networking tasks, such as connecting to wired or wireless network at startup and configuring new wired or wireless networks. The NWAM feature also simplifies more complex network configurations, such as system-wide network configuration. In addition, this feature displays informational messages about the current status of your network connection and the overall health of your network.

Other feature capabilities include:

Multiple concurrent network connections
Detection of hot-plug events
Network modifiers support, for example, virtual private network (VPN) client applications.

Network configuration is managed by storing desired property values in the form of profiles. NWAM determines which profile should be active at a given time depending on the current network conditions, then activates that profile.

The two primary profile types are the Network Profile, which specifies the configuration of individual network interfaces, and Locations, which specify system-wide network configuration. The individual components that make up the network profile are referred to as network connections. You can use this application to configure and manage both types of profiles.

For more information about using NWAM, see Part I, Network Auto-Magic, in Oracle Solaris Administration: Network Interfaces and Network Virtualization.

Network Proxy

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 9-4 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.

Remote Desktop

The Remote Desktop Preference tool enables you to share a Oracle Solaris Desktop session between multiple users, and to set session-sharing preferences.

The following table lists the session-sharing preferences that you can set. These preferences have a direct affect on the security of your system.

Table 9-5 Session Sharing Preferences

Dialog Element	Description
Allow other users to view your desktop	Enables remote users to view your session. All keyboard, pointer, and clipboard events from the remote user are ignored.
Allow other users to control your desktop	Enables others to access and control your session from a remote location.
When a user tries to view or control your desktop	Determines security methods when a user tries to view or control your session: Ask you for confirmation — Requires remote users to ask you for confirmation when they want to share your session. This option enables you to be aware of other users who connect to your session. You can also decide what time is suitable for the remote user to connect to your session. Require the user to enter this password – Requires authentication of the remote user if authentication is used. This option provides an extra level of security.
Password	The password that the client attempts to view or control your session must provide.

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