Proxy Settings on MacBook

[TFTC]

Help needed folks. I connect to WiFi at my workplace on a network which uses a proxy server so when I get to work I have to tick all the boxes on the proxy connection on my laptop to get internet access and when I get home I have to untick all of them so that I can connect to my home network. Is there a way that I can set the network so that the laptop "knows" it has connected to my workplace and automatically connects? My iPad connects on both networks without me digging into the settings so I believe maybe there is a way my MacBook can work the same way. Thanks in advance.

 

[ph4t3]

Yes. This is possible.

Essentially two methods:

Method 1
This is the quickest method, not the most seamless however. Not all apps will work through the proxy.

1. Go to Preferences > Network.
2. Under the location drop down menu create a new location (call it workplace, or whatever).
3. Select on your connection medium (Ethernet or WiFi).
4. Click the "Advanced" button.
5. Click the "proxies" tab.
6. Select the "Web Proxy" and "Secure Web Proxy"
7. Set your proxy details in both.
8. Save and exit.

Note: Make sure firefox and chrome are set to use system proxy.

Now, when you're at work, click the apple icon > locations > workplace. And when you're back home, click the apple icon > locations > Automatic.

Method 2:
This is the most seamless method. However, the most complicated. But stuff like dropbox and other apps work. Once its all setup, its pretty transparent. Let me know if the above method 1 doesn't work and I'll try to explain.

 

[TFTC]

Yes. This is possible.

Essentially two methods:

Method 1
This is the quickest method, not the most seamless however. Not all apps will work through the proxy.

1. Go to Preferences > Network.
2. Under the location drop down menu create a new location (call it workplace, or whatever).
3. Select on your connection medium (Ethernet or WiFi).
4. Click the "Advanced" button.
5. Click the "proxies" tab.
6. Select the "Web Proxy" and "Secure Web Proxy"
7. Set your proxy details in both.
8. Save and exit.

Note: Make sure firefox and chrome are set to use system proxy.

Now, when you're at work, click the apple icon > locations > workplace. And when you're back home, click the apple icon > locations > Automatic.

Method 2:
This is the most seamless method. However, the most complicated. But stuff like dropbox and other apps work. Once its all setup, its pretty transparent. Let me know if the above method 1 doesn't work and I'll try to explain.

Let me do that then I will give you feedback. Thanks a lot

 

[ItherNiT]

You can also try proxifier, its a program that I use at the university.
link: http://www.proxifier.com/

 

[[)roi(]]

OS X supports "Auto Proxy Discovery" via DHCP or DNS or a combination of both.
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Web_Proxy_Autodiscovery_Protocol

Actually very simple to set up for any combination of Windows, OS X and Linux; check if they support it or can easily activate it. That way the switch over between home / work will be completely autonomous.

Fall back as suggested is network locations.

 

[ijack]

Guys, I need to create a VPN connection (PPPoE) on Mac. Can anyone please assist me with this.

I know its sorta related to the topic, but not directly. Any help will be well received

 

[[)roi(]]

Guys, I need to create a VPN connection (PPPoE) on Mac. Can anyone please assist me with this.

I know its sorta related to the topic, but not directly. Any help will be well received

I'll cover both VPN and PPPoE.

VPN process
System Preferences -> Network
Click on the + symbol at the bottom left corner
In the pop up panel, select VPN as the Interface, and enter your preferred name for the VPN service. The VPN Type is really dependent on the details that you should have beeb provided for the VPN connect you wish to connect to.

Choose either L2TP over IPSec, PPTP or Cisco IPSec
Let's for now assume you chose PPTP, then click create.
You should now see a new VPN interface with the name you provided. Next enter the "Server Address", "Account Name" and choose the type of "Encryption", and then click on "Authentication Settings" and enter the appropriate password, click ok, and then click apply.

That's about it, except maybe for one more thing: if you need all your traffic to flow over the VPN then go into "Advanced" and tick "Send all traffic over VPN connection"

Then click on "Show VPN status in menu bar", and finally click on connect.

Connect and Disconnect the VPN as you require.

PPPoE process
System Preferences -> Network
Click on the + symbol at the bottom left corner
In the pop up panel, select PPPoE as the Interface, and enter your preferred name for the PPPoE service. Ethernet is really dependent on how you connect to your PPPoE router: Ethernet, WIFI or Thunderbolt.

We'll assume its via an Ethernet RJ45 connection; on the next screen capture the provided details for "PPPoE Service Name", "Account Name" and "Password", click "Remember this password", click Apply. Then click "Connect" to start the connection. Btw the "Advanced" button allows you to specify network details if your service provider has given you these + you can configure automatic connect, ...

Finally even though the Mac can establish PPPoE connections directly, most of these connections are usually a delegate responsibility of an edge router to which the Mac then connects via a standard Ethernet connection or a WIFI connection (assuming the edge router support this)