Question:

How can I configure different proxy settings for ethernet and wifi network interfaces on a laptop? I need to use a proxy server when I am connected to the company network via ethernet, but I want to disable it when I switch to a wifi network outside the company. Is this possible?

Answer:

A proxy server is a computer that acts as an intermediary between your laptop and the internet. It can help you access blocked websites, improve your online security, or speed up your connection. However, not all networks require or support a proxy server. If you use a laptop that connects to different networks via ethernet or wifi, you might need to change your proxy settings depending on where you are.

In this article, we will show you how to configure different proxy settings for ethernet and wifi network interfaces on a laptop running Windows 10. There are three main ways to do this: automatically, using a setup script, or manually.

Automatically

The easiest way to configure your proxy settings is to let Windows detect them automatically. This means that Windows will use the proxy server settings provided by your network administrator or your internet service provider. To do this, follow these steps:

• Go to Settings and then Network & Internet.
• On the left panel, click Proxy.
• On the right panel, under Automatic proxy setup, turn on the switch for Automatically detect settings.

This option works well if your network has a proxy auto-config (PAC) file that tells your laptop which proxy server to use based on the network you are connected to. However, if your network does not have a PAC file, or if you want more control over your proxy settings, you might need to use a setup script or set them up manually.

Using a setup script

A setup script is a file that contains instructions for your laptop to configure your proxy settings. It is usually written in JavaScript and has a .pac or .js extension. You can use a setup script if your network administrator or your internet service provider has provided you with one, or if you have created one yourself. To use a setup script, follow these steps:

• Go to Settings and then Network & Internet.
• On the left panel, click Proxy.
• On the right panel, under Automatic proxy setup, turn off the switch for Automatically detect settings.
• Under Use setup script, turn on the switch and enter the address of the setup script in the box. For example, http://example.com/proxy.pac.
• Click Save.

A setup script can be useful if you want to use different proxy servers for different websites or domains, or if you want to switch between a proxy server and a direct connection based on the network you are connected to. However, if you want to specify a single proxy server for all your internet traffic, or if you do not have a setup script, you might need to set up your proxy settings manually.

Manually

The most flexible way to configure your proxy settings is to set them up manually. This means that you can enter the address and the port of the proxy server that you want to use, and optionally, the username and password if the proxy server requires authentication. To do this, follow these steps:

• Go to Settings and then Network & Internet.
• On the left panel, click Proxy.
• On the right panel, under Manual proxy setup, turn on the switch for Use a proxy server.
• Enter the address and the port of the proxy server in the boxes. For example, 192.168.1.1 and 8080.
• If the proxy server requires authentication, check the box for Proxy server requires a password and enter your username and password in the boxes.
• If you want to bypass the proxy server for some websites or domains, enter them in the box under Use the proxy server except for addresses that start with the following entries. Use semicolons (;) to separate the entries. For example, localhost;*.example.com.
• Click Save.

This option works well if you know the exact proxy server that you need to use for each network that you connect to, and if you do not mind changing your proxy settings manually every time you switch networks. However, if you want to automate this process, you might need to use a third-party software or a network bridge.

Using a third-party software

There are some third-party software that can help you manage your proxy settings more easily. For example, [Proxy Switcher] is a program that allows you to create different proxy profiles and switch between them with a single click. You can also set rules to automatically activate a proxy profile based on the network you are connected to, the time of the day, or the website you are visiting. To use Proxy Switcher, follow these steps:

• Download and install Proxy Switcher from [here].
• Run Proxy Switcher and click New to create a new proxy profile.
• Enter a name for the profile and the proxy server settings that you want to use.
• Click OK to save the profile.
• Repeat steps 2 to 4 to create as many proxy profiles as you need.
• To switch between proxy profiles, right-click on the Proxy Switcher icon in the system tray and select the profile that you want to use.
• To set rules to automatically activate a proxy profile, click Options and then Rules. Click New to create a new rule and enter the conditions and the actions that you want to apply.

Using a third-party software can be convenient if you want to have more features and options to manage your proxy settings. However, if you do not want to install any additional software, you might need to use a network bridge.

Using a network bridge

A network bridge is a feature that allows you to connect two or more network interfaces on your laptop and use them as one. This means that you can use both your ethernet and wifi connections simultaneously, and assign different proxy settings to each of them. To use a network bridge, follow these steps:

• Go to Control Panel and then Network and Internet.
• Click Network and Sharing Center.
• On the left panel, click Change adapter settings.
• Select both the ethernet and wifi connections and right-click to see options.
• Click Bridge Connections. Windows will automatically create a network bridge and assign it a new name, such as Network Bridge.
• Right-click on the network bridge and select Properties.
• Click Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) and then Properties.
• Enter the IP address, subnet mask, default gateway, and DNS server settings that you want to use for the network bridge. You can obtain these settings from your network administrator or your internet service provider.
• Click OK to save the settings.
• Right-click on the ethernet connection and select Properties.
• Click Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) and then Properties.
• Check the box for Use the following IP address and enter the IP address, subnet mask, and default gateway settings that you want to use for the ethernet connection. You can obtain these settings from your network administrator or your internet service provider.
• Click Advanced.
• Under IP Settings, check the box for Use default gateway on remote network.
• Under Automatic metric, uncheck the box for Automatic metric and enter a value of 1 in the box.
• Click OK to save the settings.
• Right-click on the wifi connection and select Properties.
• Click Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) and then Properties.
• Check the box for Use the following IP address and enter the IP address, subnet mask, and default gateway settings that you want to use for the wifi connection. You can obtain these settings from your network administrator or your internet service provider.
• Click Advanced.
• Under IP Settings, check the box for Use default gateway on remote network.
• Under Automatic metric, uncheck the box for Automatic metric and enter a value of 2 in the box.
• Click OK to save the settings.
• Go to Settings and then Network & Internet.
• On the left panel, click Proxy.
• On the right panel, under Manual proxy setup, turn on the switch for Use a proxy server.
• Enter the address and the port of the proxy server that you want to use for the ethernet connection in the boxes. For example, 192.168.1.1 and 8080.
• If the proxy server requires authentication, check the box for Proxy server requires a password and enter your username and password in the boxes.
• If you want to bypass the proxy server for some websites or domains, enter them in the box under Use the proxy server except for addresses that start with the following entries. Use semicolons (;) to separate the entries. For example, localhost;*.example.com.
• Click Save.

Using a network bridge can be useful if you want to use both your ethernet and wifi connections at the same time, and have different proxy settings for each of them. However, this method requires some advanced network configuration and might affect your network performance and security. Therefore, you should only use it if you know what you are doing and if you have permission from your network administrator or your internet service provider.

Conclusion

In

this article, we have shown you how to configure different proxy settings for ethernet and wifi network interfaces on a laptop running Windows 10. There are three main ways to do this: automatically, using a setup script, or manually. Additionally, you can use a third-party software or a network bridge to manage your proxy settings more easily. We hope that this article has been helpful for you and that you have learned something new. If you have any questions or feedback, please feel free to leave a comment below..