Global proxy setup for Windows Vista

[+BudMan MVC]

You could use any address you want.. does not really matter.

127.0.0.0/8 is localhost.. so you could use any address you want in that range that your tunnelier is listening on.

[ProclaimDragon]

Ok, thanks for all your help.

I think that in the future I'm going to code a simply application that uses 3proxy and allows me to easily switch between configurations...

[+BudMan MVC]

There you go.. submit it as addon/plugin on their site. Something like autoIT would be a easy way to do something like that.. I really just do not see the need.. Just put the command(s) you want in batch file.. And create link to it or hotkey.

Your the one that was talking about saving time switching stuff -- how is launching an application, then doing something in the application faster than clicking a shortcut to batch file or using a hotkey that does what ever you want?

[ProclaimDragon]

There you go.. submit it as addon/plugin on their site. Something like autoIT would be a easy way to do something like that.. I really just do not see the need.. Just put the command(s) you want in batch file.. And create link to it or hotkey.

Your the one that was talking about saving time switching stuff -- how is launching an application, then doing something in the application faster than clicking a shortcut to batch file or using a hotkey that does what ever you want?

I never said I would have to launch (manually) an application first... I never specified anything about how would I code the application, why are you making assumptions that it's going to harder than to use a hotkey? :p I said "application that allows me to easily switch".

Well, clicking a shortcut to a batch file is slower (depending on where the shortcut is located) than what I'm going to do and I don't like shortcuts. I only have a dock at the top and that's only for very specific applications. I don't like desktop shortcuts, nor quick launch shortcuts, I like my desktop clean and simple. The start menu is also not an option because I like to have it organized and there's no place for 2 shortcuts to switch between profiles and that would definitely be slower...

About hotkeys, I don't like hotkeys. The ones I use most are the ones on the laptop to turn on/off wireless, increase/decrease LCD brightness, control media player, etc... I don't like to have hotkeys for specific things like these.

What I'm going to do is an application that auto starts with windows and sits on the system tray. Then I can easily switch profiles by clicking on the icon and selecting the profile I want from the list. That's simple, easy and fast.

I don't know AutoIT but it seems a bloated application for just a simple task like what I want to do. Notice that I'm not bashing the application, I never tried it, but it seems to have lots of features that I'm not going to use and I don't want to install something for just a tiny thing...

[+BudMan MVC]

So how are you going to write this application?

When did I say autoIT has to be installed to use what you create with it? You can compile it as an exe that does not need the autoIT to be installed, etc. I suggested it as a simple method of creating a gui for something like this -- which is what assumed you were talking about.

Why did you not say "tray" in the first place? With just the term application -- I assumed something that you would "launch" my bad I guess.

? for you -- you move between your school and your home so often that this "application" needs to be running when window starts? ;) You might like your desktop clean -- I on the other hand am not a fan of running applications that are used now and then ;)

[ProclaimDragon]

Actually I do... during the weekdays I live in the place where the University is located and don't have internet access besides the WiFi network and during the weekend I live in my home (lol) where I have direct internet access.

That's why I need a quick and easy way to switch between configurations. Of the top of my head I use: Firefox, IE, RSSOwl, mIRC, SmartFTP client, Tunnelier. And you can imagine how painful it can be to keep constantly chaing proxy settings in all these applications (and probably others).

Well, I don't mind in having a simple application like this sitting on the tray. I have 2Gb on my laptop running Vista, it won't matter much. And I can always access it pretty quickly every time I have to...

Not sure what you were asking about "how are you going to write this application". What do you mean? Language? Probably C#... Or were you asking something different?

[+BudMan MVC]

No that's what I was asking.. So your at university all week, and home only on the weekends.. But you need a application running all week that allows you "change" the proxy settings?, and starting everytime you boot to change your proxy profile? Does that make sense??

Click an icon on monday morning to point it at your school proxy. Saturday morning click it again to toggle to no parent proxy.. Put this icon in your dock, etc.. etc..

No matter what you write it in -- I would suggest you post to their site for an addon/plugin.

For that matter create a startup script set it to school proxy during the week, and not on weekends ;) Then you do not have click anything ;)

[ProclaimDragon]

Like I said before, my dock is only for very specific applications not for everything. There isn't any place on my desktop where I want to have 2 shortcuts (for the 2 different configurations) besides the tray, with an icon and menu. So that's not an option.

About posting to their site, I'll think about it when I get it done lol.

That script thing by schedule could be an option but I don't want it... The normal use is like I said, one configuration during the weekdays and another during the weekend but that doesn't mean it's going to be like that every day of the year and I might need to switch to the other configuration any day for some reason and with the tray application, it's quick and easy.

And you are forgetting about one detail or maybe I'm the one that doesn't know better but... But when I run "3proxy home.cfg" (for instance), I'll have a command line window opened and I don't want it always open. With my application, I'll just start the process with the window hidden. Yeah, I know 3proxy can run as service, but I couldn't find anything in the documentation to switch between configurations while the service is running... So, I have to hide that window somewhere while switching configurations.

[+BudMan MVC]

And what stop service, change config, start service is something you did not think about??

There is no reason to have some window open when 3proxy is running..

Go ahead -- write your application.. But for someone that did not even have time to look at a command line tool, etc.. Now you have time to write a application, etc..

Its a freaking simple .cmd or .bat file do everything you want.. Exactly like I said from the get go. But you seem to be to worried about your desktop not having any icons?? Your dock not having a link to a method to how to toggle between settings. You could stop and start and toggle between settings with one simple commandfile..

But sure go ahead -- you write a C# application to do do something that can be done arleady with a few simple commands ;)

[ProclaimDragon]

And what stop service, change config, start service is something you did not think about??

I honestly don't understand what you mean by this... Stopping the service, changing config and starting the service is a pain in the ass to be doing it a couple of times every weekend. But like I said, I really don't understood what you mean by this...

There is no reason to have some window open when 3proxy is running..

There isn't? Then tell me, how can I run 3proxy without having a window opened and without using a service? Like I said before, I couldn't find anything in the documentation that helped me on this... If I have the 3proxy service started I have not find a way to switch configurations, so tell me, how do I do that? The only way I find to run 3proxy with the configuration I want is to manually execute "3proxy.exe <configfile>" and that creates a command line window which must be opened (unless hidden some way, thus my application) otherwise 3proxy process will be closed.

Go ahead -- write your application.. But for someone that did not even have time to look at a command line tool, etc.. Now you have time to write a application, etc..

Once again, stop making assumptions... I never said I was going to do it now, tomorrow, next week or event next month. In fact, I'm not going to do it anytime soon cause I have many exams coming in the next weeks and many other things to do which have more priority. I'll do it, when I get the chance, not right now.

Its a freaking simple .cmd or .bat file do everything you want.. Exactly like I said from the get go. But you seem to be to worried about your desktop not having any icons?? Your dock not having a link to a method to how to toggle between settings. You could stop and start and toggle between settings with one simple commandfile..

No it's not simple. What part did you miss that:

1) I don't like desktop shortcuts at all. I never add one for more than a couple of days and never will. I only have desktop shortcuts for couple of days when I'm testing something and I need quick access to something.

2) I don't like the quick launch shortcuts and they take precious space on my taskbar which I like to keep it with one line.

3) My dock is only for very special applications. I don't want to have this shortcut placed there, simply as that.

Also, you say that I can "stop and start and toggle between settings with one simple command file". Well, tell me, how can I do that with one command file without having the command line opened all the time?

But sure go ahead -- you write a C# application to do do something that can be done arleady with a few simple commands ;)

But... what's your problem with me doing an application to fit my needs anyway? I don't get it...

You have been very helpful in this problem of mine but right, you're just no making any sense in the way you are talking to me... It's like you want to force me to use my computer the way you use yours. We are different persons, we have different needs and I use my computer in a way and you use yours in other. I don't like desktop icons, I have my way or organizing things in my dock and start menu. Why can't you understand that?

If I want to make an application that will fit my needs better, exactly the way I want it which will allow me to switch between configurations the way I want it, what's your problem with that? If anyone should have problem with it, it's me, not you or anyone else.

I just don't understand why you are talking to me like that...