Does anyone have a good explanation of how the proxy settings in IE8 work - specifically "Automatically Detect Settings". I've read through the Microsoft documentation http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc985352.aspx#BKMK_ProxySel, but it isn't very useful. Any clear information would be greatly appreciate.Thanks,Scott

Does anyone have a good explanation of how the proxy settings in IE8 work - specifically "Automatically Detect Settings". I've read through the Microsoft documentation http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc985352.aspx#BKMK_ProxySel, but it isn't very useful. Any clear information would be greatly appreciate.Thanks,Scott hi , what you need to know ?http://support.microsoft.com/kb/135982the same for IE 8 check with your ISP , some settings might not work , ... (!)have a nice weekendScan with OneCare + 50 Windows 7even Tips + Plagued by the Privacy Center? REMOVE IT + Threat Research & Response Blog + Sysinternals Live tools + TRANSLATOR+ Photosynth + Microsoft Security + Microsoft SUPPORT + PIVOT from Live Labs + Microsoft Live Labs + Office 2010 beta + Get Windows LIVE!

Thanks for the resonse. I'm trying to figure out how "Automatically Detect Settings" works. Does it find a proxy server? What if there is no proxy server? What does it do then?

Thanks for the resonse. I'm trying to figure out how "Automatically Detect Settings" works. Does it find a proxy server? What if there is no proxy server? What does it do then? hi , you have to check with your isp first and check your router settings if you have one , ... it all depends on where you are and with who you have internet service , ... (!) no it will not find a proxy server , unless for example your isp provided you with some special software , ... (!)most proxy will use gate 8080 by the wayhave a nice dayScan with OneCare + 50 Windows 7even Tips + Plagued by the Privacy Center? REMOVE IT + Threat Research & Response Blog + Sysinternals Live tools + TRANSLATOR+ Photosynth + Microsoft Security + Microsoft SUPPORT + PIVOT from Live Labs + Microsoft Live Labs + Office 2010 beta + Get Windows LIVE!

So what exactly is Automatically Detect Settings detecting?

So what exactly is Automatically Detect Settings detecting? hi , it depends , i dont have your comp in front of me or your router so i dont know i will give one example i do know i have a router with build in firewall and proxy , when i configure a comp it will auto detect that , so there is no point in having a second config on the comp itself .some software like anonymous surfing software uses proxy settings , ... but really for more info you have to contact your ISP , it all depends where you are and what service you have , ...have a nice dayScan with OneCare + 50 Windows 7even Tips + Plagued by the Privacy Center? REMOVE IT + Threat Research & Response Blog + Sysinternals Live tools + TRANSLATOR+ Photosynth + Microsoft Security + Microsoft SUPPORT + PIVOT from Live Labs + Microsoft Live Labs + Office 2010 beta + Get Windows LIVE!

OK. I think that makes sense. We use Web Marshall as a proxy server. We've configured a GPO so that everyone's proxy settings are set to point to that server. Are you saying, that even if I didn't have that GPO in place and Automatically Detect Settings was enabled, it would somehow find that proxy server? What if there were multiple proxy servers? How would that work?Thanks,Scott

OK. I think that makes sense. We use Web Marshall as a proxy server. We've configured a GPO so that everyone's proxy settings are set to point to that server. Are you saying, that even if I didn't have that GPO in place and Automatically Detect Settings was enabled, it would somehow find that proxy server? What if there were multiple proxy servers? How would that work?Thanks,Scott proxy is only at gate 8080 , you can only have one maybe this is of helphttp://support.microsoft.com/search/default.aspx?query=proxyScan with OneCare + 50 Windows 7even Tips + Plagued by the Privacy Center? REMOVE IT + Threat Research & Response Blog + Sysinternals Live tools + TRANSLATOR+ Photosynth + Microsoft Security + Microsoft SUPPORT + PIVOT from Live Labs + Microsoft Live Labs + Office 2010 beta + Get Windows LIVE!

Hi All,If you check the setting "Automatically Detect Settings" internet explorer will seek in DNS "A"- record that calls WPAD.In this record stands a IP adress from a server that hosts a PAC(Proxy auto config) file.(You also can use DHCP instead of DNS for the discovery process.) And in this file you can define a proxy server.More info is here:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Web_Proxy_Autodiscovery_Protocolhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proxy_auto-configOne of the benefits of this method is when you set your proxy trough GPO's. A user will ALWAYS use this proxy server. And on a network where your proxy server is not accessible the user cannot surf on his machine. (E.g. at home without a VPN connection). When you use the auto discovery option, The request will for the pac will fail and no proxy is set and the user can surf at home without a problem.Kind RegardsDFTIM me - TWiTTer: @DFTER

Thanks a lot. That's the answer I was looking for.I set up a wpad.dat file on a web server. I made the DNS A record to point to WPAD. It is working fine for IE8 and Chrome, but for some reason Firefox won't go out the proxy server. Do you know of anything different that needs to be done with Firefox?Thanks,Scott

Scottyp55,Sorry but my knowledge of firefox is verry limited. :)But i know that some firefox versions have problems with wpad.Maby an upgrade to the latest version will solve your problem.Kind RegardsDFTIM me - TWiTTer: @DFTER

I ended up finding the answer. It was an IPv6 setting.http://davidtse916.wordpress.com/2008/07/05/university-of-otago-firefoxs-proxy-auto-detection-problem-in-vista/Thanks for your help.