Tuesday, August 26, 2008

NetInfo (adhoc change of DNS and/or proxy server)



See this in App Store


The number 1 reason that you need this app
This is the only application in App Store that can temporarily change the DNS or Proxy Server setting for your cellular network.

What is this application for ?
This is an iPhone App Store Program. It does two things
(1) Display the Networking Info of Active Connection for your iPhone. E.g. IP Address, DNS, Proxy Server etc. You can have an option to send this information out for helpers.
(2) Ad hoc change of DNS and/or proxy server setting (it does not support authentication in proxy server).

How does it work for the ad hoc change of DNS and proxy server ?
(1) First it is important to have and active connection. For example you want to change EDGE network settings, you must first connect to your EDGE and start an network application (e.g. Weather App) to connect to Internet
(2) Then start the NetInfo to activate the change on the fly. The ad hoc change will stay until you switch network or there is a network change.

How to ad hoc change the DNS for Cellular network (EDGE/GPRS/3G data) connection to Open DNS ?
(1) This Application can change your DNS on a temporarily basis only. To do this, first Goto to Your Settings App -> and Select NetInfo.
(2) Select Change for Cellular Only
(3) Open DNS set to ON, like the screen dump below

(4) Start and activate your Cellular Network and click on any application to start network connection E.g. "Weather App"
(5) Click NetInfo Icon to activate the change and the results of change will be displayed in the page.

How to disable the change to the DNS and revert to the settings from my cellular network ?
(1) As NetInfo can only change the DNS on temporarily basis, and retain it until your switch your networking, so what you can do is to refresh your network by simply goto Settings
(2) Turn Airplane Mode ON
(3) Turn Airplane Mode OFF again
Then your network setting of iPhone is reset from your cellular provider

How to ad hoc change Proxy Server for Cellular network (EDGE/GPRS/3G data) ?
(1) This Application can change your Proxy Server on a temporarily basis only. To do this, first Goto to Your Settings App-> and Select NetInfo.
(2) Select Change for Cellular Only
(3) Proxy Enabled to ON
(4) Fill in the Proxy Server address and Port No (it does not support input of username and/or password)
(5) Start and activate your Cellular Network and click on any application to start network connection E.g. "Weather App"
(6) Click NetInfo Icon to activate the change and the results of change will be displayed in the page.

How to disable the change to the Proxy Server and revert to the settings from my cellular network ?
(1) Goto to Your Settings App and Select NetInfo.
(2) Proxy Enabled to OFF
(3) Click NetInfo Icon to activate the change and the results of change will be displayed in the page.
(4) Turn Airplane Mode ON
(5) Turn Airplane Mode OFF again
Then your network setting in iPhone is reset from your cellular provider

FAQ
(1) How NetInfo works with VPN settings ?
You don't need NetInfo to change the VPN settings, you need iPhone Configuration Utility to set the VPN Setting in iPhone
http://www.apple.com/support/downloads/iphoneconfigurationutility10formacosx.html
(2) How to change carrier APN, username & password ?
If your APN setting is hidden for your carrier, you need the IPhone Configuration Utility (link in FAQ 1 above) and create a configuration profile to change your APN
(3) NetInfo is for adhoc change, how can I make it more permanent. That means whenever I switched to 3G data or restart my iPhone, the NetInfo proxy server and DNS settings will be effective automatically ?
You need to jailbreak your iPhone and install a LaunchDaemon in your iPhone, please wait for a jailbreak solution to be posted here.




55 comments:

Tree owner said...

I purchased but it doesn't work.
I raise the question to application support. No answer over a month. NEVER PURCHASE ANYTHING HERE!!!

Anonymous said...

Message from Developer,

I did not receive your request. Can you send that again
to me ?

javacomhk@yahoo.com

Anonymous said...

Hello,

I bought your product and find it very promising. However it lacks three decisive features to really solve my problem:

- Proxy settings should accomodate UserID and Password and provide for automatical forward of these to the server upon request
- An option for permanent change of DNS and proxy settings should be implemented (I frequently switch from - open - WLAN - to the proprietory APN-Tunnel to the Intranet of my company. I sorely need a solution where upon deactivation of the WLAN module he iphone can be configured to automatically activate the APN-Tunnel to "my" proxy and through this to the web...)
- A module for quick manual switching between different APN settings would be nice (although only a workaround for my problem

Don't mind if I need to jailbreak my iPhone and am willing to pay for these features!

BTW: My Sony Ericcson P990i handled all these problems without a glitch!

javacom said...

The permanent change of DNS for cellular network is only possible for a jailbreak iPhone. It is possible as I have already have that in the DNS Fix (for Open DNS only) package of Cydia.

The proxy server authentication for cellular network is also posssible but it also breaks the App Store rule.

May be you have to wait to see my update.

The quickly change of APN setting can be done via the iPhone Configuration Utility
see here
http://www.apple.com/support/iphone/enterprise/

Anonymous said...

Hello,
i bought yuor application and when i used it i detected that the proxy in my office use authentication.
So, in a new release will be supported authentication proxi or untill the App Store rule remain the same it's impossible?
Any alternative?
Thank's

javacom said...

I am trying to put the proxy authentication to this app. But I think it cannot pass the Apple approval process so I have to find another way. So stay tune.

Anonymous said...

OK, so the app store let me buy this even though it won't work on my iPod Touch. Can a version be released that works on the IPT now that I've shelled out $6 for it? I need the proxy config function for my work WiFi, which requires connecting via VPN and then surfing through a proxy.

javacom said...

Can you describe your problem and the output of the NetInfo screen?

You can send the Netinfo output by email to me. There is an email function.

send it to javacomhk@yahoo.com

and describe your problem in the email as well.

Did you follows the step exactly to start the proxy ?

Anonymous said...

Hey. Thank you for developing this. Now I can finally use mobile safari to browse the web through my company's APN and proxy server.

I would also love it if NetInfo could remember my proxy credentials so I didn't have to enter them frequently.

I also second the idea about a fast/simple APN switcher so I go easily connect to work or ISP APN's.

I have found that mobile safari is the only application that actually works - others such as the app store still dont seem to connect (probably due to no proxy authentication).

Keep up the great work!

Anonymous said...

Hello, any news about the support of authentication proxy functionality?
Thank you

ada said...

Hi!

I have a jailbreak 3G iphone and install package DNS Fix.

What next step? How get a dns1 & dns2 string on 3G phone? (cat /etc/resolv.conf don't show me ip address's)

javacom said...

To Anonymous :
There is no progress on the proxy sever authentication

To Ada:
DNS Fix is intended for jailbreak iPhone
while NetInfo (App Store) is for non-jailbreak iPhone

They are two programs for different usage.

First, you need to tell me what you want to change
(1) change to your custom DNS
or (2) change to Open DNS ?

Please send your problems directly to my email
javacomhk@yahoo.com

Anonymous said...

Hello, I'd like to buy you App but the AppStore told me that there is an aplication updating. Is it right? Let me know. Thanks

Unknown said...

It didn't work every when I tried to access the data base from my college's proxy service. I think it's would be great help to support input of username and password for authentication. Maybe next version? After all i spent $7.99 on it.

Anonymous said...

I would like to set the proxy server for my company's network and use your app for that. I have jailbroken my any-sim iPhone and am now searching for the mentioned package in Cydia. Where to find it and will it allow me to access the web through my cmpany;s secured proxy server?

Anonymous said...

Hello,

I use this app successfully to browse the web through my company APN. I have two annoyances though:

1) Most often, after a wake-up, I have to open Netinfo beforehand to be able to surf (I can live with that)
2) Https never worked for me (really annoying)

It’s just me?

Anonymous said...

Dear javacom,

I guess a lot of us buyers are still waiting for permanent authenticated proxy setup capability.

To be clear: In the first place this is a point where Apple has failed dramatically, because in a corporate environment it makes all the difference between a business tool and a geek gadget.

I really hoped, you would deliver...

Frankly, for me, without this, the app and the money I paid for its further development is quite useless.

And I really don't mind a second whether it's in the App Store or on Cydia!

Anonymous said...

@anonymous

You are right, without the permanent change is quite frustating have to do it manually on every network refresh.

@javacom

Make one in cydia I'm quite sure the success of your app is doing that.. PERMANENT CHANGE OPTION !!!!

If the app store does not allow you to do that.. do it on cydia.

Thanks in advanced.

javacom said...

Yes I will create one for Cydia when the Cydia Store officially operate

Anonymous said...

Hello,
this new version will be able to support the proxy sever authentication functionality?
I bought the application but i need this features.
Thank you

Anonymous said...

I purchased the app, and downloaded the iPhone Configuration Utility in order to change the APN settings because my company has our own APN with the telco.
I am able to send/receive emails and access my company's internal website, but I cannot access any external websites. What could be the cause of this?

The proxy is correct. I had to change to a custom DNS. I just don't know what changes I still need to make in order to gain access to external web as well as internal.

Anonymous said...

Javacom, Can you please integrate TOR(torproject.org) into the new version? It will offer much more anonymity.

Anonymous said...

this software is fantastic! nuff said.

will check out update now, i'm kinda hoping for user AUTH support..

Harvey said...

Hi, i'd posted just now about the AUTH.. is there a way to use the Username and Password in my Celldata APN settings as AUTH settings for when using my own proxy?

or would apple not like that as well, u think?

in any case, the software works quite well. i'll just make a ssh tunnel for the proxy in the meantime i guess.

seantoleary said...

Just wanted to ask a question before i purchased your app. Can this program work for a VPN network WITHHH proxy running? As i understand it the current ciscoVPN inbuilt software doesnt allow both to run by themself... it cann be done however! Have been reading up on it and alottttt of people are having the same problem. I know at my university itself there are 100s. ie MASSIVE market. At the bottom ive linked you to a blog post on the subject which contains the script used by someone who has successfully done it on a jailbroken phone. Not sure if its an apple approval issue, but any help would be greatly appreciated.

http://www.hackint0sh.org/forum/f127/46674.htm

Thanks again.

seantoleary said...

Just wanted to ask a question before i purchased your app. Can this program work for a VPN network WITHHH proxy running? As i understand it the current ciscoVPN inbuilt software doesnt allow both to run by themself... it cann be done however! Have been reading up on it and alottttt of people are having the same problem. I know at my university itself there are 100s. ie MASSIVE market. At the bottom ive linked you to a blog post on the subject which contains the script used by someone who has successfully done it on a jailbroken phone. Not sure if its an apple approval issue, but any help would be greatly appreciated.

http://www.hackint0sh.org/forum/f127/46674.htm

Thanks again.

javacom said...

In response to Sean
I am not sure about whether this app can work in your situation or not.

But if you can wait, iPhone OS 3.0 will have proxy server setting for VPN.

Anonymous said...

I didn't know that. Thanks for your help again. Cheers

Sean

Unknown said...

Great app and almost works for me but need authentication really. I wonder why Wifi has these options but APN doesn't.

Anonymous said...

Hello,
you will upgrade your application to support the proxy NTLM protocol (Microsoft isaserver)?
or in 3.0 OS will be natively supported?
i purchased netinfo but doesn.t work with APN.
Thank's

Anonymous said...

I updated to 3.0 and now netinfo doesn't seem to display anything but the Current Device info. I can't test if the proxy is still working because it won't work without authentication for me but it used to show your current connection type, DNS servers etc working or not.

javacom said...

NetInfo does not support OS 3.0, that's why it is now removed from App Store.

I need to have my iPhone jailbreak for the firmware 3.0 and see what will be the workaround to support this new OS.

Anonymous said...

Damn, I only purchased it a couple of weeks ago. If you manage to get it working on 3.0 will it be available for people that purchased the current version? I just want to know so I know to stay subscribed or not.

javacom said...

I am sorry, but Apple has removed the API in the network level and they don't want this kind of app in the Store.

If this app has update for iPhone OS 3.0, you will be able to upgrade it for free.

Anonymous said...

Since I üpdated to 3.0 NetInfo doesn't work. Now I have a big problem. The Iphone is from the company I work for and they don't allow changing anything (or updating). Will you update the tool soon? Or is there a way to go back to old OS? Otherwise I will have a big problem next week...
Thanks for the answer

javacom said...

OS 3.0 now support proxy server setting for VPN, you may not need to go back to old OS

Anonymous said...

VPN doesnt work on APN for me. It only works if i'm on a Wifi connection.

Anonymous said...

Please modify the Netinfo app. It was working under 2.21. i need it here because the country's ISP makes us go thru their Proxy server. It is very retarded hence I bought it for USD 9.99 (or close to it).

Unknown said...

I have figured out a way to configure proxy server for use with APN. Here it is:
*Download iPhone Configuration Utility from Apple.
*Attach your iPhone thru usb cable
*Create a Configuration Profile for your device,
* The last Option is the Advanced tab, put in your details for APN, username and passwd for your ISP
* Now here is the ticker, the last line is the field for proxy server and its port. Put those in (you may need to get those from your ISP)
* Save your Profile and install it down to your iPhone
* On your iPhone it will show up on screen and just click on Install.
* That's it, fire up Safari and you are online.

javacom said...

Thanks for the info.

iPhone Configuration Utility can be downloaded from

http://www.apple.com/support/iphone/enterprise/

and it is available in Mac OS X and Windows

Anonymous said...

So will you modify Netinfo to work with 3.0 or will you not? And when will it be?
Thank you for your answer.

javacom said...

The update may take some times and subject to Apple's approval.

BlaCkBirD said...

@khuzema:

in the 'Advanced' tab i've just 3 field, APN Name, Username and Password.

Where did you input proxy info?

Too bad for apple not allowing proxy via apn, i did this manually now editing preferences.plist but jailbreak is needed :(

javacom said...

You have to download the latest iPhone Configuration Utility and create a new configuration profile

The last option in Advanced Feature is Proxy Server.

If anyone of you has trouble of making one.
Email your details of APN and proxy server to me. I will create one for you.

My email is javacomhk@yahoo.com

BlaCkBirD said...

oh.. i should try this. i had version 1.1 and there's no proxy there.

in the meanwhile i managed to do this manually by editing the .mobileconfig file and adding proxy info manually, it works like a charm with my ISA server :)

Anonymous said...

Hey blackbird does the jailbreak/manual config allow authentication?

Anonymous said...

Hi, I download the IPHONE configuration utility and I setted the proxy (address and user and pwd). With SAFARI and App.Store (application) no problem, the Iphone ask me the credential for access to proxy and after go, but all other application not going on internet (wheather, Shazam, and all other). I don't understand why the first two ask me the credential of proxy and the other no.
do you know because?

Wes said...

Hey java, appreciate your work with netinfo. Just wanted to know if you're releasing an update for os 3.0 anytime soon, i've been trying to downgrade os to 2.x with no success to use NI..

Anonymous said...

Any chance you'll add a setting for Google Public DNS (servers 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4) in addition to the setting for OpenDNS?

CJ said...

I don't see this in app store. Where can I get it?

Anonymous said...

Hey wen will there be an update for this app for it to work on iphone 3gs???? desparetly in need of this app...

Unknown said...

Hi, Does this app support iOS4 of iPhone4 ?

javacom said...

It doesnot support iOS4

Farrukh said...

Hi, can you send me netinfo utility at my email address.

Actually i am unable to find it in store.

Email: farrukh.khanzada@gmail.com

tsakagami said...

I bought NetInfo App.
However, it could not be used.

http://itunes.apple.com/jp/app/netinfo-adhoc-change-dns-proxy/id289252105?mt=8 #

iOS4 is not supported, not written.

Please support iOS4.