How to download and install AD10 when using proxy servers

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How to download and install AD10 when using proxy servers

Angus Ewing

18 Mar, 2011

Tags:

Altium Designer, AltiumLive, installation, proxy server

The latest version of Altium Designer 10 can be installed directly from the Software section of AltiumLive. However, your computer’s network settings, particularly the use of proxy servers, can sometimes cause problems with the install process. Here’s how to find out if you’re likely to have proxy server issues and how to work around them.

From the Windows Start menu select Control Panel > Internet options. In the Internet Properties dialog, go to the Connection Tab and click the LAN Settings Button. This will bring up the Local Area Network (LAN) Settings dialog that controls the proxy setup.

If the “Automatically detect settings” is checked (see image below), you have no proxy set up. Simply go ahead and download and install Altium Designer 10 from the AltiumLive site.

If the “Proxy Server Setup” section of the dialog is filled in (see image below), then your machine is manually configured to connect through a proxy server. In this case you can still download and install Altium Designer 10; the Download Manager will pick up your proxy settings automatically.

If your machine is set to “Use automatic configuration script” (see image below), then you’ll need to do one of the things outlined below before you can download and deploy Altium Designer 10.

Option 1 - Add a Direct Connection Exception

Contact your IT department. Ask them to add the following lines to the .PAC Script:

if(shExpMatch(url, "http://www.altium.com*")) return "DIRECT";

if(shExpMatch(url, "http://install.altium.com*")) return "DIRECT";

if(shExpMatch(url, "http://installation.altium.com*")) return "DIRECT";

if(shExpMatch(url, "http://d3esfr31fkd5yz.cloudfront.net*")) return "DIRECT";

if(shExpMatch(host, "portal2.altium.com*")) return "DIRECT";

if(shExpMatch(host, "portal2.altium.eu*")) return "DIRECT";

if(shExpMatch(host, "portal2.altium.com.cn*")) return "DIRECT";

This will allow Altium Designer 10 to connect to the necessary internet pages directly (skipping the proxy server).

However, your network may be set up in a way that means you must go through the proxy server (with no direct access to the internet allowed ). In this case, you will need to use one of the alternative options.

Option 2 - Change settings to access Internet directly through the proxy

Ask your IT department to set your computer to connect directly to the proxy by filling in the details for the Proxy Server Setup in the LAN settings dialog.

Option 3 - Create a Local Installation Repository

As part of installation management, Altium Designer lets you create your own installation repository. This provides a local install solution for computers that are prevented from connecting to, or simply cannot connect to, the internet, and therefore cannot access Altium's cloud-based installation service directly.

You simply install Altium Designer from Altium's cloud-based installation repository onto a dedicated computer that is allowed connection to the internet – then customize that installation to be suitable for use by others within your company. You can then “copy” that installation snapshot to a dedicated internal (LAN-based) location, providing an installation solution to those computers that are not allowed internet access. Altium Designer on those computers would be set so that the Installation Manager uses that dedicated local repository.

And because you are creating a standalone repository, it can be moved and copied wherever it is needed as a shared folder on a company network, or large USB drive. For a more 'mobile' solution, you can even create a compressed installation repository that can be subsequently burnt to DVD or copied to a smaller-sized USB stick!

To find out more about creating an installation repository, please read the Creating a Local Installation Repository section of the Wiki, then browse to the "Creating a Local installation Repository" section towards the end of the document.

Option 4 - Request a DVD

Call your nearest Altium Sales and Support office to request a DVD.