NetSetMan for Windows

Overview of the tool

If you frequently work on a laptop or desktop across multiple networks, repeatedly entering proxy details, static IPs and other LAN parameters can be frustrating. NetSetMan simplifies this by letting you switch quickly between saved network configurations, cutting down manual setup time when moving between home, office, or public networks.

What the free edition includes

The no-cost version (for personal use) lets you create up to six profiles — typically enough for most people. Each profile can store a range of network parameters:

• DNS servers
• Default gateway settings
• Subnet mask values
• IP address assignments

You can also save additional system-related options per profile:

• Run custom scripts
• Default printer selection
• WINS server
• Computer name

These profiles are presented as tabs you can click through and activate depending on which connection you need.

Ease of setup

Setting up a connection is straightforward. With the necessary details on hand, configuring up to six different profiles only takes a few minutes. The input fields are more forgiving than Windows’ Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) Properties dialog, which sometimes auto-inserts unnecessary zeros.

Backup and sharing

You can export your complete set of profiles to a file and send it to another user of the same tool. This makes transferring or restoring a configuration quick and convenient.

Limitations and interface notes

While very useful, the program has a few shortcomings:

• Some essential options such as SMTP and firewall rules are not configurable, so you’ll still need to tweak those settings separately.
• The user interface could be clearer. For example, renaming a profile isn’t immediately obvious — the rename action is available via right-click, but a visible edit control would be more intuitive.

Despite these drawbacks, NetSetMan is a valuable utility for people who switch networks regularly; it saves much of the repetitive work that should ideally be built into the OS.

Suggested free alternative

If you’re looking for other options, IP Switcher is a commonly recommended free alternative.

Recent fixes and updates

• Resolved minor profile activation glitches
• Fixed focus issue where the application on the logon screen would steal focus
• Corrected multiple instances of the logon form icon appearing
• Fixed activation errors affecting Firefox and Opera in some situations
• Corrected command-line activation behavior that failed in the previous release
• Improved messages in the import/export settings dialog
• Updated several language translations