Options Menu

From Unofficial BOINC Wiki

Contents 1 General 2 Menu Overview 3 General Tab 4 Tasks Overview 4.1 Summary

[edit] General

This Menu allows the Participant to change the configuration settings of the BOINC Client Software so that they get the desired operation on the computer that is being monitored by the BOINC Client Software.

Obviously, the "language" selection on the "General" Tab is to allow you to use a language other than English for the various text strings used with the BOINC Client Software.

The ability to use proxies with the BOINC Client Software allows us to:

1. Increase Security, It insulates your machine from the world and can be used to mask your identity.
2. Provide access "outside" from a secure internal network.
3. Dodge around a routing/connectivity problems.

Proxies are conceptually simple: you connect to the server proxy, and the proxy server connects out on your behalf. The response comes back and the proxy server returns it to you.

[edit] Menu Overview

The Tools Menu has only one option at this time and it is "Options" and it calls up a modal window.

This window has 3 tabs:

• General
• HTTP Proxy
• SOCKS Proxy

[edit] General Tab

In this tab you can select the language that you wish the BOINC Manager to use. After changing the language a pop-up window will tell you that you have to restart the BOINC Client Software.

[edit] Tasks Overview

[edit] Summary

Well, with the File Menu out of the way we can cover the middle menu, which, of course is the "Tools Menu". In keeping with the remainder of the local BIONC Manager the Tools Menu has only a couple options.

• Attach to Project …
• Proxy Server …

We cannot live without these two options, but they are, for the most part an option that is going to be used once or twice and then never again. However, they are important and we cannot skip the description of these options and how to use them to the best effect.

The specific menu items on the "Settings" Menu are as follows:

Proxy Server … The main BOINC window The "Proxy Server…" Setup Window

This menu option, when selected, will open a modal dialog window that will allow you to set up and configure your proxy server settings.

Let me start out by explaining that if you are an individual that is using the BOINC Client Software at home, there is almost no chance at all of you needing these settings to make your system work with and of the project's Data Servers and web servers.

A proxy server is a special server that acts as a connection between the computer that you are using and the outside world. The two main purposes for a proxy server is to speed up access for frequently requested information, such as web pages; and to restrict access to the Internet to only a couple servers, making the process of securing the network much easier.

So, with that in mind, let us talk about what is done here with this dialog window.

Firstly, we know that you are almost certainly a user that is on a corporate network (or a person that has a significant network infrastructure at home). And because of that, you have written permission to use your computer to do projects with the BOINC Software. You do have that written permission, don't you? If not, well, that is the first step. Obtain written permission to use BOINC on your work PC. As a matter of fact, even if you plan to use your own personal computer to run the BOINC Software and will connect to the project's Data Servers you should have written permission to make this connection.

With that out of the way, we have to note that there are two possible types of proxy servers that can be used to act as a gateway controlling access to the Internet that can be used with the BOINC Software. They are:

   * HTTP Proxy, and
   * SOCKS Proxy

In general, you will use one or the other of these, and in rare circumstances both.

To use an HTTP Proxy:

1. Place a check into the field "Connect via HTTP proxy server".
2. Enter the URL for your proxy server.
3. If required by your organization you may use a different port number that is not the standard number of "80". If that is the case, enter the correct number in the field "Port number".

To use a SOCKS Proxy:

1. Place a check into the field "Connect via SOCKS proxy server".
2. Enter the identification for your SOCKS proxy server (normally this will be an IP address or a host name).
3. If required by your organization you may use a different port number that is not the standard number of "1080". If that is the case, enter the correct number in the field "Port number".
4. if your organization requires a "user name" and password enter those in the appropriate fields.
5. Click on the "Ok" button.

If you think that you have made a mistake, or want to exit without saving changes you can, of course, always click on the "Cancel" button.