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Safari & Camino on OS X - Proxy configuration instructions

Follow these instructions to configure web browsers on Apple Mac OS X to use the University web proxy server.

Most web browsers on OS X use the proxy settings stored in Network Preferences and shared by all applications on the system (as described on this page).

We suggest either Safari (built-in web browser provided by Apple) or Firefox (free to download) as the best web browsers to use on OS X.

Safari OS X 10.2 / 10.3

Please note: If you only have OS X 10.2 and want to use the offsite proxy, use Firefox instead of Safari. Safari in 10.2 does not support the autoproxy configuration that the offsite proxy needs.

  1. Open the Apple menu, go to System Preferences and click on Network
  2. Click on the Proxies tab
  3. Put a tick in Web Proxy (HTTP), type wwwcache.bris.ac.uk in the long box and 8080 in the port box.
  4. Put a tick in Secure Web Proxy, type wwwcache.bris.ac.uk in the long box and 8080 in the port box.

    The window should now look similar to this:
    OS X proxy settings
    Screenshot: OS 10.2 / 10.3 proxy settings (enlarge image)

  5. OS 10.3 only: scroll to bottom of list, put a tick in Automatic Proxy Configuration and type http://wwwcache.bris.ac.uk/autoconfig in the box.

    The window should now look similar to this (OS 10.3 only):
    OS X auto proxy settings
    Screenshot: OS 10.3 proxy autoconfiguration settings (enlarge image)

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Safari OS X 10.4

  1. Open the Apple menu, go to System Preferences and click on Network
  2. Click on the Proxies tab
  3. In the Configure Proxies dropdown list, select Using a PAC file
  4. In the PAC File URL box type: http://wwwcache.bris.ac.uk/autoconfig
  5. Click Apply Now and close the network panel.

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Safari OS X 10.5 (Leopard)

  1. Open the Apple menu, go to System Preferences and click on Network
  2. Click on the connection you are using to access the Internet: either Built-in Ethernet (wired) or AirPort (wireless).
  3. Click Advanced...
  4. Click on the Proxies tab
  5. In the Configure Proxies dropdown list, select Using a PAC file
  6. In the PAC File URL box type: http://wwwcache.bris.ac.uk/autoconfig
  7. Click Apply Now and close the network panel.

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Safari OS X 10.6 (Snow Leopard)

  1. Open the Apple menu, go to System Preferences and click on Network
  2. Click on the connection you are using to access the Internet: either Built-in Ethernet (wired) or AirPort (wireless).
  3. Click Advanced...
  4. Click on the Proxies tab
  5. Select Automatic Proxy Configuration so it has a tick in the box and is highlighted
  6. To the Right, there should now be a "URL" text box. Enter the following: http://wwwcache.bris.ac.uk/autoconfig
  7. Click Apply Now and close the network panel.

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Safari OS X 10.6 (Snow Leopard)

  1. Open the Apple menu, go to System Preferences and click on Network
  2. Click on the connection you are using to access the Internet: either Built-in Ethernet (wired) or AirPort (wireless).
  3. Click Advanced...
  4. Click on the Proxies tab
  5. Select Automatic Proxy Configuration so it has a tick in the box and is highlighted
  6. To the Right, there should now be a "URL" text box. Enter the following: http://wwwcache.bris.ac.uk/autoconfig
  7. Click Apply Now and close the network panel.

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Safari OS X 10.7 (Snow Leopard)

In our tests, the offsite proxy does not seem to give you an authentication prompt when running safari under OS X 10.7. However in our tests Firefox seems to work fine. To download and install firefox please visit http://www.mozilla.org/. Once installed, Please use the instructions in the section below to configure the proxy.

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Firefox

See separate instructions to configure Firefox

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