How to Configure Proxy Settings on a BricsCAD Client Computer

Quick answer: There are two ways to configure BricsCAD’s proxy settings, and they’re not interchangeable. The Proxy Settings dialog only lasts for the current session, you’d need to reconfigure it every time. Network licences reconnect to the licence server every session, so that’s not practical for them; a permanent method exists instead, setting the HTTP_PROXY environment variable on the client computer.

Configuring Proxy Settings for One Session

In the Activate BricsCAD or Licensing Information dialog, click Proxy Settings….
Fill in the fields in the Proxy dialog.
Click OK.

This only applies to the current session. If you reactivate or deactivate a licence in a future session, you’ll need to configure it again. The same settings are also accessible from the Proxy settings section of BricsCAD’s Settings dialog, if that’s a more convenient way in for you.

Configuring Proxy Settings Permanently (for Network Licences)

Network licences need to reconnect to the licence server every session, so the session-only dialog setting isn’t practical for ongoing use. Instead, set this up once on the computer where BricsCAD runs:

Create an HTTP_PROXY environment variable:

HTTP_PROXY=[LicenseServer]:[PortNumber]

If your proxy requires basic authentication, also create HTTP_PROXY_CREDENTIALS:

HTTP_PROXY_CREDENTIALS=[UserName]:[Password]

This is separate from BricsCAD’s own PROXYSERVER system variables, which are a related but distinct set of internal settings. If you’re scripting proxy configuration across many machines rather than doing occasional one-off activations, it’s worth checking both rather than assuming they’re the same thing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the Proxy Settings dialog configuration stick permanently? No. It only lasts for the current session; you’ll need to reconfigure it every time you reactivate or deactivate a licence afterwards.

Why do network licences need a different, permanent proxy setup? Because they reconnect to the licence server every session, not just once at initial activation. A session-only setting would mean reconfiguring proxy details constantly.

Do I need HTTP_PROXY_CREDENTIALS as well as HTTP_PROXY? Only if your proxy server requires basic authentication. Otherwise, HTTP_PROXY alone is enough.

Is this the same as BricsCAD’s PROXYSERVER system variables? No. They’re a separate, related mechanism. The permanent method described here is specifically the HTTP_PROXY environment variable.