An automated solution can be beneficial to the user, as it offers to change to a different network profile in seconds.

NetCon Manager is a basic program for the job. It can be used to create different network profiles like the previously reviewed TCP Profiles Manager. Basic in this regard means that it only offers a basic set of parameters per profile.

The supported parameters include the local IP address, subnet mask, gateway and DNS servers. It is in this regard inferior to Quick Config which offers to change additional settings such as the hosts file, computer name, workgroup and domain memberships or the default system printer.

New profiles can be created, deleted and activated in the main interface of the program. Each profile uses the aforementioned values.A comfortable option is the ability to load the current configuration for the active network connection, which can save some typing.

To change the network settings the user would either have to click on the change network settings button in the program interface, or right-click on the system tray icon of the program and pick the desired network profile from the list of all available profiles.

Netcon Manager can be configured to run at Windows system start. The free program may prove useful for some users. An overview of the program’s features and options is available at the developer website.

Manually changing a network adapter’s IP address, and other network related information may be an option if done irregularly, but a software to automate most of the process could save a lot of time.

TCP Profiles Manager is a basic software for this purpose. It supports the creation of multiple network profiles, but limits the parameters that may be changed to TCP/IP and DNS settings.

tcp profiles manager

The program on startup displays a list of available profiles, and options to create, delete, edit and activate profiles in the left sidebar. First time users should make sure that English is the selected language of the program. As a side note, the installation is only available in French, the software itself in English and French.

A new network profile requires the selection of a name, icon, network interface, either manual or automatic IP address settings, and a manual or automatic selection of DNS servers.

internet protocol

TCP Profiles Manager lacks some of the features that previously reviewed applications offer. Network Settings Manager for instance offers options to configure default printers, network drives, WINS or scripts for each network profile.

Even the similar Network Profile Switcher supports plugins to change settings like the Internet Explorer proxy automatically for each network profile.

Still, Windows users who are looking for a program that changes IP and DNS related network settings automatically, may take a look at TCP Profiles Switcher. Advanced users, and users who require more functionality may be better of with NetSetMan.

TCP Profiles Manager is compatible with 32-bit and 64-bit editions of the Windows operating system. It has been tested on a Windows 7 Pro 64-bit system.

The network management software Network Switcher offers a better solution to manually changing network settings. It can store multiple network profiles allowing the user to switch between network profiles easily whenever the need arises.

Each profile that is created in Network Switcher contains two network connections that contain various networking parameters including the IP address, DNS servers, the subnet mask and the default gateway. It is furthermore possible to enable the option to obtain IP addresses from DHCP servers.

Network Switcher is limited to the TCP/IP protocol and extensible through plugins. One plugin, to disable the Internet Explorer proxy, is provided by the developer of the software.

The software is Open Source and the source code is supplied with the download of the networking software.

Network Switcher requires the Microsoft .net Framework 2.0 and is compatible with Windows XP or newer Windows operating system.

It seems that the developer has discontinued development of the software program.

NetSetMan, short for Network Settings Manager, is a software for Windows XP, 2000, 2003 and Vista that provides up to six network profiles that can be activated with two mouse clicks. The settings are divided into three sections: IP, DNS Server and Additional.

The IP section defines if the IP address is obtained automatically in that profile or if a predefined IP, Subnet Mask and Gateway should be used. The DNS server can also be obtained automatically or added in the preferred and alternate slots in that section.

The Additional setting finally contains several important configurations such as the default printer, network drives, PC Name, Workgroup and DNS Domain as well as links scripts – bat, vbs, js – that can be executed.

The settings are saved separately which makes it easy to transfer them to another notebook or computer. The Professional version of the Network Settings Manager comes with a few extras like unlimited profiles, network-domain and proxy settings. NetSetMan is a great application for users who have to switch network settings regularly.