How does Windows actually detect LAN (proxy) settings when using Automatic Configuration

Question

When Windows Internet Properties -> Connections -> LAN Settings -> Automatic Configuration is set to "Automatically detect settings" how does Windows actually determine/discover what the settings are? Is it a network broadcast or some kind of targeted query to a server configured somewhere in the registry, or something else?

Answer 1

Its simple: Browsers (Firefox works the same) query GET http://wpad/wpad.dat.

If a web server named wpad is resolveable, it should serve wpad.dat, a script file analog to netscape PAC files. MIME type must also be "application/x-ns-proxy-autoconfig".

Answer 2

This info about WPAD (Web Proxy Auto Discovery) seems to describe the process in detail, though I have confirmed that what Tomalak says is also actually occurring.

Answer 3

It's a network broadcast, usually using DHCP.

That there wikipedia page should tell you all you need to know.

Answer 4

The IE configuration described enables a WPAD implementation. Here's the Microsoft explanation of the entire mechanism (probably too much detail for a single post).

Answer 5

Its DHCP ;)

In modern systems it is DHCP who does this all.

Answer 6

•Go to Tools > Options > General > Connection Settings > •Set to “Manual Proxy Configuration”