NetSetMan is intended to manage network settings. In this respect, the tool lets you create various connection profiles and switch between them according to specific situations. The program’s interface has separate tabs for each profile, which makes it quite easy to navigate. When active, it remains hidden as an icon in the system tray, from which you can easily choose the required profile. Although I would not say the tool is difficult to use, it does require some technical knowledge about networks.
Each of the profiles you create needs to be configured to work with one of the available network LAN or wireless adapters. It is possible to use the default parameters, such as automatic IP addresses and DNS servers. However, you can also customize the connection by setting specific IP, gateway, route table, WINS server, SMTP, network drives, hosts, scripts, and IPv6. Luckily, you are allowed to create auto-switch rules, which can change the profile according to the specified conditions, including time frame, surrounding Wi-Fi network, adapter status, and network location.
Network profiles can be easily managed. Thus, you can rename and disable them. Likewise, they can be exported to a file and loaded when it is necessary. Additionally, the program provides a group of shortcuts to Windows locations, like Control Panel, sound volume, Windows Firewall and power plan. These can be accessed right from the program’s System Tray icon.
In general, NetSetMan can come in very handy when you usually connect to different networks (public, work, and home). It's being able to run in portable mode is an undeniable advantage, since you can use the program from a USB stick on different devices. The product is free to use for non-commercial purposes. However, you should know that its unpaid version has some limitations related to the maximum number of profiles as well as the impossibility to use a proxy server and join a network domain.
v3.6 [Oct 28, 2013]
- NEW: Advanced TCP/IP Settings (replacing "Additional Addresses")
Route Table
IPConfig (/release, /renew, /flushdns, /registerdns)
NetBIOS (default, activate, deactivate)
DNS Suffix with the complete Windows-like functionality
Previous DNS Domain feature becomes part of it and needs
to be reactivated if required in some of your profiles!
- NEW: Introducing "NetSetMan Touch" support!
Free Windows 8 Store App to activate your existing profiles
from a touch-friendly Metro/Modern UI interface
Release date: 2013-11-05
- Fix: Minimizing main program window didn't work in some cases
- Fix: NSM Service error 1355 on program start in rare cases
- Fix: InfoTray problems with ampersand character in profile names
- Fix: Missing icons in Compact Mode menu
- Fix: Driver modification of NIC deleted settings if ini was encrypted
- Fix: Problem with updating NICs in a copied ini
- Fix (Pro): Domain connection with Win7/8 and some special characters
- Reworked all message boxes: native look & consistent behavior
- Lots of minor fixes and adjustments
A program that lets you easily manage your laptop connections to WiMAX networks
