Enter another relay and use a proxy

What it is for

By default BrowserDesk connects to browserdesk.de. If you run your own relay, enter its address in the program. It applies to the whole device — including the background service. In a company network with a proxy, also set the proxy.

What you need

• BrowserDesk on the device, Windows, Mac or Linux (C1).
• The relay's address, for example wss://relay.company.com:9013. Ask your relay operator.
• For a proxy: host and port, possibly user and password.

How to do it

Enter the relay address

1. Open BrowserDesk → Einstellungen › Netzwerk (Settings > Network).
2. In the card Netzwerk (Network), under “RELAY-ADRESSE” (relay address), enter the address, for example wss://relay.company.com:9013.
3. Leave the field or press Enter. The address is saved for the whole device.
4. If the service is running, it follows by itself. Below the field you see „Der Hintergrunddienst zieht um …“ (the background service is moving), shortly after „Der Hintergrunddienst ist jetzt mit … verbunden“ (now connected to …).
5. Add the device to the access on the new relay (C2).

Back to browserdesk.de: enter wss://browserdesk.de:443 and leave the field. Below the field you then see „Relay gewechselt — …“ (relay switched).

Set a proxy

1. Einstellungen › Netzwerk (Settings > Network) → card Proxy.
2. Under “MODUS” (mode) choose: - Kein (None) — direct connection, - System — the system's proxy settings (environment variables http_proxy, https_proxy, no_proxy), - Manuell (Manual) — enter “PROXY-HOST”, “PORT” and optionally “BENUTZER (OPTIONAL)” (user) and “PASSWORT” (password).
3. In the card Netzwerktest (Network test) click Test starten (Start test).

How you know it worked

• Below the field it says „Gespeichert.“ (saved) or „Relay gewechselt — …“ (relay switched) and then that the background service is connected.
• The card Relay-Einstellungen (Relay settings) shows the new relay. Jetzt vom Relay laden (Load from relay now) fetches the current state.
• The Netzwerktest (Network test) checks DNS, TCP, TLS, HTTPS and the WebSocket connection one by one and shows where it gets stuck.

Good to know

• Switching back and forth: the device remembers its state per relay (certificate, access). If you return to a relay, it says „Relay gewechselt — Zertifikat und Zugang für … wiederhergestellt.“ (certificate and access restored); on a new relay „Relay gewechselt — das Gerät schreibt sich bei … neu ein.“ (the device registers anew). There it appears as a new device.
• First the address, then the join: a join always goes to the relay currently entered. On the wrong relay it is refused (C3).
• Without a scheme the program adds wss://, without a port it uses 443. If your relay runs on 9013, include the port. Unencrypted ws:// only works to your own computer. Invalid input is not saved.
• Proxy: HTTP proxies only (CONNECT). With a proxy, the picture always runs via the relay. The proxy password is stored protected (DPAPI) on the device.
• Variable BD_RELAY: if it is set on the computer, it takes precedence over the field. The card points this out.
• Pass on a diagnosis: in the card Netzwerktest (Network test), Diagnose exportieren (Export diagnosis) creates a report. More in Network diagnosis.
• Further guides: Change the relay address, Configure a proxy.

If it does not work