How do I tell the R interpreter how to use the proxy server?

Solution 1:

You have two options:

1. Use --internet2 or setInternet2(TRUE) and set the proxy details in the control panel, in Internet Options
2. Do not use either --internet2 or setInternet2(FALSE), but specify the environment variables

EDIT: One trick is, you cannot change your mind between 1 and 2, after you have tried it in a session, i.e. if you run the command setInternet2(TRUE) and try to use it e.g. install.packages('reshape2'), should this fail, you cannot then call setInternet2(FALSE). You have to restart the R session.

As of R version 3.2.0, the setInternet2 function can set internet connection settings and change them within the same R session. No need to restart.

When using option 2, one way (which is nice and compact) to specify the username and password is http_proxy="http://user:[email protected]:8080/"

In the past, I have had most luck with option 2

Solution 2:

If you want internet2 to be used everytime you use R you could add the following line to the Rprofile.site file which is located in R.x.x\etc\Rprofile.site

utils::setInternet2(TRUE)