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NetShift

One-click IP preset switching for Windows.

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Download

The latest release of NetShift is available on the Releases page.
Download the NetShiftInstaller.exe file directly from GitHub Releases and run it as Administrator to install.

Overview

NetShift is a Windows utility that simplifies switching IP settings on network adapters. It allows users to quickly toggle between static IP configurations and DHCP using predefined presets — ideal for environments where network settings frequently change.
The app is designed to be user-friendly, secure, and efficient, minimizing user privilege requirements while maintaining robust functionality.

Key Features

  • Preset Management: Save, apply, and delete IP configuration presets.
  • DHCP Support: Reset adapters to DHCP easily.
  • Network Adapter Detection: Lists physical adapters (excludes Bluetooth adapters).
  • Registry Fallback: Preconfigure IP settings when adapters are disconnected.
  • Service-Based Architecture: A LocalSystem Windows service (NetShiftServiceCpp) handles privileged operations, installed via NetShiftServiceInstaller.
  • Installer: Self-contained installer with .NET 8 Desktop Runtime handling.

Security Considerations

RiskMitigation
Service runs as LocalSystemLocal-only named pipe, input validation, and code signing.
Code signingAll binaries are signed via SSL.com cloud signing to preserve trust.
User privilege modelMain app runs standard user level (asInvoker), no UAC prompt.
Log filesLogs are stored under user-local AppData, access-controlled.
Local network communicationWCF NetNamedPipeBinding used, locked to localhost only.

Installation

Prerequisites

  • Windows 10 (x64) or later.
  • .NET 8 Desktop Runtime.

Steps to Install

  1. Download the latest NetShiftInstaller.exe from the Releases page.
  2. Run NetShiftInstaller.exe as Administrator.
  3. Follow the installer prompts.

Silent Install

For automated deployments:

NetShiftInstaller.exe /silent

Usage

  1. Launch NetShift from Start Menu or Desktop.
  2. Select a network adapter.
  3. Apply a preset or manually configure IP settings.
  4. Click “Apply” or “Reset to DHCP.”
  5. Save new presets for quick switching.

Building and Contributing

Automated Build and Release

This project uses GitHub Actions to automatically:

  • Build the NetShift application (NetShiftMain), service (NetShiftServiceCpp), and installer helper (NetShiftServiceInstaller).
  • Package the signed installer EXE using Inno Setup.
  • Cloud sign all binaries using SSL.com eSigner.
  • Publish new signed releases on GitHub.

The pipeline only triggers when:

  • A version tag (e.g., v1.0.1) is pushed.

Manual Local Build

If you want to build manually:

  1. Clone the Repository:
git clone https://github.com/Mainframe79/NetShift.git
cd NetShift
  1. Install Prerequisites:
  • Visual Studio with .NET desktop workload
  • .NET desktop development workload (for NetShiftMain and NetShift.Models).
  • Desktop development with C++ workload (for NetShiftServiceCpp and NetShiftServiceInstaller).
  1. Build Projects:

  • Open NetShift.sln in Visual Studio.

  • Build the solution in Release|x64 configuration:

    • NetShiftMain (C# WPF app).
    • NetShiftServiceCpp (C++ service).
    • NetShiftServiceInstaller (C++ installer helper).

  • The build outputs will be in:

    • NetShiftMain\bin\x64\Release\net8.0-windows\net8.0-windows\NetShiftMain.exe
    • NetShiftServiceCpp\x64\Release\NetShiftServiceCpp.exe
    • NetShiftServiceInstaller\x64\Release\NetShiftServiceInstaller.exe

Build the Installer: Navigate to NetShiftSetup and run the Inno Setup compiler (ISCC.exe) on setup.iss:

"C:\Program Files (x86)\Inno Setup 6\ISCC.exe" NetShiftSetup\setup.iss /DMyAppVersion="1.0.0"

The installer (NetShiftInstaller.exe) will be generated in the artifacts directory.

  1. Test Installer:
copy NetShift\artifacts\NetShiftInstaller.exe C:\Temp\
cd C:\Temp
NetShiftInstaller.exe

Contributing

Pull requests are welcome!
Please fork the repository, make your changes, and submit a pull request.
Ensure changes are well-tested and match the project’s security-first standards.

How It Works

User --> NetShiftMain.exe (runs as Standard User)
            |
            --> (Named Pipe Communication: \\.\pipe\NetShiftService)
                    --> NetShiftServiceCpp.exe (runs as LocalSystem)
                               |
                               --> Windows Networking Stack (Change IP / DHCP Settings)
  • The user interacts with a normal UI without needing elevation.
  • All privileged operations (IP reconfiguration, registry edits) happen securely through the service.
  • The service is isolated, only accessible locally, and installed via NetShiftServiceInstaller.exe.

License

NetShift is licensed under the MIT License.

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