I believe it will also work when not behind a proxy. If the connection doesn't exist, it is not supposed to bring up a dial dialog. Go ahead and try to read the test page. If we get it, then we are connected. Otherwise we are not.
Local system uses a local area network to connect to the Internet.
Local system uses a modem to connect to the Internet. No longer used. Local system is in offline mode. Local system uses a proxy server to connect to the Internet. Local system has RAS installed.