031 | Proxy Servers in Action: 3proxy — A Compact and Multifunctional Proxy Server 🤏⚙️

In our exploration of proxy servers, we’ve already looked at giants like Nginx and HAProxy, as well as the versatile SOCKS-focused Dante. Today, we turn our attention to 3proxy — a surprisingly compact yet incredibly multifunctional solution that could become your Swiss army knife in the world of proxying.

What is 3proxy?

3proxy is free, open-source software that, despite its small footprint (hence the “3”), is one of the most versatile proxy servers available. It is designed to run on various operating systems including Windows, Linux, macOS, and BSD. Its main strength is its ability to act as a proxy for a wide range of network protocols, often not supported in more specialized solutions.

3proxy is ideal for those who need a single, lightweight tool to handle many proxying tasks, especially in environments with limited resources or small-scale networks.

3proxy: The Many-Faced Middleman – Main Functions and Use Cases

Unlike narrowly focused proxies, 3proxy is capable of handling many types of traffic, making it highly flexible.

Common use cases for 3proxy include:

1. HTTP/HTTPS Proxying:

   • Use Case: Standard web proxying, allowing clients to access the internet through a proxy.
   • How 3proxy Works: Supports HTTP proxying with basic authentication. For HTTPS, it works as a CONNECT proxy (tunnels encrypted traffic).
   • Advantage: Can serve as a simple forward HTTP proxy for small office or home networks.

2. SOCKS Proxy (SOCKS4/SOCKS5):

   • Use Case: Proxying any TCP/UDP traffic, similar to Dante.
   • How 3proxy Works: Provides SOCKS proxy functionality, enabling applications that don’t support HTTP proxies to connect through it. Supports authentication for SOCKS5.
   • Advantage: Great for games, messengers, VPN clients, and other network software.

3. FTP Proxying:

   • Use Case: Access FTP servers through a proxy — useful in restricted networks.
   • How 3proxy Works: Supports both active and passive FTP modes.
   • Advantage: Solves access issues caused by firewalls or NAT.

4. Mail Protocol Proxying (SMTP, POP3):

   • Use Case: Proxying traffic for sending (SMTP) and receiving (POP3) emails.
   • How 3proxy Works: Routes mail traffic through the proxy server.
   • Advantage: Useful for centralizing mail traffic or bypassing ISP restrictions.

5. DNS Proxy:

   • Use Case: Intercepting and redirecting DNS queries, with optional caching.
   • How 3proxy Works: Can act as a DNS resolver or forward requests to an upstream DNS server.
   • Advantage: Improves name resolution speed and enables basic DNS filtering.

6. Authentication and Access Control:

   • Use Case: Define who can use the proxy and what resources they can access.
   • How 3proxy Works: Supports multiple authentication methods (username/password, IP-based) and flexible access rules based on IP, port, and time of day.
   • Advantage: Enables detailed access policies for individual users or groups.

7. Logging:

   • Use Case: Keep detailed logs of all proxy traffic.
   • How 3proxy Works: Can log information about each connection, including client IP, destination, time, and traffic volume.
   • Advantage: Important for auditing, monitoring, and troubleshooting.

Pros of 3proxy: 👍

• Compact and Lightweight: Uses very little disk space and minimal memory/CPU, making it ideal for old machines, embedded systems, or resource-constrained VPSs.
• Multifunctionality: Supports a wide range of protocols in one package (HTTP, HTTPS, SOCKS, FTP, SMTP, POP3, DNS, TFTP), eliminating the need for multiple tools.
• Cross-Platform: Runs on most popular operating systems.
• Flexible Configuration: Despite its size, it offers highly customizable access and authentication rules.
• Simple Installation: Often distributed as a single executable file with no complex installation required.
• Free and Open Source: Fully available for use and study.

Cons of 3proxy: 👎

• Lacks Advanced HTTP Caching: Unlike Squid, 3proxy doesn’t offer advanced caching for HTTP traffic, which may be a drawback for optimizing web traffic in large networks.
• Not Meant for High-Load Reverse Proxy Scenarios: For tasks like load balancing or SSL termination under heavy loads, Nginx or HAProxy are more appropriate. 3proxy is best suited for forward proxy use.
• Text-Based Configuration: The lack of a graphical interface and reliance on text config files (albeit relatively simple ones) can be a barrier for beginners.
• Limited Feature Depth Compared to Specialized Tools: While it supports many protocols, its functionality for each may not be as deep as that of specialized tools (e.g., Dante offers more SOCKS-specific options).

Conclusion

3proxy is an excellent choice for those looking for a compact, universal, and lightweight proxy server to handle a variety of tasks, especially in small networks or systems with limited resources. It can be an indispensable tool for providing internet access, proxying specific traffic types, or achieving basic anonymity. If you want an “all-in-one” proxy without extra complexity or cost, 3proxy definitely deserves your attention.

In the next and final article of this series, we’ll take a look at Squid — the classic caching proxy server that has reliably optimized web traffic for decades.