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

June 23, 2025

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.

030 | Proxy Servers in Action: Dante — a Versatile SOCKS Proxy Server

June 22, 2025

We continue exploring the world of proxy servers. After looking into Nginx and HAProxy, which primarily handle HTTP and high-level load balancing, it’s time to look at Dante. This proxy server specializes in the SOCKS protocol, offering lower-level proxying for any TCP and UDP traffic.

What is Dante?

Dante is a free, open-source software designed to function as a SOCKS proxy server. Unlike HTTP proxies, which operate at the application layer (OSI Layer 7) and understand web traffic, SOCKS proxies work at the transport layer (OSI Layer 4). This means Dante can proxy virtually any network traffic, regardless of its contents, making it extremely versatile.