How to Install TinyProxy on Ubuntu 20.04 / 22.04. In this blog post, we have a closer look at how Tinyproxy works and what the advantages. After that we show you how to install TinyProxy on Ubuntu server.
TinyProxy is an HTTP/HTTPS proxy server that acts as an intermediary between the client and server and runs on Linux and POSIX operating systems. Well, it allows you to browse the internet safely and anonymously with this lightweight, open source small program.
Shall we start with How to Install TinyProxy on Ubuntu 20.04 / 22.04.
What is TinyProxy?
First of all, TinyProxy is a free, open source proxy server application that is small in size and supports limited functionalities. But plays a crucial role in filtering as well as forwarding web requests. Easily run it on small systems, such as Raspberry Pi or other embedded devices for it uses very little system resources.
A perfect solution for use cases like embedded deployments that require a full featured HTTP proxy. But the system resources for a larger proxy are not accessible because it was built from the ground up to be fast and yet small.
Well, a simple POSIX environment is all that is needed to create and run Tinyproxy. However, it makes use of extra libraries to enhance functionality. With the memory footprint of around 2 MB with glibc it is distributed under the GNU GPL license version 2 or above. Additionally, it is easy to modify and has a straightforward source.
In addition, comparing TinyProxy with other traditional proxies, it is used for content caching, load balancing as well as web filtering. Further, it offers improved security and fast speed.
How does TinyProxy work?
Every time a client sends a request, Tinyproxy intercepts the received requests for web pages and determines whether the desired page is present in its cache before responding. Later, the proxy server forwards the stored version of the page to the client if it finds that page is available in the cache; otherwise, it sends the request to the web server. After processing the request, the web server responds to Tinyproxy, which then sends it on to the client.
All in all, it is easier to modify, unlike other proxy server applications. Utilize it to serve as the front end of a reverse proxy for your web pages an even includes or inserts HTTP headers into outgoing data using the AddHeader directive (HTTP only).
Advantages of TinyProxy
Apart from being simple, efficient, and easy to use, the lightweight proxy server, it also provides a fast and secure way to access the internet. You no longer have to worry about the privacy or security of websites when accessing them. Basically, it has various benefits that make it an ideal option for organizations that want to keep their network safe from malicious activities. Let us have a look at a few benefits of TinyProxy:
Open source
Anyone downloads and uses TinyProxy for free because it is open source software. A community of developers also continuously updates and improves it, ensuring that it is safe and up to date.
Lightweight
What is more, TinyProxy is a lightweight program that requires a small number of system resources to run on a Linux system. Whether you want to use it on embedded systems or systems with low processing power, it is a perfect option.
Customization
Due to its extensive configuration options, TinyProxy is tailored to each user’s individual requirements. Caching, filtering, logging, and access control are just a few of the configuration options offered by the proxy server.
Supports remote monitoring
View proxy statistics remotely with the help of the remote monitoring feature supported by TinyProxy, which informs you precisely how busy the proxy is.
Ability to control access
Another benefit of TinyProxy is that you limit access by only permitting requests from a specific subnet or interface, preventing unauthorized users from randomly accessing your proxy.
Increased Speed
Also, TinyProxy uses the caching mechanism to track frequently accessed web pages and is fast than other traditional proxy servers. Being one of the fast proxy server programs, it helps to reduce response times and enhances overall performance.
Better Security
Configure TinyProxy to use SSL/TLS encryption for secure communications. Besides, it ensures that all the file transfers or data transmission is done over the network are fully encrypted and secure against spying and manipulation.
How to Install TinyProxy on Ubuntu 20.04 / 22.04
Follow this section, to learn how to install and configure TinyProxy on Ubuntu 20.04 / 22.04 server.
Prerequisites
- A server running Ubuntu 20.04 or 22.04 operating system.
- A root user or a user with sudo privileges.
TinyProxy on Azure
TinyProxy on AWS
TinyProxy on GCP
Install TinyProxy
By default, the TinyProxy package is included in the Ubuntu default repository. Well, install it via the APT command line tool.
apt install tinyproxy -y
After installing the TinyProxy package, you need to start the TinyProxy service and enable it to start at command line.
systemctl start tinyproxy
systemctl enable tinyproxy
Next, please verify the status of the TinyProxy service using the following command.
systemctl status tinyproxy
You should see the TinyProxy service status on the following screen.
To verify the TinyProxy version, run the following command.
tinyproxy -v
You should see the version information in the following output.
tinyproxy 1.11.0
If you want to check the TinyProxy package information, run the following command.
apt policy tinyproxy
You should see the following screen.
Configure TinyProxy
By default, the TinyProxy main configuration file is located at /etc/tinyproxy/tinyproxy.conf. You need to edit and modify it as per your requirement.
Let’s edit the /etc/tinyproxy/tinyproxy.conf file using the nano editor.
nano /etc/tinyproxy/tinyproxy.conf
Specify your listening port:
Port 8888
Add your client machine’s IP or IP range as shown below.
Allow your-ip-address
Define your listening IP address.
Listen your-ip-address
Uncomment the following line to enable the filter.
Filter “/etc/tinyproxy/filter”
FilterExtended On
Define your authentication username and password.
BasicAuth proxyuser password
Save and close the file when you are done.
Next, create a filter configuration file and add a website that you want to block.
nano /etc/tinyproxy/filter
Add your prefered website list:
google.com
facebook.com
bing.com
Save and close the file when you are done. Then, restart the TinyProxy service to implement the changes.
systemctl restart tinyproxy
At this point, the TinyProxy is started and listens on port 8888. Check it with the following command.
ss -antpl | grep tinyproxy
You should see the following output.
LISTEN 0 1024 209.23.11.106:8888 0.0.0.0:* users:(("tinyproxy",pid=2042,fd=0))
Configure Proxy Settings on Client Machine
At this point, your TinyProxy is installed and configured. Now, you need to define your proxy server on the client’s machine. Go to the client machine, open a Mozilla web browser, and click on the settings. You should see the following screen.
Scroll down the page and click on the Network Setting. See the proxy setting screen.
Define your proxy server IP, and port, and click on the Ok button to save the configuration.
Now, type the URL https://www.whatismyip.com in the new tab. You will be asked to provide your username and password on the following screen.
Provide your TinyProxy username, password and click on the Sign in button. See the following screen next.
As you can see, the TinyProxy hides your system IP address. Now use the Internet anonymously.
Now, try to access the website https://google.com. We have blocked the Google website. So, you should see the following screen.
Thank you for reading How to Install TinyProxy on Ubuntu 20.04 / 22.04. We shall conclude this article blog.
How to Install TinyProxy on Ubuntu 20.04 / 22.04 Conclusion
Finally, Tinyproxy is a small, lightweight proxy server but is much more powerful than traditional proxy servers. On one side you use it to uplift internet performance and improve security. Lastly, it offers various customization options as well as has the ability to control access and monitor remotely. Businesses and people who need a quick, effective, and secure proxy server rely on Tinyproxy for all their needs.
Feel free to explore our Proxy content, by navigating to our blog section over here.
