Proxy Router
What Is A Proxy Server? | PCMag
A proxy server is a computer system or router that functions as a relay between client and server. It helps prevent an attacker from invading a private network and is one of several tools used to build a firewall.
The word proxy means “to act on behalf of another, ” and a proxy server acts on behalf of the user. All requests to the Internet go to the proxy server first, which evaluates the request and forwards it to the Internet. Likewise, responses come back to the proxy server and then to the user.
Proxy Servers Provide Anonymity
Like a virtual private network (VPN), a proxy server hides the user’s IP address when accessing the Internet. See VPN and TLS.
Address Translation and Caching
The proxy server is a dual-homed host with two network IP addresses. The address on the outbound side is the one the Internet sees. Proxies are often used in conjunction with network address translation (NAT), which hides the users’ IP addresses on the internal network. Proxy servers may also cache Web pages so that the next request for that page can be retrieved much faster. See NAT and proxy cache.
Other Proxies
Anonymous proxy servers let users surf the Web and keep their IP address private (see anonymous proxy). Although not specifically called proxies, Internet email (SMTP) and the Usenet new system (NNTP) are somewhat similar because messages are relayed from sender to recipient. See firewall.
Application Level and Circuit Level
“Application-level” proxies or “application-level gateways” are dedicated to specific content such as HTTP (Web) and FTP (file transfer). In contrast, a “circuit-level” proxy supports every application (see SOCKS).
Forward and Reverse Proxies
In this definition, the proxy servers are “forward proxies” that hide the details of the clients from the servers. However, proxies can also reside at the website to hide details from the clients (see reverse proxy).
A Proxy Server in a LAN
In this example, the proxy server functions as a firewall in the public side of a company network, which is called the “demilitarized zone” (see DMZ).
General Router DNS Setup for Smart DNS Proxy
Following Smart DNS Proxy DNS setup instructions is only needed one time. Once you finish the initial DNS setup you won’t be needing to take the same steps anytime. Your connection will work automatically *anytime!
— — — Smart DNS Proxy setup is very simple and can be done with any router/modem brands. The main idea is to change your Router/Modem DNS IPs to Smart DNS Proxy IPs. Then, you are all set. Please find general router DNS setup instructions for Smart DNS Proxy below: 1. Log into your router Admin Panel. You can find this information in your router/modem instruction book. In general, you can get access to your router admin panel with entering one of the following to your Internet Browser (Chrome, Internet Explorer, Safari, Firefox, Opera, etc) on your PC/mobile device. In your router/modem instruction book, the correct IP should be provided. Once you enter the correct router/modem IP address in your Internet Browser, it will open your router admin panel. 2. Enter your router Admin Username and Password. You can find this correct information from your router/modem instruction book. In general, most router/modems are using “admin” or “root” for default username, and “admin”, “password” for default passwords. Once you enter the correct credentials, you will enter the admin panel of the router/model. 3. Find DNS Settings and Change them to Smart DNS Proxy DNS IPs. Once you log in, please find a section where it says for DNS Settings. There it may be selected as Automatic or there may show some DNS IPs already. Automatic means, your router is getting the DNS IPs from its network device (Mostly from your Internet Service Provider). If it’s not in Automatic mode and you see some DNS IPs, please take them a note. So in case if you want to revert back you can change it back to the old IPs. (In general, you can always select Automatic and your new settings will be reversed). Ok now you need to change your router DNS IPs to Smart DNS Proxy IPS as following: In Most routers, it says PRIMARY Server and SECONDARY Server, or DNS SETTINGS 1, DNS SETTINGS 2. Either way simply updates them as following DNS IPs. The list of IP addresses of our DNS servers can be found on our DNS Server List here: the closest DNS servers to your physical location. Select the closest server to your physical location as Primary. Then select the 2nd closest server to your physical location as Secondary server.
4. Now Save your new settings. In general, you should find the SAVE button down the page. You may also see the Apply button. Click on SAVE and APPLY. 5. Restart your Router. It’s always suggested to have your router restart once after the new DNS Settings. And that’s it. Your router is set up properly. We now suggest you to LOG INTO your Smart DNS Proxy MyAccount section and make sure that you see 3 green ticks. You can visit this page from your PC Internet Browser (your PC should be connected to this router via wireless or wired). If your IP shows not active, simply click the UPDATE IP button and you are all good:). Attention Make sure to RESTART your Router! * Remember whenever your PC/Router IP changes, our service will stop working for you. You will need to LOG INTO Smart DNS Proxy and UPDATE your IP address so that our system could check your IP address and add your new IP to our database. Then, you will be able to continue using our service. If this is the first time you set up, we also suggest that you log in with your PC to our site from the same Wired/Wireless network to show our system your IP address.
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Last updated on January 11, 2021
Difference between proxying and routing – Super User
I’m well aware what proxies and routers are used for. But I don’t know how to reliably differentiate them.
Here is a list of factors that I find in them.
Proxy server
Can freely modify application layer data
Usually receives a TCP session from origin
Usually forms a TCP session to target
May read application layer data to define target
Is target of an IP packet when using the IP protocol
Let’s rather not think about a piece of network equipment here. Think about a mesh of application servers that route SOAP requests. Router
Conforms to well-defined routing protocols
Is it called routing when rules of routing are known to all parties and proxying when not? I do believe there is a definitive factor to differentiate the two.
asked Sep 18 ’14 at 10:14
MikuzMikuz4761 gold badge4 silver badges10 bronze badges
A proxy server and a router act at different levels in the protocol stack. A proxy acts at the application layer (e. g. an HTTP proxy). A router acts at the internetwork layer (e. IP protocol).
The primary job of a router is to move packets between networks.
The primary job of a proxy is to perform some useful service such as caching HTTP content, applying application-level filtering and authorization functions and so on.
Routers are usually not concerned with establishing TCP sessions. Even a router performing Network Address Translation (NAT) just keeps track of sessions between internal clients and external servers and amends IP-addresses as needed.
In normal use, routers are not the end-points of TCP sessions.
In normal use, routers do not read the contents of application-layer protocols.
answered Sep 18 ’14 at 10:57
RedGrittyBrickRedGrittyBrick76. 8k15 gold badges126 silver badges194 bronze badges
3
In the OSI model, routing is generally restricted to layer 3, the network layer. Routers will be primarily shuffling IP packets between networks (not really being too concerned with TCP streams unless QoS is in play). Routers cause the IP header to be changed on packets as it traverses between networks, but usually don’t modify the payload of the packets.
Proxies generally work on layer 4 (transport) and above (layer 7, the application layer, being most common). Proxies likely work on a data unit greater than a single packet, and are more likely to do things like add to modify the payload of data (HTTP proxies adding Via: headers a good example).
As with most of anything in networking, the borders between the layers can and sometimes are blurred. Routers can perform many functions of proxies, such as modifying traffic, filtering for security, etc. and proxies can be used to enable two disparate networks to talk to each other. It usually makes the most sense for a router to do as little as possible for performance and cost reasons, since typically needs to reliably handle ALL Internet traffic for an entire network, not just specific application traffic.
LawrenceCLawrenceC69. 3k14 gold badges118 silver badges208 bronze badges
I think I figured the defining factor.
Proxy server forces target to reply to back to itself. Proxy server can then relay the response to the origin, synchronously or asynchronously. Forcing the reply through itself defines the proxy server.
Proxy can also be a cluster. In this case the reply is forced through a single proxy cluster instead of a single proxy server.
answered Sep 18 ’14 at 10:40
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Frequently Asked Questions about proxy router
How do I setup a router proxy?
General Router DNS Setup for Smart DNS ProxyLog into your router Admin Panel. You can find this information in your router/modem instruction book. … Enter your router Admin Username and Password. … Find DNS Settings and Change them to Smart DNS Proxy DNS IPs. … Now Save your new settings. … Restart your Router.Jan 11, 2021
Is a proxy server and a router the same?
A proxy server and a router act at different levels in the protocol stack. A proxy acts at the application layer (e.g. an HTTP proxy). A router acts at the internetwork layer (e.g. IP protocol). The primary job of a router is to move packets between networks.Sep 18, 2014
Is it illegal to use a proxy server?
Yes, it is legal to use a proxy server. Proxies have many different uses, including enabling remote work; setting up a support system for users who are located outside a particular network; protecting networks and Internet users from malicious content; streaming online content from outside a country and more.
