​What are proxy ports and proxy addresses? What are their functions?

This article will explain the concepts of proxy ports and proxy addresses in detail and explore their functions.

1. What is a proxy address?

A proxy address is the address of a proxy server in a network, usually in the form of an IP address. For example, a typical proxy address might be 192.168.1.1. This address represents the location of the proxy server in the network, allowing the client to access the proxy server through this address. Proxy addresses can be found on several continents around the world, but be careful to use a regular proxy IP, otherwise the IP may be blacklisted.

2. The function of a proxy address

A proxy server hides the client's real IP address through a proxy address. When a user visits a target website, the target website will only see the IP address of the proxy server, not the user's real IP address. This anonymity helps protect the user's privacy and prevent the user's real location and identity from being leaked.

Some proxy servers have a cache function that can store web pages that users frequently visit. When users request these web pages again, the proxy server can provide content directly from the cache, thereby speeding up access.

3. What is a proxy port?

Proxy Port is the network port used by the proxy server to receive client requests. Network ports are logical channels used in computer networks to distinguish different services and applications, and each port has a unique number. The proxy server receives and processes client network requests through a specific port number. For example, HTTP proxies usually use port 80 or 8080, while HTTPS proxies use port 443.

4. The role of proxy ports

Different types of proxy services usually use different ports. For example, HTTP proxy services may use port 8080, while SOCKS proxy services may use port 1080. By specifying different port numbers, the proxy server can provide multiple types of proxy services at the same time.

In a large-scale network environment, the proxy server can allocate requests through different port numbers to achieve load balancing. This can avoid overloading a single port and improve the overall performance and stability of the proxy server.

By configuring firewalls and access control lists (ACLs), network administrators can limit access to specific ports, thereby improving the security of the network. For example, administrators can limit access to a port of the proxy server to only specific IP addresses to prevent unauthorized access.

5. The combined effect of proxy address and proxy port

Improve network privacy and security:

Through the use of proxy address and proxy port, users can hide their real IP address and protect personal privacy. At the same time, the proxy server can filter malicious requests, provide security protection, and prevent network attacks.

Improve network access efficiency:

The proxy server can cache commonly used web pages, reduce repeated requests, and increase access speed. In addition, the proxy server can also perform content compression, reduce data transmission volume, and improve network performance.

Achieve network management and control:

Enterprises and institutions can monitor and control employees' network usage through proxy servers. For example, administrators can configure proxy servers to only allow access to specific websites and services, block access to bad websites, and improve work efficiency and network security.

Support multiple network protocols and services:

The proxy server can support multiple network protocols and services such as HTTP, HTTPS, SOCKS, etc., and provide corresponding proxy services through different port numbers to meet the diverse needs of users.

6. How to configure the proxy address and proxy port

Select a proxy server:

Users can choose free or paid proxy server services and select the appropriate proxy address and proxy port according to their needs.

Configure proxy settings:

In the browser or application, go to the network settings or proxy settings option and enter the proxy address and proxy port. For example, in the Chrome browser, you can go to "Settings > Advanced > System > Open Proxy Settings" to configure it.

Test the proxy connection:

After the configuration is complete, the user can visit the target website to check whether the proxy server is working properly. If the configuration is correct, the target website will display the IP address of the proxy server instead of the user's real IP address.