SOCKS5 Proxy Server

SOCKS5 is a versatile proxy protocol that routes network packets between a client and a server through a proxy server. It supports both TCP and UDP connections, allowing it to handle any type of traffic, including HTTP, HTTPS, FTP, and more. SOCKS5 operates at a lower level than HTTP proxies, making it suitable for a wide range of applications and providing high levels of anonymity.

Bright Data supports SOCKS5 proxies on its Datacenter and ISP proxy networks. To use SOCKS5 with Bright Data:

• Configure your application or tool to use the proxy address brd.superproxy.io on port 22228.
• Use your Bright Data proxy zone credentials for authentication.
• Ensure that you use domain names (hostnames) as targets, not IP addresses.
• Use the socks5h:// protocol to ensure remote DNS resolution on the proxy side.

That's it!

The default port for SOCKS5 proxies with Bright Data is 22228. When configuring your SOCKS5 proxy, use brd.superproxy.io:22228. Note that the standard ports 22225 (HTTP) and 22226 (HTTPS) are not used for SOCKS5 connections.

To ensure optimal performance:

• Use Domain Names: Always use domain names (e.g., example.com) as targets instead of IP addresses, as Bright Data blocks requests with explicit IPs.
• Remote DNS Resolution: Configure your application to resolve DNS remotely by using socks5h:// in your proxy settings. This ensures that DNS resolution happens on the proxy side.
• Proxy Manager: Utilize the Bright Data Proxy Manager to control and optimize your proxy usage. It offers features like automatic rotation, request throttling, and easy configuration management.
• Adhere to Bright Data Policies: Follow all compliance regulations and configuration guidelines provided by Bright Data.

Using SOCKS5 proxies offers several advantages:

• High Anonymity: Masks your IP address, providing privacy and anonymity.
• Versatility: Can handle various types of traffic (HTTP, HTTPS, FTP, SMTP, etc.).
• Bypass Restrictions: Helps in bypassing internet censorship, firewalls, and geolocation restrictions.
• TCP and UDP Support: Facilitates both TCP and UDP protocols for broader application support.
• Performance: With Bright Data's robust network, you gain high uptime and reliable connections.

To set up a SOCKS5 proxy with Bright Data:

1. Proxy Address and Port:
   • Use brd.superproxy.io as the proxy address.
   • Use port 22228 for SOCKS5 connections.
2. Authentication:
   • Provide your Bright Data proxy zone username and password.
   • Authentication can be set in your application's proxy settings or included in the proxy URL (e.g., username:[email protected]:22228).
3. Protocol Configuration:
   • Use the socks5h:// protocol to ensure DNS resolution occurs on the proxy side.
4. Target Domains:
   • Use domain names as targets; avoid using explicit IP addresses.
5. Application Settings:
   • Configure your application or code accordingly, following Bright Data's guidelines.

Limitations include:

• Proxy Types Supported: SOCKS5 is currently supported on Residential, Datacenter and ISP proxies.
• Target Domains Only: Bright Data only supports hostnames (domain names) as targets for SOCKS5 proxies. Requests using explicit IP addresses or local DNS resolution are blocked.
• Port Usage: Must use port 22228 for SOCKS5; standard HTTP/HTTPS ports are not applicable.
• DNS Resolution: Must use remote DNS resolution (socks5h:// protocol) to comply with Bright Data policies.
• Target Ports: Only supports target ports higher than 1024.
• Compliance Regulations: Must adhere to Bright Data's compliance regulations and usage policies.

Answer:
To select a specific geo-location or country:

• Modify Your Username:
  • Append -country-[country code] to your Bright Data username.
  • For example, to use a proxy in Italy, your username would be [username]-country-it.
• Example with cURL:
  curl -i -x socks5h://brd.superproxy.io:22228
--proxy-user [username]-country-it:[password]
"https://geo.brdtest.com/welcome.txt"

• Supported Countries: Use the appropriate two-letter country code for your desired location.

When using cURL:

• Use socks5h Protocol: Ensure remote DNS resolution by specifying socks5h://.
• Specify Proxy: Use -x socks5h://brd.superproxy.io:22228.
• Provide Credentials: Include your Bright Data credentials with --proxy-user [username]:[password].
• Example Command:
  curl -i -x socks5h://brd.superproxy.io:22228
--proxy-user [username]:[password]
"https://geo.brdtest.com/welcome.txt"
• Troubleshooting: Add -v or -i for verbose output to aid in troubleshooting.

Bright Data's SOCKS5 proxies support all target ports higher than 1024 by default in Datacenter and ISP proxy zones. Ensure your application targets ports within this range when configuring your connections.