How to use rathole to convert connected devices into proxy servers

[sam3961]

Hi,
I am already using frp on my linux server to convert the connected devices into a proxy server themselves.
Now i am thinking of switching to rathole. Can you please guide me step by step on how to install it on ubuntu server and achieve the above objective of coverting the connected devices to proxy servers.

Response needed asap.
Thank you.

[fernvenue]

Could you please provide your frp configuration files?

[sam3961]

Hi @fernvenue i am using this in my server.ini file

[common]
bind_port = 7000
authentication_method=token
token = 89614138

[fernvenue]

And what about client side?

[sam3961]

Client Side i am using android app where i am using FRPC lib where i get from there
https://github.com/proxidize/proxidize-android/tree/main/app/libs
And using there code to create a proxy server

Reference File : https://github.com/proxidize/proxidize-android/blob/main/app/src/main/java/com/legacy/android/LoginActivity.kt

   private fun startConnection() {
        CoroutineScope(Dispatchers.IO).launch {
            Frpclib.touch()
            Frpclib.run(activity?.cacheDir.toString() + "/config.ini")
        }
    }

[fernvenue]

I mean your configuration file on client side.

[sam3961]

For Client Side i am using android app there is no code on server for client side
What i am doing is setting up server.ini config file loaded in android app and then create a proxy server

private fun writeToConfigFile(server: ProxyServer, resetPorts: Boolean) {
        val logFile = File(requireContext().cacheDir, configLogFile)
        if (logFile.exists()) {
            logFile.delete()
        }
        if (!logFile.exists()) {
            try {
                logFile.createNewFile()
            } catch (e: IOException) {
                e.printStackTrace()
            }
        }
        var out: FileOutputStream? = null
        val file = File(requireContext().cacheDir, configFileName)
        if (file.exists()) {
            file.delete()
        }
        if (!file.exists()) {
            try {
                file.createNewFile()
            } catch (e: IOException) {
                e.printStackTrace()
            }
        }
        try {
            out = FileOutputStream(file, true)
            initializePorts(resetPorts)
            out.write("[common]\r\n".toByteArray())
            out.write("server_addr = ${server.IP}\r\n".toByteArray())
            out.write("server_port = ${server.port}\r\n".toByteArray())
            out.write("token = ${server.token}\r\n".toByteArray())
            out.write("log_file = ${logFile.absolutePath}\r\n".toByteArray())
            out.write("log_level = info\r\n".toByteArray())
            out.write("log_max_days = 3\r\n".toByteArray())
            out.write("pool_count = 5\r\n".toByteArray())
            out.write("tcp_mux = true\r\n".toByteArray())
            out.write("login_fail_exit = true\r\n".toByteArray())
            out.write("protocol = tcp\r\n".toByteArray())
            out.write("[api_$mRandomPortWeb]\r\n".toByteArray())
            out.write("type=tcp\r\n".toByteArray())
            out.write("local_ip = 0.0.0.0\r\n".toByteArray())
            out.write("local_port = 8080\r\n".toByteArray())
            out.write("remote_port = $mRandomPortWeb\r\n".toByteArray())
            out.write("[android_http_proxy_$mRandomPortHttp]\r\n".toByteArray())
            out.write("type=tcp\r\n".toByteArray())
            out.write("remote_port=$mRandomPortHttp\r\n".toByteArray())
            out.write("plugin=http_proxy\r\n".toByteArray())
            out.write("plugin_http_user=$proxyUser\r\n".toByteArray())
            out.write("plugin_http_passwd=$proxyPassword\r\n".toByteArray())
            out.write("[android_socks_proxy_$mRandomPortSocks]\r\n".toByteArray())
            out.write("type=tcp\r\n".toByteArray())
            out.write("remote_port=$mRandomPortSocks\r\n".toByteArray())
            out.write("plugin=socks5\r\n".toByteArray())
            out.write("plugin_http_user=$proxyUser\r\n".toByteArray())
            out.write("plugin_http_passwd=$proxyPassword\r\n".toByteArray())
        } catch (e: IOException) {
            e.printStackTrace()
        } finally {
            try {
                out?.close()
            } catch (e: IOException) {
                e.printStackTrace()
            }
        }
    }

    private fun startConnection() {
        CoroutineScope(Dispatchers.IO).launch {
            Frpclib.touch()
            Frpclib.run(activity?.cacheDir.toString() + "/config.ini")
        }
    }

[fernvenue]

A huge difference between rathole and frp here is that rathole requires explicit definition of each service and port on both the server and client sides. So you need to read the README in detail, especially the section about the configuration file.

Additionally, I noticed that you are using the plugin feature of frp for proxying, which in rathole needs to be done through an additional proxy application because rathole does not interfere with application layer traffic.

By the way, you can find an explanation about communication security in this section.

Since this issue is not a bug report or feature request, I suggest you go discussions.

[sam3961]

okay @fernvenue
But it would be very helpful for me if we can get in touch directly to discuss this matter as i am in lot of rush to deliver this product.

Thanks.