SOCKS

For other meanings, see Sock (disambiguation).

The SOCKS Protocol is an Internet protocol that allows client-server applications to transparently use the services of a network firewall.

SOCKS is an abbreviation for "SOCKet Secure" [1].

Clients behind a firewall wanting to access exterior servers connect to a SOCKS proxy server instead. This proxy server controls the eligibility of the client to access the external server and passes the request on to the server.

According to the OSI model it is an intermediate layer between the application layer and the transport layer.

The current version 5 of the protocol extends the previous version by supporting UDP, authentication and IPv6.

There are client programs such as FreeCap and SocksCap that allow adaptation of any software to connect to external networks via SOCKS.

See also

• SOCKS 4A – SOCKS Protocol Version 4A

External links

• http://archive.socks.permeo.com/protocol/socks4.protocol – SOCKS Protocol Version 4
• http://www.ietf.org/rfc/rfc1928.txt – SOCKS Protocol Version 5
• http://www.ietf.org/rfc/rfc1929.txt – Username/Password Authentication for SOCKS V5
• http://www.socks.permeo.com/AboutSOCKS/SOCKSOverview.asp