If you need a lightweight and reliable SOCKS5 proxy server, Dante is one of the best open-source solutions available.
In this guide, we’ll install and configure Dante to create a secure SOCKS5 proxy server on Linux.
What is Dante?
Dante is a SOCKS server implementation that supports:
SOCKS4
SOCKS5
TCP and UDP proxying
Authentication
Access control
IPv6 support
It’s commonly used for:
Privacy and anonymity
Bypassing network restrictions
Secure remote browsing
Routing traffic through a VPS
Requirements
Before starting, you’ll need:
A Linux server (Ubuntu/Debian recommended) which you can get from buyvps.us
Root or sudo access
A public IP address
Open firewall port (example: 1080)
Step 1 — Install Dante
Update your server packages first:
sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y
**Install Dante:
sudo apt install dante-server -y
**Verify installation:
danted -v
Step 2 — Find Your Network Interface
You need the server’s active network interface.
Run:
ip addr
Look for something like:
eth0
ens3
enp0s3
We’ll use eth0 in this tutorial.
Step 3 — Configure Dante
Open the configuration file:
sudo nano /etc/danted.conf
Replace everything with:
logoutput: syslog
internal: 0.0.0.0 port = 1080
external: eth0
socksmethod: username
user.privileged: root
user.unprivileged: nobody
user.libwrap: nobody
client pass {
from: 0.0.0.0/0 to: 0.0.0.0/0
log: connect disconnect
}
socks pass {
from: 0.0.0.0/0 to: 0.0.0.0/0
protocol: tcp udp
log: connect disconnect
}
Step 4 — Create a Proxy User
Create a dedicated user for authentication:
sudo useradd -r -s /bin/false proxyuser
sudo passwd proxyuser
Set a secure password.
Step 5 — Restart Dante
Restart the service:
sudo systemctl restart danted
Enable it on boot:
sudo systemctl enable danted
Check status:
sudo systemctl status danted
Step 6 — Open Firewall Port
If you use UFW:
sudo ufw allow 1080/tcp
Reload firewall:
sudo ufw reload
*Step 7 — Test the SOCKS5 Proxy
*
Your proxy format will be:
IP:PORT:USERNAME:PASSWORD
Example:
203.0.113.10:1080:proxyuser:mypassword
You can test it using:
curl --proxy socks5://proxyuser:mypassword@YOUR_SERVER_IP:1080 https://ifconfig.me
If everything works, the returned IP should be your server IP.
Using the Proxy in Applications
Most apps support SOCKS5 proxies.
Examples:
Firefox
Chrome extensions
curl
Telegram
SSH tunneling tools
Example in curl:
curl --socks5 proxyuser:mypassword@YOUR_SERVER_IP:1080 https://example.com
Security Tips
*Restrict Access by IP
*
Instead of allowing everyone:
from: 0.0.0.0/0
Restrict to your own IP:
from: YOUR_IP/32
Change the Default Port
Port 1080 is commonly scanned.
Use a random port like:
internal: 0.0.0.0 port = 45821
Disable Anonymous Access
Always use authentication:
socksmethod: username
Avoid:
socksmethod: none
Troubleshooting
Service Fails to Start
Check logs:
journalctl -u danted
Authentication Issues
Make sure:
User exists
Password is correct
socksmethod: username is set
Connection Refused
Verify:
Firewall is open
Correct port
Dante is running
Final Thoughts
Dante is a fast and stable SOCKS5 server that’s perfect for VPS deployments, private routing, and secure proxy access.
Once configured, you’ll have a fully functional authenticated SOCKS5 proxy running in minutes.
Happy hacking 🚀
