So, just as the title says, I wanna know if anyone here uses a proxy as a way to access a private network instead of a VPN.

In my server i just use nginx to reverse proxy through different webapps, and now the time has arrived for nextcloud, now I’m thinking that I’d rather have such services more isolated from the wider web, and I like the simplicity of a proxy login. Though I am skeptical of the user/password model for proxying into a server. Afaik all proxy server logins work within that framework.

So, does anyone do this??

Edit: I know I can find a config wherever in the web, the post is more about experiences or thoughts about using a proxy instead of the common recommendation of a VPN. Thats all. :)

  • InEnduringGrowStrong@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
    1·
    3 hours ago

    I’m a big fan of mutual TLS, which I just do in nginx reverse proxy.
    Client certs get installed on trusted devices and then it’s mostly seamless.
    Not every app will support it, but I use Firefox as a fallback for stuff that doesn’t, or my VPN.
    TBH, I’m just happy homeassistant supports it as that’s the one thing I’d rather be as seamless as possible.
    Other things I don’t mind having to connect a VPN for, like jellyfin, which I don’t currently share with others.
    For nextcloud I’m currently not running mTLS as it wasn’t supported back then and I had to share some links with some people where I wouldn’t deal with certs. I think mTLS support has been merged since, so if you just use it for devices under your control, or might be viable

  • captcha_incorrect@lemmy.worldEnglish
    6·
    10 hours ago

    I use Caddy with Authelia and Caddy MIB. Anything that I need access to is exposed via reverse proxy with Authelia infront of it. That sometimes mean I have to login twice. Caddy MIB makes it so repeat offenders are blocked for longer and longer. Prevents brute forcing stuff like Jellyfin.

    I am considering using Tailscale (or Headscale) because I could combine that with Mullvad VPN and still have my internal DNS. But I only have one server and I have hairpin NAT configured so I just enter my domain name inside and outside of my LAN and it just workstm. I also considered using Traefik but Caddy just just workstm. Only problem I had was with Dawarish needing brotli encryption, I had to create my own docker image (and then I automated keeping it up to date with Woodpecker CI and Renovate).

    All in all, I like the reverse proxy route.

  • frongt@lemmy.zipEnglish
    91·
    13 hours ago

    Not all applications support it. Jellyfin explicitly does not.

    And I’d rather only expose one service, the VPN, instead of exposing a bunch that might all have their own vulnerabilities.

  • Dunstabzugshaubitze@feddit.orgEnglish
    4·
    11 hours ago

    i think nginx has an oauth_module which would allow you to use something like keycloak, if you want more than basic auth.

    for apache mod_auth_openidc exists.

    setting up an oauth-provider is not exactly trivial, but well documented and could be worth it if your other services offer oauth2-support or don’t feature a login at all.

  • CallMeAl (like Alan)@piefed.zipEnglish
    2·
    12 hours ago

    I use ssh and the built in socks proxy for that ssh -D 1080 some_server will connect to the server and open a socks port on your local 1080 that exits via the server’s IP.