frp/README.md

# frp

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[README](README.md) | [中文文档](README_zh.md)

## What is frp?

frp is a fast reverse proxy to help you expose a local server behind a NAT or firewall to the internet. Now, it supports tcp, udp, http and https protocol when requests can be forwarded by domains to backward web services.

## Table of Contents

<!-- vim-markdown-toc GFM -->

* [What can I do with frp?](#what-can-i-do-with-frp)
* [Status](#status)
* [Architecture](#architecture)
* [Example Usage](#example-usage)
    * [Access your computer in LAN by SSH](#access-your-computer-in-lan-by-ssh)
    * [Visit your web service in LAN by custom domains](#visit-your-web-service-in-lan-by-custom-domains)
    * [Forward DNS query request](#forward-dns-query-request)
    * [Forward unix domain socket](#forward-unix-domain-socket)
    * [Expose a simple http file server](#expose-a-simple-http-file-server)
    * [Expose your service in security](#expose-your-service-in-security)
    * [P2P Mode](#p2p-mode)
* [Features](#features)
    * [Configuration File](#configuration-file)
    * [Dashboard](#dashboard)
    * [Authentication](#authentication)
    * [Encryption and Compression](#encryption-and-compression)
    * [Hot-Reload frpc configuration](#hot-reload-frpc-configuration)
    * [Get proxy status from client](#get-proxy-status-from-client)
    * [Port White List](#port-white-list)
    * [Port Reuse](#port-reuse)
    * [TCP Stream Multiplexing](#tcp-stream-multiplexing)
    * [Support KCP Protocol](#support-kcp-protocol)
    * [Connection Pool](#connection-pool)
    * [Load balancing](#load-balancing)
    * [Rewriting the Host Header](#rewriting-the-host-header)
    * [Set Headers In HTTP Request](#set-headers-in-http-request)
    * [Get Real IP](#get-real-ip)
    * [Password protecting your web service](#password-protecting-your-web-service)
    * [Custom subdomain names](#custom-subdomain-names)
    * [URL routing](#url-routing)
    * [Connect frps by HTTP PROXY](#connect-frps-by-http-proxy)
    * [Range ports mapping](#range-ports-mapping)
    * [Plugin](#plugin)
* [Development Plan](#development-plan)
* [Contributing](#contributing)
* [Donation](#donation)
    * [AliPay](#alipay)
    * [Wechat Pay](#wechat-pay)
    * [Paypal](#paypal)

<!-- vim-markdown-toc -->

## What can I do with frp?

* Expose any http and https service behind a NAT or firewall to the internet by a server with public IP address(Name-based Virtual Host Support).
* Expose any tcp or udp service behind a NAT or firewall to the internet by a server with public IP address.

## Status

frp is under development and you can try it with latest release version. Master branch for releasing stable version when dev branch for developing.

**We may change any protocol and can't promise backward compatible. Please check the release log when upgrading.**

## Architecture

![architecture](/doc/pic/architecture.png)

## Example Usage

Firstly, download the latest programs from [Release](https://github.com/fatedier/frp/releases) page according to your os and arch.

Put **frps** and **frps.ini** to your server with public IP.

Put **frpc** and **frpc.ini** to your server in LAN.

### Access your computer in LAN by SSH

1. Modify frps.ini:

  ```ini
  # frps.ini
  [common]
  bind_port = 7000
  ```

2. Start frps:

  `./frps -c ./frps.ini`

3. Modify frpc.ini, `server_addr` is your frps's server IP:

  ```ini
  # frpc.ini
  [common]
  server_addr = x.x.x.x
  server_port = 7000

  [ssh]
  type = tcp
  local_ip = 127.0.0.1
  local_port = 22
  remote_port = 6000
  ```

4. Start frpc:

  `./frpc -c ./frpc.ini`

5. Connect to server in LAN by ssh assuming that username is test:

  `ssh -oPort=6000 test@x.x.x.x`

### Visit your web service in LAN by custom domains

Sometimes we want to expose a local web service behind a NAT network to others for testing with your own domain name and unfortunately we can't resolve a domain name to a local ip.

However, we can expose a http or https service using frp.

1. Modify frps.ini, configure http port 8080:

  ```ini
  # frps.ini
  [common]
  bind_port = 7000
  vhost_http_port = 8080
  ```

2. Start frps:

  `./frps -c ./frps.ini`

3. Modify frpc.ini and set remote frps server's IP as x.x.x.x. The `local_port` is the port of your web service:

  ```ini
  # frpc.ini
  [common]
  server_addr = x.x.x.x
  server_port = 7000

  [web]
  type = http
  local_port = 80
  custom_domains = www.yourdomain.com
  ```

4. Start frpc:

  `./frpc -c ./frpc.ini`

5. Resolve A record of `www.yourdomain.com` to IP `x.x.x.x` or CNAME record to your origin domain.

6. Now visit your local web service using url `http://www.yourdomain.com:8080`.

### Forward DNS query request

1. Modify frps.ini:

  ```ini
  # frps.ini
  [common]
  bind_port = 7000
  ```

2. Start frps:

  `./frps -c ./frps.ini`

3. Modify frpc.ini, set remote frps's server IP as x.x.x.x, forward dns query request to google dns server `8.8.8.8:53`:

  ```ini
  # frpc.ini
  [common]
  server_addr = x.x.x.x
  server_port = 7000

  [dns]
  type = udp
  local_ip = 8.8.8.8
  local_port = 53
  remote_port = 6000
  ```

4. Start frpc:

  `./frpc -c ./frpc.ini`

5. Send dns query request by dig:

  `dig @x.x.x.x -p 6000 www.google.com`

### Forward unix domain socket

Using tcp port to connect unix domain socket like docker daemon.

Configure frps same as above.

1. Start frpc with configurations:

  ```ini
  # frpc.ini
  [common]
  server_addr = x.x.x.x
  server_port = 7000

  [unix_domain_socket]
  type = tcp
  remote_port = 6000
  plugin = unix_domain_socket
  plugin_unix_path = /var/run/docker.sock
  ```

2. Get docker version by curl command:

  `curl http://x.x.x.x:6000/version`

### Expose a simple http file server

A simple way to visit files in the LAN.

Configure frps same as above.

1. Start frpc with configurations:

  ```ini
  # frpc.ini
  [common]
  server_addr = x.x.x.x
  server_port = 7000

  [test_static_file]
  type = tcp
  remote_port = 6000
  plugin = static_file
  plugin_local_path = /tmp/file
  plugin_strip_prefix = static
  plugin_http_user = abc
  plugin_http_passwd = abc
  ```

2. Visit `http://x.x.x.x:6000/static/` by your browser, set correct user and password, so you can see files in `/tmp/file`.

### Expose your service in security

For some services, if expose them to the public network directly will be a security risk.

**stcp(secret tcp)** help you create a proxy avoiding any one can access it.

Configure frps same as above.

1. Start frpc, forward ssh port and `remote_port` is useless:

  ```ini
  # frpc.ini
  [common]
  server_addr = x.x.x.x
  server_port = 7000

  [secret_ssh]
  type = stcp
  sk = abcdefg
  local_ip = 127.0.0.1
  local_port = 22
  ```

2. Start another frpc in which you want to connect this ssh server:

  ```ini
  # frpc.ini
  [common]
  server_addr = x.x.x.x
  server_port = 7000

  [secret_ssh_visitor]
  type = stcp
  role = visitor
  server_name = secret_ssh
  sk = abcdefg
  bind_addr = 127.0.0.1
  bind_port = 6000
  ```

3. Connect to server in LAN by ssh assuming that username is test:

  `ssh -oPort=6000 test@127.0.0.1`

### P2P Mode

**xtcp** is designed for transmitting a large amount of data directly between two client.

Now it can't penetrate all types of NAT devices. You can try **stcp** if **xtcp** doesn't work.

1. Configure a udp port for xtcp:

  ```ini
  bind_udp_port = 7001
  ```

2. Start frpc, forward ssh port and `remote_port` is useless:

  ```ini
  # frpc.ini
  [common]
  server_addr = x.x.x.x
  server_port = 7000

  [p2p_ssh]
  type = xtcp
  sk = abcdefg
  local_ip = 127.0.0.1
  local_port = 22
  ```

3. Start another frpc in which you want to connect this ssh server:

  ```ini
  # frpc.ini
  [common]
  server_addr = x.x.x.x
  server_port = 7000

  [p2p_ssh_visitor]
  type = xtcp
  role = visitor
  server_name = p2p_ssh
  sk = abcdefg
  bind_addr = 127.0.0.1
  bind_port = 6000
  ```

4. Connect to server in LAN by ssh assuming that username is test:

  `ssh -oPort=6000 test@127.0.0.1`

## Features

### Configuration File

You can find features which this document not metioned from full example configuration files.

[frps full configuration file](./conf/frps_full.ini)

[frpc full configuration file](./conf/frpc_full.ini)

### Dashboard

Check frp's status and proxies's statistics information by Dashboard.

Configure a port for dashboard to enable this feature:

```ini
[common]
dashboard_port = 7500
# dashboard's username and password are both optional，if not set, default is admin.
dashboard_user = admin
dashboard_pwd = admin
```

Then visit `http://[server_addr]:7500` to see dashboard, default username and password are both `admin`.

![dashboard](/doc/pic/dashboard.png)

### Authentication

Since v0.10.0, you only need to set `token` in frps.ini and frpc.ini.

Note that time duration between server of frpc and frps mustn't exceed 15 minutes because timestamp is used for authentication.

Howerver, this timeout duration can be modified by setting `authentication_timeout` in frps's configure file. It's defalut value is 900, means 15 minutes. If it is equals 0, then frps will not check authentication timeout.

### Encryption and Compression

Defalut value is false, you could decide if the proxy will use encryption or compression:

```ini
# frpc.ini
[ssh]
type = tcp
local_port = 22
remote_port = 6000
use_encryption = true
use_compression = true
```

### Hot-Reload frpc configuration

First you need to set admin port in frpc's configure file to let it provide HTTP API for more features.

```ini
# frpc.ini
[common]
admin_addr = 127.0.0.1
admin_port = 7400
```

Then run command `frpc reload -c ./frpc.ini` and wait for about 10 seconds to let frpc create or update or delete proxies.

**Note that parameters in [common] section won't be modified except 'start' now.**

### Get proxy status from client

Use `frpc status -c ./frpc.ini` to get status of all proxies. You need to set admin port in frpc's configure file.

### Port White List

`allow_ports` in frps.ini is used for preventing abuse of ports:

```ini
# frps.ini
[common]
allow_ports = 2000-3000,3001,3003,4000-50000
```

`allow_ports` consists of a specific port or a range of ports divided by `,`.

### Port Reuse

Now `vhost_http_port` and `vhost_https_port` in frps can use same port with `bind_port`. frps will detect connection's protocol and handle it correspondingly.

We would like to try to allow multiple proxies bind a same remote port with different protocols in the future.

### TCP Stream Multiplexing

frp support tcp stream multiplexing since v0.10.0 like HTTP2 Multiplexing. All user requests to same frpc can use only one tcp connection.

You can disable this feature by modify frps.ini and frpc.ini:

```ini
# frps.ini and frpc.ini, must be same
[common]
tcp_mux = false
```

### Support KCP Protocol

frp support kcp protocol since v0.12.0.

KCP is a fast and reliable protocol that can achieve the transmission effect of a reduction of the average latency by 30% to 40% and reduction of the maximum delay by a factor of three, at the cost of 10% to 20% more bandwidth wasted than TCP.

Using kcp in frp:

1. Enable kcp protocol in frps:

  ```ini
  # frps.ini
  [common]
  bind_port = 7000
  # kcp needs to bind a udp port, it can be same with 'bind_port'
  kcp_bind_port = 7000
  ```

2. Configure the protocol used in frpc to connect frps:

  ```ini
  # frpc.ini
  [common]
  server_addr = x.x.x.x
  # specify the 'kcp_bind_port' in frps
  server_port = 7000
  protocol = kcp
  ```

### Connection Pool

By default, frps send message to frpc for create a new connection to backward service when getting an user request.If a proxy's connection pool is enabled, there will be a specified number of connections pre-established.

This feature is fit for a large number of short connections.

1. Configure the limit of pool count each proxy can use in frps.ini:

  ```ini
  # frps.ini
  [common]
  max_pool_count = 5
  ```

2. Enable and specify the number of connection pool:

  ```ini
  # frpc.ini
  [common]
  pool_count = 1
  ```

### Load balancing

Load balancing is supported by `group`.
This feature is available only for type `tcp` now.

```ini
# frpc.ini
[test1]
type = tcp
local_port = 8080
remote_port = 80
group = web
group_key = 123

[test2]
type = tcp
local_port = 8081
remote_port = 80
group = web
group_key = 123
```

`group_key` is used for authentication.

Proxies in same group will accept connections from port 80 randomly.

### Rewriting the Host Header

When forwarding to a local port, frp does not modify the tunneled HTTP requests at all, they are copied to your server byte-for-byte as they are received. Some application servers use the Host header for determining which development site to display. For this reason, frp can rewrite your requests with a modified host header. Use the `host_header_rewrite` switch to rewrite incoming HTTP requests.

```ini
# frpc.ini
[web]
type = http
local_port = 80
custom_domains = test.yourdomain.com
host_header_rewrite = dev.yourdomain.com
```

If `host_header_rewrite` is specified, the host header will be rewritten to match the hostname portion of the forwarding address.

### Set Headers In HTTP Request

You can set headers for proxy which type is `http`.

```ini
# frpc.ini
[web]
type = http
local_port = 80
custom_domains = test.yourdomain.com
host_header_rewrite = dev.yourdomain.com
header_X-From-Where = frp
```

Note that params which have prefix `header_` will be added to http request headers.
In this example, it will set header `X-From-Where: frp` to http request.

### Get Real IP

Features for http proxy only.

You can get user's real IP from http request header `X-Forwarded-For` and `X-Real-IP`.

**Note that now you can only get these two headers in first request of each user connection.**

### Password protecting your web service

Anyone who can guess your tunnel URL can access your local web server unless you protect it with a password.

This enforces HTTP Basic Auth on all requests with the username and password you specify in frpc's configure file.

It can only be enabled when proxy type is http.

```ini
# frpc.ini
[web]
type = http
local_port = 80
custom_domains = test.yourdomain.com
http_user = abc
http_passwd = abc
```

Visit `http://test.yourdomain.com` and now you need to input username and password.

### Custom subdomain names

It is convenient to use `subdomain` configure for http、https type when many people use one frps server together.

```ini
# frps.ini
subdomain_host = frps.com
```

Resolve `*.frps.com` to the frps server's IP.

```ini
# frpc.ini
[web]
type = http
local_port = 80
subdomain = test
```

Now you can visit your web service by host `test.frps.com`.

Note that if `subdomain_host` is not empty, `custom_domains` should not be the subdomain of `subdomain_host`.

### URL routing

frp support forward http requests to different backward web services by url routing.

`locations` specify the prefix of URL used for routing. frps first searches for the most specific prefix location given by literal strings regardless of the listed order.

```ini
# frpc.ini
[web01]
type = http
local_port = 80
custom_domains = web.yourdomain.com
locations = /

[web02]
type = http
local_port = 81
custom_domains = web.yourdomain.com
locations = /news,/about
```
Http requests with url prefix `/news` and `/about` will be forwarded to **web02** and others to **web01**.

### Connect frps by HTTP PROXY

frpc can connect frps using HTTP PROXY if you set os environment `HTTP_PROXY` or configure `http_proxy` param in frpc.ini file.

It only works when protocol is tcp.

```ini
# frpc.ini
[common]
server_addr = x.x.x.x
server_port = 7000
http_proxy = http://user:pwd@192.168.1.128:8080
```

### Range ports mapping

Proxy name has prefix `range:` will support mapping range ports.

```ini
# frpc.ini
[range:test_tcp]
type = tcp
local_ip = 127.0.0.1
local_port = 6000-6006,6007
remote_port = 6000-6006,6007
```

frpc will generate 8 proxies like `test_tcp_0, test_tcp_1 ... test_tcp_7`.

### Plugin

frpc only forward request to local tcp or udp port by default.

Plugin is used for providing rich features. There are built-in plugins such as `unix_domain_socket`, `http_proxy`, `socks5`, `static_file` and you can see [example usage](#example-usage).

Specify which plugin to use by `plugin` parameter. Configuration parameters of plugin should be started with `plugin_`. `local_ip` and `local_port` is useless for plugin.

Using plugin **http_proxy**:

```ini
# frpc.ini
[http_proxy]
type = tcp
remote_port = 6000
plugin = http_proxy
plugin_http_user = abc
plugin_http_passwd = abc
```

`plugin_http_user` and `plugin_http_passwd` are configuration parameters used in `http_proxy` plugin.

## Development Plan

* Log http request information in frps.
* Direct reverse proxy, like haproxy.
* kubernetes ingress support.

## Contributing

Interested in getting involved? We would like to help you!

* Take a look at our [issues list](https://github.com/fatedier/frp/issues) and consider sending a Pull Request to **dev branch**.
* If you want to add a new feature, please create an issue first to describe the new feature, as well as the implementation approach. Once a proposal is accepted, create an implementation of the new features and submit it as a pull request.
* Sorry for my poor english and improvement for this document is welcome even some typo fix.
* If you have some wonderful ideas, send email to fatedier@gmail.com.

**Note: We prefer you to give your advise in [issues](https://github.com/fatedier/frp/issues), so others with a same question can search it quickly and we don't need to answer them repeatly.**

## Donation

If frp help you a lot, you can support us by:

frp QQ group: 606194980

### AliPay

![donation-alipay](/doc/pic/donate-alipay.png)

### Wechat Pay

![donation-wechatpay](/doc/pic/donate-wechatpay.png)

### Paypal

Donate money by [paypal](https://www.paypal.me/fatedier) to my account **fatedier@gmail.com**.