WebSocket Proxy

What is WebSocket Proxy?

A WebSocket Proxy is an intermediary server that handles WebSocket connections, forwarding messages between clients and backend WebSocket servers while managing connection upgrades from HTTP to WebSocket protocol.

Why is WebSocket Proxy useful?

WebSocket Proxies are useful for: - Load balancing WebSocket traffic - SSL/TLS termination for secure WebSocket (wss://) connections - Security and access control - Protocol translation or filtering - Handling connection upgrades from HTTP to WebSocket

How it works?

  • The proxy receives an HTTP request from a client asking to upgrade to WebSocket.

  • It completes the WebSocket handshake and upgrades the connection.

  • Then it forwards WebSocket frames bidirectionally between the client and backend server.

  • Supports long-lived full-duplex communication.

Where is WebSocket Proxy used?

WebSocket Proxies are used in: - Real-time web applications (chat apps, live notifications) - Online gaming platforms - Collaborative tools (document editing, whiteboards) - Financial trading platforms - IoT dashboards and control systems

Which OSI layer does this protocol belong to?

WebSocket Proxy operates mainly at the Application Layer (Layer 7) of the OSI model.

Is WebSocket Proxy Windows specific?

No, WebSocket Proxies are not Windows specific. They run on multiple operating systems.

Is WebSocket Proxy Linux specific?

No, WebSocket Proxies are not Linux specific. They are commonly deployed on Linux but also available on other platforms.

Which Transport Protocol is used by WebSocket Proxy?

WebSocket Proxy uses: - TCP as the underlying transport protocol (via HTTP/HTTPS)

Which Port is used by WebSocket Proxy?

  • Port 80 for unsecured WebSocket (ws://)

  • Port 443 for secure WebSocket (wss://)

Is WebSocket Proxy using Client server model?

Yes, it follows the client-server model: - Acts as a server to the WebSocket client - Acts as a client to the backend WebSocket server

Topics in this section,

  • In this section, you are going to learn

  • Terminology

  • Version Info

  • rfc details

  • setup

  • setup

  • packet details

  • usecases

  • features

  • Reference links