# How to Create a SOCKS5 Proxy with VPN Tunneling Using Docker

This guide shows you how to set up a SOCKS5 proxy that routes all traffic through a VPN connection using Docker Compose. This setup provides an extra layer of privacy for your internet traffic.

## Prerequisites

* Docker and Docker Compose installed
    
* A VPN subscription (this example uses NordVPN but works with other providers)
    

## Step 1: Create Project Structure

First, create a directory for your project and a subdirectory for your VPN configuration:

```bash
mkdir -p proxy-vpn/vpn1
cd proxy-vpn
```

## Step 2: Create the Docker Compose File

Create a file named `docker-compose.yml` in the project directory and paste the following configuration:

```dockerfile
services:
  vpn1:
    image: dperson/openvpn-client:latest
    container_name: vpn-client1
    cap_add:
      - NET_ADMIN
    devices:
      - /dev/net/tun
    restart: unless-stopped
    volumes:
      - ./vpn1:/vpn
    environment:
      - PUID=1000
      - PGID=1000
    command: ["-f", '""', "-a", "${VPN_USERNAME};${VPN_PASSWORD}"]
    networks:
      - vpn_network1
    ports:
      - "1080:1080"
    dns:
      - 8.8.8.8
      - 8.8.4.4
    sysctls:
      - net.ipv6.conf.all.disable_ipv6=1
  
  socks-proxy1:
    image: serjs/go-socks5-proxy:latest
    container_name: socks5-proxy1
    restart: unless-stopped
    environment:
      - PROXY_USER=${SOCKS_USER}
      - PROXY_PASSWORD=${SOCKS_PASSWORD}
    network_mode: "service:vpn1"
    depends_on:
      - vpn1
    sysctls:
      - net.ipv6.conf.all.disable_ipv6=1

networks:
  vpn_network1:
    driver: bridge
```

## Step 3: Set Up VPN Configuration

1. Download your VPN configuration file from your provider (for NordVPN, visit [https://nordvpn.com/blog/nordvpn-config-files/](https://nordvpn.com/blog/nordvpn-config-files/))
    
2. Save the configuration file as `vpn.conf` in the `vpn1` directory
    

Here's a sample of what a NordVPN configuration looks like (replace SERVER-IP with the server of your choice - pick one from the configs you downloaded)

```plaintext
client
dev tun
proto udp
remote <SERVER-IP> 1194
resolv-retry infinite
remote-random
nobind
tun-mtu 1500
tun-mtu-extra 32
mssfix 1450
persist-key
persist-tun
ping 15
ping-restart 0
ping-timer-rem
reneg-sec 0
comp-lzo no
verify-x509-name CN=es137.nordvpn.com

remote-cert-tls server

auth-user-pass
verb 3
pull
fast-io
cipher AES-256-CBC
auth SHA512
<ca>
-----BEGIN CERTIFICATE-----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==
-----END CERTIFICATE-----
</ca>
key-direction 1
<tls-auth>
#
# 2048 bit OpenVPN static key
#
-----BEGIN OpenVPN Static key V1-----
e685bdaf659a25a200e2b9e39e51ff03
0fc72cf1ce07232bd8b2be5e6c670143
f51e937e670eee09d4f2ea5a6e4e6996
5db852c275351b86fc4ca892d78ae002
d6f70d029bd79c4d1c26cf14e9588033
cf639f8a74809f29f72b9d58f9b8f5fe
fc7938eade40e9fed6cb92184abb2cc1
0eb1a296df243b251df0643d53724cdb
5a92a1d6cb817804c4a9319b57d53be5
80815bcfcb2df55018cc83fc43bc7ff8
2d51f9b88364776ee9d12fc85cc7ea5b
9741c4f598c485316db066d52db4540e
212e1518a9bd4828219e24b20d88f598
a196c9de96012090e333519ae18d3509
9427e7b372d348d352dc4c85e18cd4b9
3f8a56ddb2e64eb67adfc9b337157ff4
-----END OpenVPN Static key V1-----
</tls-auth>
```

## Step 4: Create Environment Variables File

Create a `.env` file in the project directory with your credentials:

```plaintext
VPN_USERNAME=username
VPN_PASSWORD=password
#SOCKS_USER=proxyuser # leave commented for no credentials in the socks proxy
#SOCKS_PASSWORD=proxypass # leave commented for no credentials in the socks proxy
```

## Step 5: Start the Services

```bash
docker-compose up -d
```

## Step 6: Test the Connection

```bash
curl --socks5 localhost:1080 ifconfig.me
```

This will display your VPN's IP address rather than your actual IP.

## Using Your SOCKS5 Proxy

You can now configure applications to use your SOCKS5 proxy with these details:

* Proxy host: [localhost](http://localhost) (or your server's IP)
    
* Port: 1080
    
* Username: proxyuser (or whatever you set in the .env file) (if you set this in .env - otherwise empty)
    
* Password: proxypass (or whatever you set in the .env file) (if you set this in .env - otherwise empty)