Proxy Configuration in Askimo

Learn how to configure proxy settings in Askimo to connect AI providers through corporate networks, privacy tunnels, or custom proxy servers.

Overview

Askimo supports comprehensive proxy configuration for all network connections, including:

• AI provider API calls (OpenAI, Anthropic, Gemini, etc.)
• Web content extraction (URL scraping, PDF downloads)
• Model listing and availability checks

Supported Proxy Types

• HTTP/HTTPS Proxy - Standard corporate proxies
• SOCKS5 Proxy - Advanced proxies, SSH tunnels, Tor
• System Proxy - Automatically use your operating system’s proxy settings
• No Proxy - Direct connection (default)

---

Accessing Network Settings

Navigate to the proxy configuration settings:

Opening Network Settings:

1. Click the Settings icon in the sidebar (or use ⌘/Ctrl +)
2. Select Network from the settings menu
3. Configure your proxy settings

Keyboard Shortcut:

• macOS: ⌘ + then select Network
• Windows/Linux: Ctrl + then select Network

---

Configuring Proxy Settings

Proxy Type Selection

Choose the appropriate proxy type for your network environment:

1. No Proxy (Default)

• Direct connection to AI providers
• No proxy server involved
• Best for home networks or unrestricted connections

2. System Proxy

• Automatically uses your operating system’s proxy configuration
• Ideal when your OS is already configured with proxy settings
• No manual configuration needed

3. HTTP Proxy

• Standard HTTP proxy server
• Most common in corporate environments
• Supports optional authentication

4. HTTPS Proxy

• Secure HTTPS proxy server
• Same as HTTP but uses HTTPS protocol
• Supports optional authentication

5. SOCKS5 Proxy

• Advanced proxy protocol
• Supports SSH tunnels, Tor, and privacy proxies
• Authentication via system properties

---

HTTP/HTTPS Proxy Configuration

Configure a standard HTTP or HTTPS proxy server.

Basic Configuration

Required Settings:

1. Proxy Type: Select “HTTP Proxy” or “HTTPS Proxy”
2. Proxy Host: Enter your proxy server address
   • Example: proxy.company.com
   • Example: 192.168.1.100
3. Proxy Port: Enter the proxy port number
   • Common ports: 8080, 3128, 8888

With Authentication

If your proxy requires authentication:

Optional Settings:

1. Username: Your proxy username
2. Password: Your proxy password

Example Configuration:

Proxy Type: HTTP Proxy
Host: proxy.company.com
Port: 8080
Username: john.doe
Password: ********

Test Your Proxy

After configuring, try sending a message to an AI provider to verify the proxy is working correctly.

---

SOCKS5 Proxy Configuration

Configure a SOCKS5 proxy for advanced networking or privacy.

Basic Configuration

Required Settings:

1. Proxy Type: Select “SOCKS5 Proxy”
2. Proxy Host: Enter your SOCKS5 server address
   • Example: localhost (for SSH tunnels)
   • Example: 127.0.0.1
3. Proxy Port: Enter the SOCKS5 port
   • Common ports: 1080, 9050 (Tor)

With Authentication

Optional Settings:

1. Username: SOCKS5 username (if required)
2. Password: SOCKS5 password (if required)

Common Use Cases

SSH Tunnel:

# Create SSH tunnel first
ssh -D 1080 user@remote-server

# Then configure in Askimo:
Proxy Type: SOCKS5 Proxy
Host: localhost
Port: 1080

Tor Network:

# Ensure Tor is running, then:
Proxy Type: SOCKS5 Proxy
Host: 127.0.0.1
Port: 9050

---

System Proxy Configuration

Let Askimo automatically use your operating system’s proxy settings.

How It Works

macOS:

• Uses proxy settings from System Preferences → Network → Advanced → Proxies
• Supports HTTP, HTTPS, and SOCKS proxies configured at OS level

Windows:

• Uses proxy settings from Settings → Network & Internet → Proxy
• Supports automatic proxy configuration and manual settings

Linux:

• Uses system environment variables (http_proxy, https_proxy, all_proxy)
• Respects GNOME/KDE proxy settings

Configuration

Simple Setup:

1. Proxy Type: Select “System Proxy”
2. That’s it! Askimo will use your OS proxy settings

When to Use System Proxy

Use System Proxy when:

• Your organization manages proxy settings via MDM or group policy
• You want consistent proxy settings across all applications
• You frequently switch between different networks

---

Localhost and Private Network Bypass

Askimo automatically bypasses proxy for local services to ensure optimal performance.

Automatic Bypass

The following addresses always bypass proxy (direct connection):

Localhost:

• localhost
• 127.0.0.1
• ::1 (IPv6 localhost)

Private Networks:

• 192.168.x.x (home/office networks)
• 10.x.x.x (private networks)
• 172.16.x.x to 172.31.x.x (private networks)
• *.local domains

Why This Matters

Local AI Providers:

• Ollama (default: http://localhost:11434)
• LM Studio (default: http://localhost:1234)
• LocalAI (default: http://localhost:8080)
• Docker AI (default: http://localhost:8080)

These local services automatically bypass your proxy configuration for faster, more reliable connections.

---

Common Proxy Scenarios

Corporate Network

Scenario: You’re behind a corporate firewall that requires an authenticated proxy.

Configuration:

Proxy Type: HTTP Proxy
Host: proxy.corporate.com
Port: 8080
Username: your.email@company.com
Password: your-proxy-password

Applies to:

• All external AI providers (OpenAI, Anthropic, Gemini, etc.)
• Web content extraction from external URLs
• Model availability checks

Bypasses proxy:

• Local Ollama installation
• Local LM Studio models

---

Privacy-Focused Setup

Scenario: You want all AI requests to go through Tor for privacy.

Configuration:

# First, ensure Tor is running
# Then configure:
Proxy Type: SOCKS5 Proxy
Host: 127.0.0.1
Port: 9050

Note: Tor will significantly slow down responses but provides anonymity.

---

Home Network with VPN

Scenario: You use a VPN that requires a SOCKS5 proxy.

Configuration:

Proxy Type: SOCKS5 Proxy
Host: vpn-proxy.example.com
Port: 1080
Username: vpn-user
Password: vpn-password

---

Mixed Environment

Scenario: You switch between office (with proxy) and home (without proxy).

Option 1 - System Proxy:

Proxy Type: System Proxy

Configure your OS proxy at the office, disable at home. Askimo adapts automatically.

Option 2 - Manual Switching:

• At office: Configure HTTP Proxy
• At home: Switch to “No Proxy”

---

Verifying Proxy Configuration

Testing Your Setup

After configuring proxy settings, verify they work:

Quick Test:

1. Send a message to any AI provider (e.g., ChatGPT)
2. If you receive a response, proxy is working ✓
3. If connection fails, check your proxy settings

Common Issues:

Connection Timeout:

• Verify proxy host and port are correct
• Check if proxy server is accessible
• Ensure firewall allows outbound connections

Authentication Failed:

• Double-check username and password
• Try without authentication first
• Contact your IT department for correct credentials

Proxy Works, Local Models Don’t:

• This is expected! Local models bypass proxy
• Verify local service is running (e.g., ollama list)
• Check local service URL in AI provider settings

---

Advanced Configuration

Environment Variables

You can also configure proxy using environment variables (takes precedence over UI settings):

macOS/Linux:

export http_proxy="http://proxy.company.com:8080"
export https_proxy="http://proxy.company.com:8080"
export no_proxy="localhost,127.0.0.1,*.local"

# With authentication:
export http_proxy="http://username:password@proxy.company.com:8080"

Windows (PowerShell):

$env:http_proxy = "http://proxy.company.com:8080"
$env:https_proxy = "http://proxy.company.com:8080"
$env:no_proxy = "localhost,127.0.0.1,*.local"

Configuration File

Proxy settings are stored in ~/.askimo/askimo.yml:

proxy:
  type: HTTP  # NONE, SYSTEM, HTTP, HTTPS, SOCKS5
  host: proxy.company.com
  port: 8080
  username: ""
  password: ""

Security Note

Proxy credentials are stored in plain text in the configuration file. For better security, consider:

• Using System Proxy with OS-managed credentials
• Using environment variables
• Requesting credential encryption in a future Askimo release

---

Troubleshooting

Proxy Connection Issues

Problem: “Connection timeout” or “Unable to connect”

Solutions:

1. Verify proxy host and port are correct
2. Test proxy with another application (e.g., browser)
3. Check firewall allows connections to proxy port
4. Try switching proxy type (HTTP vs SOCKS5)

---

Problem: “Proxy authentication required”

Solutions:

1. Enter username and password in proxy settings
2. Verify credentials are correct (try in browser)
3. Check with IT if authentication method is supported
4. Try without authentication first to isolate issue

---

Problem: “Local AI providers not working”

Solutions:

1. Verify local service is running: curl http://localhost:11434 (for Ollama)
2. Check AI provider settings have correct local URL
3. Local services should bypass proxy automatically
4. Check service-specific documentation

---

Problem: “Works with some AI providers, not others”

Solutions:

1. Some providers may have different network requirements
2. Check provider-specific base URL in settings
3. Try with “System Proxy” type
4. Verify API key is correct for the failing provider

---

Getting Help

If proxy issues persist:

1. Check Logs: Open Settings → Advanced → View Logs
2. Test Without Proxy: Temporarily set to “No Proxy” to isolate issue
3. Contact Support: Include proxy type (without credentials) and error messages
4. Community: Ask in Askimo community forums with anonymized configuration

---

Best Practices

Security

✅ Do:

• Use System Proxy when available for credential security
• Change proxy password regularly if stored in config
• Use HTTPS proxy instead of HTTP when available
• Limit file permissions on askimo.yml (chmod 600 on Unix)

❌ Don’t:

• Share your askimo.yml file (contains credentials)
• Use untrusted proxy servers
• Store production credentials in plain text long-term

Performance

✅ Do:

• Use local AI providers (Ollama, LM Studio) for best performance
• Prefer System Proxy to leverage OS optimizations
• Use HTTP proxy over SOCKS5 if both are available (faster)

❌ Don’t:

• Route local services through proxy unnecessarily
• Use Tor for real-time applications (very slow)
• Chain multiple proxies

Network Switching

✅ Do:

• Use System Proxy for automatic adaptation
• Create network-specific configurations
• Test after switching networks

❌ Don’t:

• Forget to disable proxy when leaving corporate network
• Leave old proxy settings when they’re no longer needed

---

Summary

Askimo provides flexible proxy configuration to work in any network environment:

• Corporate Networks: HTTP/HTTPS proxy with authentication
• Privacy: SOCKS5 proxy, Tor support
• Convenience: System proxy for automatic configuration
• Performance: Automatic localhost bypass for local AI providers

Configure once, and Askimo handles the rest – connecting to external AI providers through your proxy while keeping local services fast and direct.

Need Help? Check the Troubleshooting section or visit our community forums.