A utility similar to the venerable Netcat that works over a number of protocols and through a files, pipes, devices (terminal or modem, etc.), sockets (Unix, IP4, IP6 - raw, UDP, TCP), a client for SOCKS4, proxy CONNECT, or SSL, etc. It provides forking, logging, and dumping, different modes for interprocess communication, and many more options. It can be used, for example, as a TCP relay (one-shot or daemon), as a daemon-based socksifier, as a shell interface to Unix sockets, as an IP6 relay, for redirecting TCP-oriented programs to a serial line, or to establish a relatively secure environment (su and chroot) for running client or server shell scripts with network connections.
For downloads and more information,
visit the Socat homepage.
The main thing I use socat for is speaking plaintext protocols over SSL. The argument syntax takes a bit of getting used to, but once you do, it makes sense and is quite powerful.
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The main thing I use socat for is speaking plaintext protocols over SSL. The argument syntax takes a bit of getting used to, but once you do, it makes sense and is quite powerful.
Love socat. Very helpful in tying series of internet tubes together. Lots of room for creativity. Excellent tool. Very stable.