Localtunnel - Easiest way to create a local tunnel

Starting a local tunnel is as simple as pasting the following command into your Terminal / Command Prompt:

ssh -p 443 -R0:localhost:8000 qr@a.pinggy.io

Change 8000 to your required port. Visit https://pinggy.io for more details.

Local tunnels are simple using Pinggy

Local Tunnels using a single command

Local tunnels are secure connections to your localhost that help in exposing websites, web applications, files, and enabling remote access. They’re essential when port forwarding isn’t possible, such as when behind CGNAT and firewalls. Using just one Pinggy command, you can establish a secure local tunnel to your localhost server directly through the terminal. No need for platform-specific downloads and installations – Pinggy HTTP / TCP / TLS tunnels make server exposure effortless and efficient for developers worldwide.

A local tunnel is created and you get an HTTP link to your localhost in seconds.

What is a local tunnel?

A local tunnel is a secure connection that allows external access to a device connected to a private local network from the internet. Local tunnels can handle different protocols such as HTTP, TCP, UDP, etc., which enables tunneling traffic of that specific protocol. For example, an HTTP local tunnel allows you to host a website on your localhost (your local computer) and make it accessible from the internet through a public URL.

Usually, localhost ports aren’t reachable from the internet because of NAT, CGNAT, and firewalls. Local tunnels solve this problem by tunneling traffic in a secure manner. This is similar to port forwarding but with the added advantages of a public address and the ability to circumvent CGNAT restrictions.

How to create a local tunnel

Using Pinggy is the fastest way to set up a local tunnel. With just one command, any local server can be made accessible over the internet. This is particularly useful during development, testing, demonstrations, and remote collaboration.

Steps for HTTP local tunnel:

1. Open your command prompt / terminal. Paste the following command and press enter to start a local tunnel. Replace 8000 with your desired port:

   ssh -p 443 -R0:localhost:8000 qr@a.pinggy.io
   

2. The local tunnel can be accessed using the public URL provided by Pinggy after running the command.

3. Pinggy will give you a random URL for your local tunnel by default. To avoid this, you can sign in to https://dashboard.pinggy.io to get an access token. When you start a tunnel using your access token, you can find ongoing tunnel URLs from the dashboard. You can upgrade to Pro to get a persistent subdomain.

4. You can link a custom domain to your Pinggy tunnel to have a permanent URL to localhost.

Steps for TCP local tunnel:

1. You can create TCP local tunnel by running the following command in command prompt / terminal (replace 22 with your port):

   ssh -p 443 -R0:localhost:22 tcp@a.pinggy.io
   

2. After running the tunneling command, you will receive a public URL in the following format: tcp://tljocjkijs.a.pinggy.link:40527

   You can use this address and port to connect to your local port from outside the local network.

   

Using a VPS with SSH Port Forwarding

If you want to set up a local tunnel from scratch, you can also rent a VPS and use SSH port forwarding to expose your local services. This involves setting up an SSH connection to the VPS and forwarding ports manually. While this method provides more control, it is more complex to configure and requires managing the VPS, firewall rules, and SSH keys. For most users, tools like Pinggy offer a simpler and faster solution.

Benefits of Using Local Tunnels

Local tunnels offer several key advantages:

• Rapid Setup: With a single command, you can expose your local service, eliminating the need for complicated network configurations.
• Enhanced Collaboration: Developers can instantly share in-progress work with remote colleagues or clients without deploying the code to a public server.
• Bypassing Network Limitations: They overcome issues posed by NAT, CGNAT, and firewalls—common hurdles that block inbound connections to local environments.
• Cost Efficiency: Instead of provisioning a server for testing or demonstrations, local tunnels provide a low-cost, temporary solution.
• Customizable Endpoints: Many tunneling services allow you to set custom subdomains or even link your own domain, which adds branding and memorability to your public URLs.
• Cross-Protocol Support: Whether you need to expose HTTP, TCP, or even UDP services, local tunnels adapt to your requirements with minimal adjustments.
• No Installation Required: Pinggy uses SSH, which is built into most operating systems, eliminating the need to install additional software.

Use Cases for Local Tunnels

Local tunnels are incredibly versatile and can be applied to various scenarios, including:

• Web Development & Testing: Quickly share your local web applications for live demonstrations, client feedback, or debugging sessions.
• Mobile Application Debugging: Test mobile apps interacting with a backend running on your development machine.
• API Integration: Expose local APIs to external services for callback testing, webhook handling, or integration testing.
• IoT Device Management: Remotely access and manage IoT devices connected within a private network.
• Remote Administration: Securely administer servers or desktops from outside your local network without complex VPN setups.
• Customer Demos: Seamlessly present prototypes or beta versions of your projects to remote stakeholders, reducing the need for full-scale deployments.

Security Risks and Mitigations

While local tunnels simplify connectivity, they also introduce some security challenges:

• Exposure of Sensitive Services: By making your local services public, you risk exposing development tools or sensitive endpoints.
  Mitigation: Use authentication, restrict access with IP whitelisting, and ensure that no production data is exposed.

• Data Leakage: Unsecured tunnels can inadvertently expose confidential or internal data.
  Mitigation: Always use encrypted tunnels (TLS/HTTPS) and avoid using real production data in your development environment. Use basic authentication or bearer token authentication for more security.

• Unauthorized Access: A publicly accessible tunnel may attract unwanted attention, including brute-force or exploitation attempts.
  Mitigation: Employ robust access tokens, use persistent subdomains through trusted dashboards (like Pinggy’s), and monitor traffic for any suspicious activity.

• Man-in-the-Middle (MitM) Attacks: Data traveling through an unencrypted tunnel is vulnerable to interception.
  Mitigation: Ensure that your tunnel encrypts data in transit using TLS or similar protocols.

By being aware of these risks and implementing the recommended practices, you can enjoy the benefits of local tunnels while maintaining a secure environment.

Conclusion

Local tunnels empower developers and IT professionals to expose local environments quickly and securely, whether for development, testing, demos, or remote administration. They offer a practical solution to bypass common networking hurdles and support multiple protocols to fit a variety of use cases. With Pinggy’s simple one-command approach, you can get started without any installation or complex setup. Just remember to implement security best practices to mitigate potential risks associated with exposing internal services to the public internet.