Before using your Squid Proxies, it is a good idea to run a quick test to confirm that everything is working as expected.

A basic proxy test can help verify that:

  • The proxy is reachable
  • Authentication is configured correctly
  • Your traffic is being routed through the proxy
  • The proxy IP is different from your original public IP
  • The proxy location matches the expected region

You can test your proxies using an online checker, cURL, or a web browser.

Test with an Online Proxy Checker

Online proxy testing tools provide a quick way to check connectivity, IP location, and other basic proxy details without installing additional software.

Common tools include:

Depending on the tool, you may be able to enter your proxy details directly or configure the proxy in your browser before visiting the site.

Once connected, verify that the IP address and location shown by the testing service match your Squid Proxies connection rather than your normal internet connection.

Note: Not all online proxy checkers accept a proxy in IP:PORT format directly. Some only check the connection currently being used by your browser.

Test with cURL

You can also use cURL to test a proxy from the command line. This is useful for quickly confirming connectivity, authentication, and the IP address being used.

IP-Authenticated Proxy

If your current public IP address has already been added to the Authorized IPs section of your Squid Proxies account, run:

curl -x http://123.45.67.89:8000 https://ipinfo.io/ip

Replace 123.45.67.89:8000 with your actual proxy address and port.

If the proxy is working, the command will return the public IP address used for the request.

Username and Password Authentication

If your proxy uses username and password authentication, run:

curl -x http://username:[email protected]:8000 https://ipinfo.io/ip

Replace the proxy address, username, and password with your actual Squid Proxies credentials.

A successful request should return the proxy IP instead of your normal public IP.

For example:

123.45.67.89

Useful cURL Options

You can add extra cURL options when troubleshooting.

Follow redirects:

curl -L -x http://123.45.67.89:8000 https://ipinfo.io/ip

View response headers only:

curl -I -x http://123.45.67.89:8000 https://example.com

Show detailed connection information:

curl -v -x http://123.45.67.89:8000 https://ipinfo.io/ip

The -v option is particularly useful when troubleshooting connection or authentication errors.

Test in a Web Browser

If you have already configured Squid Proxies in your browser, you can verify the connection using an IP-checking website.

  1. Open the browser where your proxy is configured.
  2. Visit WhatIsMyIPAddress.com.
  3. Check the IP address displayed on the page.
  4. Compare it with your normal public IP address.

If the proxy is working correctly, the displayed IP should be the proxy IP rather than the IP assigned by your internet service provider.

You can also use another IP lookup service to confirm that the results are consistent.

This method is useful for testing proxies configured directly in browsers such as Firefox or through browser extensions that support proxy connections.

Verify the Test Results

After testing, confirm that:

  • The proxy connects successfully
  • The expected proxy IP is being used
  • Your normal public IP is not being used for the request
  • The displayed location matches the expected proxy location
  • Authentication completes without errors

If the proxy does not connect, first check that the proxy address and port are correct.

For IP authentication, make sure your current public IP address is added under Authorized IPs in the Squid Proxies Client Dashboard.

For username and password authentication, verify that you are using the correct proxy credentials.