Apache Traffic Server vs Openport

Apache Traffic Server is a free, open-source caching proxy server for HTTP/1.1 and HTTP/2. It stores frequently requested pages, images, and web service calls so they can be reused, with the stated aims of improving response time and reducing server load and bandwidth needs. It can also add keep-alive behavior, filter or anonymize requests, and balance traffic through a proxy layer. Deployment patterns include web proxy cache, reverse proxy, and cache hierarchy. As a layer 7 HTTP load balancer, it can choose next-hop servers using request attributes, weighted round robin, or URL consistent hashing. Plug-in APIs let teams add behavior such as changing headers, handling ESI requests, or implementing cache algorithms. Security options include client access controls and authentication, SSL termination, and SSL-based access control. It is self-hosted, with Linux and macOS listed as platforms. The project identifies enterprises, internet service providers, backbone providers, and large intranets as its intended audience. The listed stable release is 10.2.0; 9.2.15 is listed as the long-term support release.

Openport lets users make a local TCP port reachable from the internet without opening a firewall port. It builds a tunnel between a device and the outside world for remote access, and its web service and API can show online IoT devices and manage a fleet. Access can be controlled by user groups. The `--http-forward` option assigns a hostname to a session for serving a local port over HTTP and HTTPS with a valid certificate. Custom-domain forwarding requires a CNAME record and works over HTTPS only. With TLS passthrough, TLS ends on the user's machine, keeping tunnelled traffic encrypted end to end. Forwarded ports require visitors to click a token link by default; a clicked link remains valid for 24 hours. Openport also lists brute-force blocking and port-scanning detection. It supports API, Linux, macOS, web, and Windows. Since client 2.3.0, sessions can forward UDP as well as TCP on the same port when the server supports it. The service was founded in 2014 and offers a free plan, a 30-day trial, and paid plans from $1/mo.