A ngrok-style secure tunnel server written in Rust and Open Source
github.com
March 18, 2026
15 min read
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51/100
Summary
Rustunnel is an open-source tunnel service written in Rust that replicates the functionality of ngrok, allowing local services behind NAT/firewalls to be exposed to the public internet. It supports encrypted WebSocket connections, TLS termination, HTTP/TCP proxying, and offers features such as a live dashboard, Prometheus metrics, and audit logging, with options for self-hosting or using a managed service.
Key Takeaways
- Rustunnel is an open-source tunnel service written in Rust that exposes local services to the public internet through a relay server.
- It supports encrypted WebSocket connections with TLS termination, HTTP/TCP proxying, and provides a live dashboard and Prometheus metrics.
- Users can either self-host Rustunnel or use a managed service, with access to the hosted service requiring an authentication token.
- The setup process includes installing dependencies, building binaries, configuring the server, and setting up systemd services.
Community Sentiment
Positives
- The emergence of new competitors in the tunneling space is encouraging, as it can lead to better solutions and innovation for developers.
- There's a recognition of the need for reliable tunneling solutions, especially as existing options like ngrok face reliability issues.
Concerns
- Concerns about the potential for open-source tools to become proprietary after initial success raise trust issues within the community.
- The shift of established tools like ngrok towards enterprise products is viewed as a departure from their core reliability, which is disappointing for users.