Configuring proxy settings
Configure proxy settings for Bob Shell in enterprise environments with network restrictions
Error messages
Connection errors or timeouts when attempting to use Bob Shell, such as:
- "Unable to connect to Bob services"
- "Network request failed"
- "Connection timeout"
- "SSL certificate verification failed"
- "ECONNREFUSED" or "ETIMEDOUT" errors
Common causes
Your organization requires all HTTP/HTTPS traffic to flow through a proxy server rather than allowing direct connections. This is common in enterprise environments with strict network security policies.
Solution
Configure proxy settings for Bob Shell using environment variables to route traffic through your organization's proxy server.
Set proxy environment variables
Open your shell configuration file in a text editor:
- For Bash:
~/.bashrcor~/.bash_profile - For Zsh:
~/.zshrc - For Fish:
~/.config/fish/config.fish
Add the following environment variables to your shell configuration file:
export HTTP_PROXY=http://proxy.example.com:8080
export HTTPS_PROXY=https://proxy.example.com:8080
export NO_PROXY=localhost,127.0.0.1Replace proxy.example.com:8080 with your organization's actual proxy server address and port.
The NO_PROXY variable specifies addresses that should bypass the proxy. Add any internal domains or IP addresses that don't require proxy access.
Save the configuration file and reload it:
# For Bash
source ~/.bashrc
# For Zsh
source ~/.zshrc
# For Fish
source ~/.config/fish/config.fishVerify that the environment variables are set:
echo $HTTP_PROXY
echo $HTTPS_PROXYTest Bob Shell connectivity by starting a new session.
Configure SSL certificate validation
If your proxy uses self-signed certificates or custom certificate authorities, you might need to configure SSL certificate validation.
Add SSL configuration to your shell configuration file:
# Disable strict SSL validation (not recommended for production)
export NODE_TLS_REJECT_UNAUTHORIZED=0
# Or provide custom CA certificates (recommended)
export NODE_EXTRA_CA_CERTS=/path/to/your/ca-bundle.crtDisabling SSL validation (NODE_TLS_REJECT_UNAUTHORIZED=0) reduces security and should only be used temporarily. Provide your organization's certificate bundle using NODE_EXTRA_CA_CERTS.
Obtain your organization's certificate bundle from your IT team and save it to a secure location.
Update the NODE_EXTRA_CA_CERTS path to point to your certificate bundle file.
Reload your shell configuration and test Bob Shell connectivity.
Temporary proxy configuration
For temporary proxy configuration without modifying your shell configuration file, set the environment variables in your current terminal session:
export HTTP_PROXY=http://proxy.example.com:8080
export HTTPS_PROXY=https://proxy.example.com:8080
bobshellThese settings will only apply to the current terminal session and will be lost when you close the terminal.