Most developers rely on cloud-based WAFs — but that comes with vendor lock-in, hidden costs, and less control.
SafeLine is a free, open-source Web Application Firewall (WAF) you host yourself. By deploying it on a standalone server, you get maximum protection, better performance, and complete control over your traffic.
Why Run SafeLine on Its Own Server?
- Dedicated protection — Your origin server never faces direct traffic.
- Better performance — Offload inspection to a separate box.
- Extra security — Only SafeLine’s IP talks to your origin.
Think of it as putting a shield in front of your app — one that you fully control.
Setup Overview
-
Web Server: IP A (IPA), Port 80, Domain:
example.com(e.g., IPA = 192.168.117.6) - SafeLine Server: IP B (IPB)
Step 1 — Point Traffic to SafeLine
Update DNS so example.com resolves to IPB.
Now every request flows through SafeLine first.
Step 2 — Configure SafeLine Backend
In the SafeLine dashboard, set your backend target to IPA (your real web server).
Match the correct port (80 or 443) and domain.
Step 3 — Lock Down Your Origin
Prevent bypass attacks:
- Configure your firewall so only SafeLine’s IP (IPB) can access your origin.
- Block all other direct traffic to port 80/443.
Step 4 — Verify It Works
Open example.com in a browser.
If the site loads and requests show up in SafeLine Dashboard → Data Statistics → Today’s Requests, your WAF is active.
Step 5 — Enable Advanced Protection
SafeLine supports per-site advanced rules:
- Custom Rules — Apply site-specific security policies.
- Human Verification — Trigger CAPTCHA/JS challenges for suspicious traffic.
- Extra Authentication — Add login layers for sensitive endpoints.
(Tip: custom rules are always active, regardless of toggle status.)
Final Thoughts
Running SafeLine on a standalone server gives you enterprise-level protection without cloud dependency.
You’ll gain:
- Active traffic monitoring
- Protection from brute force & injection attacks
- Stronger resilience against DDoS
- Long-term scalability for growing apps
👉 Pro Tip: Always keep SafeLine updated to the latest release for the newest protections.
Try SafeLine Today
SafeLine is completely free and open-source under GPL. Whether you’re protecting a side project or a production service, it puts full control of security back in your hands.
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