# Proxies

Maintaining a good IP reputation is hard. Reacher integrates seamlessly with SOCKS5 proxies.

### What is a SOCKS5 Proxy? <a href="#what-is-a-socks5-proxy" id="what-is-a-socks5-proxy"></a>

A **SOCKS5 proxy** is a flexible proxy protocol that supports various types of traffic, including SMTP. When using it for email verifications, the reputation of the **proxy’s IP** is what matters, not your own IP. This is crucial for maintaining deliverability and avoiding issues like blacklisting.

Choosing a reputable 3rd-party proxy will greatly improve the quality of your email verification results. For a list of recommended proxies, see [Which 3rd-party proxies does Reacher recommend?](#which-3rd-party-proxies-does-reacher-recommend)

SMTP email verifications are not possible via a traditional HTTP proxy.

### Setting up a Proxy <a href="#setting-up-a-proxy" id="setting-up-a-proxy"></a>

Once you've purchased a proxy, run the Docker command (see how in [Install Reacher in 20min](https://reacherdocs.no2bounce.com/self-hosting/install)) and pass the following flags:

* `-e RCH__PROXY__HOST=<host>`: The IP or hostname of the proxy server.
* `-e RCH__PROXY__PORT=<port>`: The corresponding port.
* `-e RCH__PROXY__USERNAME=<username>`: Optional. A username to authenticate the proxy.
* `-e RCH__PROXY__PASSWORD=<password>`: Optional. The corresponding password.
* `-e RCH__HELLO_NAME=<domain>`: The identifier to use during the "HELO/EHLO" step. It should match a domain name owned by the proxy. Ask your proxy provider about this setting.
* `-e RCH__FROM_EMAIL=<email>`: The email to use during the "MAIL FROM" step. Ask your proxy provider about this setting.

You can point these settings to a proxy of your own choosing.

For advanced usage, you can configure [Multiple Proxies](https://reacherdocs.no2bounce.com/self-hosting/integrations/multiple-proxies).

### Which 3rd-party proxies does Reacher recommend? <a href="#which-3rd-party-proxies-does-reacher-recommend" id="which-3rd-party-proxies-does-reacher-recommend"></a>

Reacher works closely with [Proxy25](https://www.proxy25.com/). The service is run by experts in email verification with over 10 years experience in the industry. They understand the complications and challenges that arise from large scale SMTP connections. Their proxies integrate seamlessly with Reacher, and are tailored for B2B emails.