Retro-Proxy-Stack/README.md

Retro-Proxy-Stack

A collection of Docker configurations designed to bridge the gap between modern internet services (email, web) and legacy clients (Outlook Express 6, IE 5/6 on Windows 9x/XP).

Note: This project is an orchestration layer. All core functionality is provided by the following upstream projects:

Architecture & Credits

• Stunnel: Used for SMTP/POP3/IMAP protocol/TLS translation.
• WebOne: Modern-to-legacy HTTP proxy for browsing.
• WRP (Web Rendering Proxy): Visual-rendering proxy that converts modern web pages into clickable image maps.
• VNCFox: Runs a modern browser in a VNC session, accessible from vintage hardware.
• Browservice: A proxy that lets modern browsers run locally but render into old browser windows. Note: Advanced setup required, usually requires building locally.

Features

• Legacy Mail Proxy: Uses Stunnel to translate non-SSL legacy client connections into secure TLS 1.3 tunnels for modern servers. Note: Best used with your own private mail server (like Synology MailPlus) that supports standard basic authentication (PLAIN/LOGIN).
• WebOne Proxy: An HTTP proxy that strips modern security requirements and complex scripts, allowing vintage browsers to access the modern web.
• WRP (Web Rendering Proxy): A visual proxy that renders modern webpages as clickable image maps for hardware that cannot handle modern web standards.
• VNCFox: Provides a remote-controlled modern browser session via VNC, perfect for high-capability legacy OSes (like Windows XP).

Services

Service	Role	Host Port	Purpose
Stunnel	Mail Proxy	25, 110, 143	Bridges legacy mail clients to modern TLS-enabled servers.
WebOne	HTTP Proxy	8081	Allows retro browsers to access the modern web (strips TLS/scripts).
WRP	Visual Proxy	8082	Renders modern sites as image maps for very limited hardware.
VNCFox	Remote Browser	5900	Provides a VNC-based session for a modern browser.

Quick Start

1. Launch: Run docker compose up -d to start all services.
2. Mail Client Configuration:
   • Configure your client (Outlook Express 6) to use the host's IP address for SMTP/POP/IMAP.
   • Crucial: Disable "Secure Password Authentication" (SPA) in the client's account settings.
   • Set connection security to "None" (the proxy handles the encryption).
3. Retro Browsing:
   • For WebOne: Set your browser's proxy settings to host-ip:8081.
   • For WRP: Navigate to http://host-ip:8082 in your legacy browser.
   • For VNCFox: Use any VNC client (e.g., TightVNC) to connect to host-ip:5900 (Password: vncfox).

Configuration

• All infrastructure and service mappings are defined in compose.yml.
• Mail proxy settings are defined in stunnel.conf.