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Understanding Aluvia gateway nodes

Aluvia gateway nodes are cloud endpoints that route your traffic through Aluvia's mobile IP network. When your requests pass through a gateway node, they exit onto the internet from trusted mobile IPs, reducing the likelihood of blocks and CAPTCHAs.

Gateway nodes handle authentication, load balancing, and upstream routing. All you need to connect is a set of proxy credentials from a connection object.

How traffic flows​

The following diagram shows how traffic flows from your application through a gateway node:

┌─────────────────┐      ┌─────────────────┐      ┌─────────────────┐
│  Your App       │──────│  Gateway Node   │──────│  Destination    │
│                 │      │                 │      │                 │
│  Proxy client   │      │  Authenticates  │      │  Sees mobile IP │
│  or Aluvia      │      │  and routes     │      │  not datacenter │
│  Client         │      │  traffic        │      │  IP             │
└─────────────────┘      └─────────────────┘      └─────────────────┘

Gateway nodes authenticate your request using connection credentials, then forward it through Aluvia's mobile IP network. The destination site sees traffic from a mobile carrier IP.

Ways to connect​

You have two options for routing traffic through gateway nodes:

MethodDescription
Direct from any proxy clientConfigure any HTTP proxy client (curl, Python requests, browser automation tools) to point directly at gateway.aluvia.io using your connection credentials.
Using the Aluvia clientUse the SDK's AluviaClient to start a local proxy that routes traffic to gateway nodes based on hostname rules. The client handles credential management and supports live rule updates.

Connecting with any proxy client​

Any tool or library that supports HTTP proxies can connect directly to gateway nodes. Configure your proxy client with:

  • Proxy host: gateway.aluvia.io
  • Proxy port: 8080 (HTTP) or 8443 (HTTPS)
  • Username and password: Credentials from your connection object

For example, with curl:

curl -x "http://USERNAME:PASSWORD@gateway.aluvia.io:8080" https://example.com

Connecting with the Aluvia Client​

The Aluvia Client provides a higher-level interface for routing traffic through gateway nodes. When you call client.start(), the client:

  1. Creates or retrieves a connection from the Aluvia API
  2. Starts a local proxy on 127.0.0.1
  3. Routes each request through gateway nodes or direct based on your hostname rules

The client abstracts away credential management and provides adapters for common tools:

import { chromium } from 'playwright';
import { AluviaClient } from '@aluvia/sdk';

const client = new AluviaClient({ apiKey: process.env.ALUVIA_API_KEY! });
const connection = await client.start();

const browser = await chromium.launch({ proxy: connection.asPlaywright() });

Gateway node information​

Hostname​

gateway.aluvia.io

You are automatically connected to the optimal node. All gateway nodes are located in the United States.

Ports and protocols​

  • Port 8080 for HTTP
  • Port 8443 for HTTPS

Username and password​

To authenticate with gateway nodes, use the proxy_username and proxy_password from a connection object. You can create connections through the dashboard, the Aluvia API, or the Aluvia Client.