Single-Computer Operation

If you do not have a network, but only a single computer connected to the Internet, you can still use the mail proxy.

Every computer that supports IP (Internet protocol) is equipped with a loopback interface. The loopback is an internal ("dummy") interface that allows networking programs on the same computer to communicate. This interface behaves in every respect identically to a "real" interface connected to an outside network via a networking card. The well-known IP address of the loopback interface is always the same: 127.0.0.1. This arrangement is illustrated on the following diagram:

In this scenario, both the mail client and the Trilent Mail Proxy are installed on the same computer. The inside interface of the proxy is now the loopback interface. Enter address 127.0.0.1 into the "Inside Interface" box as shown in the Enter the Gateway Host Data section.

The mail client program has to be configured to connect to the proxy address, which in this case is the loopback interface.

The benefits of using the Trilent Mail Proxy on a single computer are limited. It is typically so used for testing, or when some specific features of the proxy are needed.