Local agent

The local agent lets the web client send requests from your computer, so they reach localhost and your private network and use this computer's environment, keychain secrets, cookies and certificates. It is the desktop app in agent mode, or porticol-agent on a computer without the desktop app.

When the web client can't find an agent, it says: "Can't reach Porticol on this computer. Turn on agent mode in the Porticol desktop app, or start porticol-agent, then try again."

Turn on agent mode

  1. In the desktop app, open Settings > Local agent and turn on Agent mode.
  2. Status shows the address it listens on, such as 127.0.0.1:47615.
  3. Send from the web client. It asks for a pairing code.
  4. Choose Show pairing code and type the code into the web client.

The code has six digits, works once and lasts five minutes. After five wrong codes it stops working; show a new one. Agent mode stays on across launches until you turn it off, and turning it off closes every connection it holds.

Paired browsers

Settings > Local agent lists each paired browser, with the web client's address and when it was paired. Revoke stops that browser sending through this computer at once; it has to pair again to send.

porticol-agent

On a computer without the desktop app, run the agent on its own:

porticol-agent [--origin <web client URL>]... [--port <port>] [--data-dir <path>]

It prints the address it listens on and a pairing code. Press Enter for a new code, and Ctrl-C to stop it.

What the agent allows