Browservice (Retro Browser Proxy)
Browservice — Modern Web for Retro Machines
Browservice is a web proxy that renders modern websites and serves them as simple HTML with images, allowing vintage browsers to display pages they could never handle natively.
Access
- URL: http://10.255.9.241:8088/
- Requires: Active Torus VPN connection (
Plusany tier — Basic, Plus, orPro tier for infrastructure access, or Basic with mesh route)Pro) - No login required
Browservice is permitted through the Torus firewall on all hubs. A dedicated firewall rule allows Torus users to reach port 8088 on the Docker host.
How It Works
- Open http://10.255.9.241:8088/ in your retro browser
- You'll see a simple address bar
- Type any URL and Browservice renders it server-side using a modern Chromium engine
- The result is sent back as basic HTML with inline images that any browser can display
This means your IRIX Netscape Navigator, Windows 3.1 Internet Explorer, or OS/2 WebExplorer can browse modern HTTPS websites including those with JavaScript-heavy frameworks.
Supported Retro Browsers
| Browser | Platform | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Netscape Navigator 4.x | IRIX 6.5 | Works well |
| Internet Explorer 3-5 | Windows 95/98/NT | Works |
| Mosaic | Various | Works (basic) |
| Lynx / Links | Terminal | Works |
| WebExplorer | OS/2 | Works |
| Dillo | Linux | Works well |
Limitations
- No JavaScript interactivity — Forms and links work, but dynamic page updates don't
- Rendering lag — Each page load requires server-side rendering, so there's a delay
- No streaming media — Video/audio content won't play
- Session cookies — Login sessions may not persist between page loads
Use Cases
- Browse documentation sites from vintage workstations
- Check modern web services from retro machines
- Access GitHub, Stack Overflow, or other reference sites
- Show off your SGI or vintage PC at retro computing meetups
Technical Details
- Engine: Headless Chromium via CEF
ContainerRuntime:walkero/browserviceNative AppImage process on Docker host (10.255.9.241)- Port:
8088 (internal),8088, accessible via Torus mesh (firewall rule on all production hubs) - Memory: 2GB shared memory allocation for rendering