How to Install and Configure Shadowsocks-libev on Ubuntu 24.04 VPS

Introduction

Shadowsocks is a lightweight, fast, and secure SOCKS5 proxy that helps protect your internet traffic. This guide will walk you through installing and configuring Shadowsocks-libev on Ubuntu 24.04 VPS, setting up firewall rules, and connecting from a Windows client.

Prerequisites

Before proceeding, ensure you have:

• A VPS running Ubuntu 24.04 (64-bit)
• Root or sudo privileges
• An open public port (e.g., 7777) for Shadowsocks traffic
• Basic knowledge of Linux command-line operations
•  A Windows machine for client connection (if needed)

Note: This guide is intended for personal, legal use only. Follow your local laws.

Step 1: Install Shadowsocks-libev on Ubuntu 24.04

First, SSH into your VPS:

ssh root@your_server_ip

Then update your package list and install Shadowsocks-libev:

sudo apt update  
sudo apt install -y shadowsocks-libev

Explanation:

• sudo apt update: Updates the list of available packages.
• sudo apt install -y shadowsocks-libev: Installs Shadowsocks-libev without prompting for confirmation (-y flag).

Step 2: Configure Shadowsocks-libev

Edit the configuration file using Nano:

sudo nano /etc/shadowsocks-libev/config.json

Modify the contents:

{
    "server":["::1", "0.0.0.0"],
    "mode":"tcp_and_udp",
    "server_port": $yourport,
    "local_port":1080,
    "password":"ReplaceWithSecurePassword!",
    "timeout":86400,
    "method":"chacha20-ietf-poly1305"
}

Configuration Explanation:

• server: 0.0.0.0 allows public access; 127.0.0.1 restricts to localhost.
• server_port: Use a custom port like 7777 to avoid conflicts.
• password: Choose a strong, unique password.
• method: Encryption method; chacha20-ietf-poly1305 is secure.

Save and exit (Ctrl+O, Enter, Ctrl+X in Nano).

Step 3: Start and Enable Shadowsocks Service

Restart the Shadowsocks service:

sudo systemctl restart shadowsocks-libev.service

Enable it to start at boot:

sudo systemctl enable shadowsocks-libev.service

Verify the service status:

sudo systemctl status shadowsocks-libev.service

Explanation:

• systemctl restart: Applies new configurations.
• systemctl enable: Ensures Shadowsocks starts automatically on boot.
• systemctl status: Confirms if the service is running.

Common Issue: Low Entropy

If you see the error:

This system doesn't provide enough entropy...

Fix it by installing rng-tools:

sudo apt-get install rng-tools  
sudo rngd -r /dev/urandom

Then restart Shadowsocks.

Step 4: Configure Firewall

If you use iptables:

sudo iptables -I INPUT -p tcp --dport $yourport -j ACCEPT  
sudo iptables -I INPUT -p udp --dport $yourport -j ACCEPT

If using UFW:

sudo ufw allow $yourport

Explanation:

• iptables -I INPUT: Adds rules to allow TCP/UDP traffic on port 7777.
• ufw allow 7777: Allows Shadowsocks traffic through the firewall.

Step 5: Set Up Shadowsocks Client on Windows

1. Download the official Windows client from Shadowsocks GitHub Releases.

2. Extract the ZIP file and run Shadowsocks.exe.

3. If Windows Defender blocks the app, click More info > Run anyway.

Add a new server:

• • Server IP: VPS public IP
  • Server Port: 7777
  • Password: Same as in your config.json
  • Encryption: chacha20-ietf-poly1305
  • Timeout: Optional (10–20 seconds)

5. Click Apply to save the configuration.

6. Enable proxy by right-clicking the Shadowsocks icon in the system tray and selecting Enable System Proxy.

Conclusion

You’ve successfully set up Shadowsocks-libev on Ubuntu 24.04 and connected via Windows! This setup allows you to: ✔ Bypass censorship ✔ Encrypt traffic ✔ Enhance online privac