This article explains how to use MaskProxy with Octoparse. For automation tools, it is recommended to use small tasks to test export, speed and stability before expanding the task volume.

Step 1: Prepare proxy parameters in the MaskProxy dashboard

1. Log in to the MaskProxy dashboard.
2. Enter "My Proxy" and open the product you want to use: rotating residential proxy, rotating datacenter proxy, static residential proxy or static datacenter proxy.
3. Copy proxy host, port, username and password.
4. Select HTTP or SOCKS5 protocol based on tool support.
5. Dynamic proxy first confirms the remaining GB traffic; static proxy first confirms that the IP status is normal and has not expired.

Octoparse usually requires these four parameters: host, port, username, and password. If the tool only accepts one line of proxy, the following general format can be used.

username:password@host:port

Step 2: Add a proxy in Octoparse

1. Open Octoparse’s proxy, network, task, or project settings page.
2. Add a new proxy, or paste the proxy string copied by MaskProxy in the background to the proxy list.
3. Select HTTP or SOCKS5 protocol according to tool requirements.
4. Fill in the host, port, username and password, or paste the complete proxy string.
5. Assign the proxy to the task, account, project or request module that needs to be executed.
6. Save and run a small-scale test task.

Octoparse is typically used for scraping, site inspection, or bulk requests. It is recommended to test proxy availability with a small number of URLs first, and then adjust concurrency, timeout, and retries based on the target website response.

It is recommended to set

• Dynamic proxy for tasks that require rotating exports, batch detection or short sessions.
• Static proxy is suitable for account login, session maintenance or tasks that require fixed exits.
• When encountering verification code, 403, connection timeout, etc., first reduce the concurrency, and then check the region, protocol, and account password.
• Don’t run with high concurrency from the beginning, first use a small number of requests to confirm the response of the target website.

Step 3: Test connection

1. Click "Test proxy" "Check proxy" in Octoparse or save and open the IP query page.
2. Confirm that the exit IP is different from the real IP of the machine.
3. Confirm that the export region is generally consistent with the background selection.
4. If it is a dynamic proxy, observe whether the IP switching meets the current time limit when making multiple requests; if it is a static proxy, confirm that the exit IP remains stable.

Common troubleshooting

• Connection failure: Check whether the host and port are complete, and only fill in numbers for the port.
• Authentication failed: Copy the username and password again, avoiding extra spaces or line breaks.
• Protocol Error: Confirm that the HTTP or SOCKS5 protocol was selected in the tool and not another protocol type.
• Region inconsistency: Use multiple IP query sites for cross-validation.
• The dynamic proxy cannot be used: check the remaining GB traffic; the static proxy cannot be used: check the IP status and expiration time.

Please only use proxy in compliance business scenarios, and comply with the usage rules of the target website, platform and third-party tools. Do not send the complete proxy string, password or API link to public channels.