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{{Title|title=
What is {{project_name_gateway_long}}?
}}
{{#seo:
|description=The {{project_name_gateway_short}} is a software component that runs Tor, which moves data across multiple servers called Tor relays to keep users anonymous on the Internet, and it connects any virtual machine properly to the Internet using Tor only, while user applications should be run inside the {{project_name_workstation_long}}.
|image=Gui-preview.jpg
}}
<div class="mininav">
* [[Whonix-Gateway|What is {{project_name_gateway_short}}?]]
* [[Whonix-Workstation|What is {{project_name_workstation_short}}?]]
* [[Comparison of Whonix-Gateway and Whonix-Workstation]]
</div>
[[File:Gui-preview.jpg|thumb|Whonix-Gateway Xfce VM running in the [[VirtualBox]] virtualizer (illustrative image)]]
{{intro|
The {{project_name_gateway_short}} is a software component that runs Tor, which moves data across multiple servers called Tor relays to keep users anonymous on the Internet, and it connects any virtual machine properly to the Internet using Tor only, while user applications should be run inside the {{project_name_workstation_short}}.
}}
= {{project_name_gateway_short}} Overview =
{{project_name_gateway_short}} is software designed to run [https://www.torproject.org/about/history/ Tor (onion routing)].

[[Tor]] is privacy-focused software <ref>
https://www.torproject.org/about/history/
</ref> that routes internet traffic through multiple servers and encrypts it at each step to provide maximum privacy. Tor was initially deployed in October 2002 as a decentralized network operated by entities with diverse interests and trust assumptions, with its code released under a free and open software license. Today, thousands of volunteers run computer servers that keep users anonymous on the internet by moving data across many Tor servers, called Tor relays. The final hop moves the data to the end site, making it hard to trace. For more information, see [[Why does Whonix use Tor|Why does {{project_name_long}} use Tor?]]

Every [[FAQ#What_is_a_Virtual_Machine.3F|virtual machine]] properly connected to {{project_name_gateway_short}} is connected to the internet using Tor and only Tor.

Other than occasional visits, users typically spend minimal time on {{project_name_gateway_short}}.

<s>Upon the initial boot of {{project_name_gateway_short}}, a user-friendly "First Time Connection Wizard" will prompt the user. They will be given an option to connect to the public Tor network (which is feasible for most users) or to configure [[Bridges]]. This feature is known as the [[Anon Connection Wizard]].</s> <ref>
https://forums.whonix.org/t/connect-to-public-tor-network-by-default-avoid-anon-connection-wizard-acw-popup-at-first-boot/17848
</ref>

Apart from Tor configuration (for specific use cases only mentioned in the [[Documentation]]), [[Tor Controller|controlling Tor]] (intended for advanced users), as well as [[Update|installing updates]], there is not much else to do on {{project_name_gateway_short}}. Activities such as running applications, especially the [[Tor_Browser|Tor Browser]], should never be started on {{project_name_gateway_short}}. Instead, all user-centric applications ought to be launched from [[Whonix-Workstation|{{project_name_workstation_short}}]] to safely utilize the Tor network.

'''Figure:''' ''{{project_name_short}} Operating System Design''

[[File:{{project_name_short}}-concept-detailed.jpg|500px|border]]

{{project_name_short}} is based on the security-focused Linux distribution {{Kicksecure_link
|
|{{Kicksecure}}
}}. To learn more about {{project_name_short}}, see [[About|Overview]] and [[Features]].

'''Figure:''' ''{{project_name_gateway_short}} Xfce VM running in the virtualizer VirtualBox (real screenshot)''

[[File:Whonix-Gateway-Xfce.png|border|{{project_name_gateway_short}} Xfce VM running in the virtualizer VirtualBox (real screenshot)]]

= See Also =
<div style="column-count:2;-moz-column-count:2;-webkit-column-count:2">
* [[{{project_name_workstation_short}}|{{project_name_workstation_short}}]]
* [[Bridges|Configure (Private) (Obfuscated) Tor Bridges]]
* [[{{project_name_gateway_short}}_Security_Hardening|{{project_name_gateway_short}} Security Hardening]]
* [[Multiple_{{project_name_gateway_short}}|Multiple {{project_name_gateway_short}}]]
* [[Access Gateway Port From Host|Access {{project_name_gateway_short}} Ports from the Host]]
* [[Censorship Circumvention Tools|Non-bridge Censorship Circumvention Tools]]
* [[{{project_name_gateway_short}} System DNS|{{project_name_gateway_short}} System DNS]]
* [[{{project_name_gateway_short}}_Own_Traffic_Transparent_Proxy|{{project_name_gateway_short}} Traffic: Transparent Proxying]]
* [[File Transfer#SSH into {{project_name_gateway_short}}|SSH or SSHFS into {{project_name_gateway_short}}]]
* [[File_Transfer#Transfer_Files_via_ISO_Images|Transfer Files: Host to {{project_name_gateway_short}} or {{project_name_workstation_short}} via ISO Images]]
* [[Chaining_Anonymizing_Gateways|Chaining Anonymizing Gateways]]
* [[Connections between Gateway and Workstation|Connections Between {{project_name_gateway_short}} and {{project_name_workstation_short}}]]
* [[Whonix-Gateway Firewall]]
* [[Tor]]
* [[Tor Entry Guards]]
</div>

= Footnotes =
{{reflist|close=1}}

{{Footer}}

[[Category:Documentation]]