---
"title": "System Architecture"
"description": "Learn how the components of the system interact to form Pangolin"
---

import PangolinCloudTocCta from "/snippets/pangolin-cloud-toc-cta.mdx";

<PangolinCloudTocCta />



### Pangolin (Control Plane)

Pangolin is the main control center that orchestrates the entire system:

- **Web Interface**: Management dashboard for configuring sites, users, and access policies
- **REST API**: External API for automation and integration
- **WebSocket Server**: Manages real-time connections to edge network clients
- **Authentication System**: Handles user authentication and authorization
- **Database**: Stores configuration, user data, and system state

<Info>
Pangolin acts as the brain of the system, coordinating all other components and managing user access.
</Info>

### Gerbil (Tunnel Manager)

Gerbil manages the secure WireGuard tunnels between your edge networks and the central server:

- **Peer Management**: Creates and maintains WireGuard connections
- **Tunnel Orchestration**: Handles tunnel creation, updates, and cleanup
- **Security**: Ensures all traffic is encrypted using WireGuard's cryptographic protocols

<Check>
WireGuard provides fast, secure, and reliable tunneling with minimal overhead.
</Check>

### Newt (Edge Client)

Newt is a lightweight client that runs on your edge networks (servers, VMs, or containers):

- **Automatic Discovery**: Finds the optimal node for best performance
- **Dual Connection**: Connects to Pangolin via WebSocket and Gerbil via WireGuard
- **Resource Proxy**: Creates TCP/UDP proxies to expose your applications securely

<Tip>
Newt is designed to be resource-efficient and can run on minimal hardware or in containers.
</Tip>

### Reverse Proxy (Router)

The reverse proxy handles incoming requests and routes them to your applications:

- **Request Routing**: Directs traffic to the correct backend services
- **SSL Termination**: Manages HTTPS certificates and encryption
- **Middleware Support**: Integrates with security and monitoring plugins

### Badger (Authentication Middleware)

Badger is Pangolin's middleware that enforces access control:

- **Request Interception**: Catches all incoming requests before they reach your applications
- **Authentication Check**: Verifies user identity and permissions
- **Secure Redirects**: Sends unauthenticated users to Pangolin's login system

<Warning>
Badger ensures that only authenticated and authorized users can access your applications, even if they bypass other security measures.
</Warning>

<Frame caption="System architecture showing Pangolin components and their interactions">
<img src="/images/system-diagram.svg" alt="Pangolin system architecture diagram"/>
</Frame>
