[Privoxy-users] How to start Privoxy service with custom made configuration file

[dontpwnme at tutamail.com]

Dear all,

Thanks for the tips. I added the parameter --config-test and --no-daemon and then I found that there are some "Fatal error" messages due to wrong syntax inside the action file. Moreover, I need to use "doas" to run the startup command as I'm using Alpine Linux. Privoxy is now able to start successfully.

Regards,
Jeremy
3 May 2026, 16:29 by iansilvester at fastmail.fm:

> Hi there,
>
> To test a config file loaded from the command line you should include the parameter --config-test. Per the manpage, this attempts loading the config file and then exits with an exit code. 1 means there is an error in the config file, 0 means that the config files are at least syntactically correct.
>
> Ian
>
>
> On Sun, 26 Apr 2026, at 13:42, Lee via Privoxy-users wrote:
>
>> On Sun, Apr 26, 2026 at 7:22 AM Jeremy via Privoxy-users wrote:
>>
>>> I copied the default "config.new" file to a new file named "myconf". I
>>> made custom changes to the settings inside this "myconf" file. File
>>> ownership was changed to privoxy:privoxy which is aligned to all other
>>> files inside "/etc/privoxy/" directory. Then I try starting Privoxy by
>>> running:
>>>
>>> /usr/sbin/privoxy --user privoxy /etc/privoxy/myconf
>>>
>>> No error message is shown after running the above command but the Privoxy
>>> didn't start.
>>>
>>
>> I get an error message:
>>
>> $ /usr/sbin/privoxy --user privoxy /etc/privoxy/my-config
>> 2026-04-26 13:18:19.158 7f90b3a6a300 Fatal error: Cannot setgid():
>> Insufficient permissions.
>>
>>
>>> Is Privoxy designed to be able to use the default "/etc/privoxy/config"
>>> file only?
>>>
>> works for me if I start privoxy using sudo:
>>
>>  $ sudo /usr/sbin/privoxy --user privoxy /etc/privoxy/my-config
>>
>> $ ps -elf | grep privoxy
>> 5 S privoxy    16199       1  1  80   0 - 26460 -      13:18 ?
>> 00:00:00 /usr/sbin/privoxy --user privoxy /etc/privoxy/my-config
>> 0 S lee        16204   16113  0  80   0 -  1633 pipe_r 13:19 pts/0
>> 00:00:00 grep --color=auto privoxy
>>
>> Something you might need to check is apparmor settings - I use a
>> non-default log file so I had to adjust /etc/apparmor.d/usr.sbin.privoxy
>> I also have several custom .action files -- I don't remember if the
>> apparmor profile comes with
>>  /etc/privoxy/** r,
>> or if I had to add it..
>>
>> Regards,
>> Lee
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>>