# Installing Ruby on Rails behind a firewall

**URL:** <https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/installing-ruby-on-rails-behind-a-firewall/65195>\
**Category:** Rails\
**Created:** [August 16, 2006, 7:21pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/installing-ruby-on-rails-behind-a-firewall/65195 "2006-08-16T19:21:39Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![TTTTTT](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/t/8797f3/32.png) [@TTTTTT](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/TTTTTT)\
**Post date:** [August 16, 2006, 7:21pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/installing-ruby-on-rails-behind-a-firewall/65195/1 "2006-08-16T19:21:39Z")

</div>

Ok,

I went to the “Get Ruby on Rails …” web page and followed directions.

When I get to the step where I’m to do this:

gem install rails --include-dependencies

I get this error:

ERROR: While executing gem … (SocketError)  
getaddrinfo: no address associated with hostname.

Here is my configuration,

Win XP Pro

Running commands in a cygwin “bash” sh.

And I AM behind a firewall - meaning in my brower I use a proxy server  
for all outside access.

Can anyone help me make the install work ?

Thanks in advance.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![TTTTTT](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/t/8797f3/32.png) [@TTTTTT](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/TTTTTT)\
**Post date:** [August 16, 2006, 8:03pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/installing-ruby-on-rails-behind-a-firewall/65195/2 "2006-08-16T20:03:40Z")

</div>

in a dos shell, you should “set http\_proxy” to whatever you proxy is.

An other (boring) way is to download the packages 1 by 1 from rubyforge  
(you  
type gem install rails, and it will tell you what’s missing).

Am other way is to use instant rails.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![TTTTTT](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/t/8797f3/32.png) [@TTTTTT](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/TTTTTT)\
**Post date:** [August 16, 2006, 8:06pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/installing-ruby-on-rails-behind-a-firewall/65195/3 "2006-08-16T20:06:41Z")

</div>

gem install -p [http://proxy.proxy:3128](http://proxy.proxy:3128) rails --include-dependencies

😉

```
    ...........................................................
    : grato e sem mais,
    : Carlos Aquino, BH/MG
    : Redes de Computadores
    :..........................................................
    : Visite meu site :
    : http://www.duard.com.br
    :..........................................................
    : "A Revolução,
    : não será televisionada"
    :..........................................................

```

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![TTTTTT](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/t/8797f3/32.png) [@TTTTTT](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/TTTTTT)\
**Post date:** [August 16, 2006, 8:26pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/installing-ruby-on-rails-behind-a-firewall/65195/4 "2006-08-16T20:26:12Z")

</div>

Nicolas B. wrote:

> in a dos shell, you should “set http\_proxy” to whatever you proxy is.
> 
> An other (boring) way is to download the packages 1 by 1 from rubyforge  
> (you  
> type gem install rails, and it will tell you what’s missing).
> 
> Am other way is to use instant rails.

I tried this and it worked! Thank You.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![TTTTTT](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/t/8797f3/32.png) [@TTTTTT](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/TTTTTT)\
**Post date:** [August 16, 2006, 8:27pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/installing-ruby-on-rails-behind-a-firewall/65195/5 "2006-08-16T20:27:03Z")

</div>

Aquino gmail wrote:

> gem install -p [http://proxy.proxy:3128](http://proxy.proxy:3128) rails --include-dependencies
> 
> 😉
> 
> ```
> ...........................................................
> : grato e sem mais,
> : Carlos Aquino, BH/MG
> : Redes de Computadores
> :..........................................................
> : Visite meu site :
> : http://www.duard.com.br
> :..........................................................
> : "A Revolução,
> : não será televisionada"
> :..........................................................
> 
> ```

I tried this too, and it started to work, but then got the same error.  
Perhaps not all code down the line, sees that -p argument.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![TTTTTT](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/t/8797f3/32.png) [@TTTTTT](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/TTTTTT)\
**Post date:** [August 17, 2006, 1:19am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/installing-ruby-on-rails-behind-a-firewall/65195/6 "2006-08-17T01:19:18Z")

</div>

I’ve got the same problem where I’m working at the moment. No mix of  
magic proxy incantations seems to let me ‘gem install’, while I can  
happily do all sorts of other Internet stuff without problems. I  
think the issue is likely to be with the proxy config at work, rather  
than any problem with Ruby/Rails/gem.

The way I got around it is by downloading and using Instant Rails,  
then backing up to USB key each night, taking the key home, starting  
Instant Rails at home, ‘gem update --include dependencies’, add any  
new gems, then back to work with a fully updated setup.

Aside from being a bit frustrating, the approach is working fine. I  
can download individual gems at work, which means I can update/add  
things given sufficient time & patience to track down any  
dependencies, but I find it easier just to bring the key home and  
update it all while I’m doing something else.

Regards

Dave M.