diff --git a/net/gce.sh b/net/gce.sh
index 9a5cfe425..f8a417869 100755
--- a/net/gce.sh
+++ b/net/gce.sh
@@ -478,7 +478,6 @@ $(
     install-nodejs.sh \
     install-redis.sh \
     install-rsync.sh \
-    install-socat.sh \
     network-config.sh \
     remove-docker-interface.sh \
 
diff --git a/net/net.sh b/net/net.sh
index 49cf29114..f372f739a 100755
--- a/net/net.sh
+++ b/net/net.sh
@@ -409,7 +409,6 @@ stopNode() {
       for pattern in solana- remote-; do
         pkill -9 \$pattern
       done
-      sudo killall socat
     "
   ) || true
 }
diff --git a/net/remote/remote-node.sh b/net/remote/remote-node.sh
index 0731d4839..e5c117563 100755
--- a/net/remote/remote-node.sh
+++ b/net/remote/remote-node.sh
@@ -116,7 +116,17 @@ local|tar)
     if [[ $nodeType = blockstreamer ]]; then
       npm install @solana/blockexplorer@1
       npx solana-blockexplorer > blockexplorer.log 2>&1 &
-      sudo socat -lf socat.log TCP-LISTEN:80,reuseaddr,fork,su=nobody TCP:localhost:5000 &
+
+      # Confirm the blockexplorer is accessible
+      curl --head --retry 3 --retry-connrefused http://localhost:5000/
+
+      # Redirect port 80 to port 5000
+      sudo iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport 80 -j ACCEPT
+      sudo iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport 5000 -j ACCEPT
+      sudo iptables -A PREROUTING -t nat -p tcp --dport 80 -j REDIRECT --to-port 5000
+
+      # Confirm the blockexplorer is now globally accessible
+      curl --head "$(curl ifconfig.io)"
     fi
     ./multinode-demo/fullnode.sh "${args[@]}" "$entrypointIp":~/solana "$entrypointIp:8001" > fullnode.log 2>&1 &
     ;;
diff --git a/net/scripts/install-socat.sh b/net/scripts/install-socat.sh
deleted file mode 100755
index f0e04f4af..000000000
--- a/net/scripts/install-socat.sh
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,10 +0,0 @@
-#!/usr/bin/env bash
-#
-# socat setup for
-#
-set -ex
-
-[[ $(uname) = Linux ]] || exit 1
-[[ $USER = root ]] || exit 1
-
-apt-get --assume-yes install socat