A proxy, also known as a proxy is also known for its role as a proxy, is software that acts to act as an intermediary for a client and server on the internet. Without the proxy, a user would be able to send a request to anything directly to the server, and servers would deliver direct to users who requested the resource. While this approach is straightforward to understand and use, however the addition of proxy servers can offer advantages such as more performance, privacy, security, among others. As an additional layer of pass-through proxy servers act as a gatekeeper for the internet between clients and servers.




The general consensus is that the server hardware coupled with installed proxy software is often known as proxy servers. This article will concentrate on proxies traditionally defined as software, specifically with respect to servers on the internet. We will give a synopsis of the two main kinds of proxy that are a forward proxy and reverse proxy. reverse proxy. Each type has a different use, which could be confusing due to the same name convention.




This article will give you an understanding of different types of proxy and subtypes, and their value in common configurations. After reading this article you'll understand the situations when you can benefit from a proxy and make the right option between reverse proxy and forward proxy in any given scenario.



Understanding Forward Proxies



Forward proxy, also known as an open proxy is a proxy for a user who wants to send a request via the internet to a source server. In this scenario, every request made by the client will be sent through the forward proxy. A forward proxy acting in place of the client will look into the request. It first will determine if the client is authorized to accept requests through this specific forward proxy. It will then either deny requests or send it back to server from which it originated. The client will not be allowed direct access to the internet. it is only able to access the information that forward proxy grants it access to.




A very common uses for forward proxies is greater privacy or security on the internet. A forward proxy accesses the internet in lieu of an individual client, and during that process it could use an alternative IP address in comparison to the IP address of the user.




Depending on how it's been configured, based on the way it is configured, forward proxy may offer various options and let you:




Avoid tracking ads.


Circumvent surveillance.


Determine restrictions based on location.




Forward proxies are also employed in systems to provide central security as well as permission-based access to the internet, for instance at a workplace. If all internet traffic passes through a common forward proxy layer administrator can restrict access to only certain clients to the internet. This is filtered by an common firewall. Instead of putting firewalls in place for the client layer which may include multiple machines with different user configurations, firewalls may be placed at on an intermediary layer.




Remember that forward proxies must be set up manually for use while reverse proxies could be not recognized in the eyes of the user. Depending on the kind of IP address the client's connection to the server that originated it through the forward proxy, security and privacy can either be provided or rendered clear.




There are a variety of choices to be considered for forward proxy:




Apache is an well-known open-source web server which provides forward proxy capabilities.


Nginx is another well-known open-source webserver which has forward proxy capability.


Squid: An open source forward proxy that utilizes the HTTP protocol. It does not contain the whole web server. You can refer to our guide on the best method for installing Squid proxy to enable private connections on Ubuntu 20.04.


Dante is a forward proxy that uses the SOCKS protocol instead of HTTP which makes it suitable for scenarios like peer-to-peer connections. You can also learn how to set up an Dante proxy to allow connection to private networks in Ubuntu 20.04



Understanding Reverse Proxies



Reverse proxy acts as the web server, which handles the requests of customers on its behalf. The server could function as a single server or multiple servers. It could also include an application servers, like Gunicorn. In any of these situations it is possible to send a request through the internet at large. In most cases, the request is sent directly to the server, along with the resources the client in need of. A reverse proxy functions as an intermediary, segregating your website server from communicating with the web's public.




From the point of the client's point of, using reverse proxy is not any different than connecting to an internet server direct. It's functionally identical, however the client can't discern the difference. The client makes a request for the resource and is then granted access without any additional configuration needed from the client.




Reverse proxies offer options like:




A centralized layer of security that protects the server.


Directing incoming traffic using rules that you set up.


A new feature for caching is now available.




While central security is a benefit of both reverse and forward proxy services, reverse proxies give this feature only to only the server layer and it is not available to the client layer. Instead of focusing on maintaining firewalls on the server level that could contain multiple servers and various configurations, the bulk of firewall security can be directed at the reverse proxy layer. Furthermore, taking the responsibility of dealing with firewalls and responding to requests from clients outside of web servers lets them focus on only the requirements of their customers.




In the event of multiple servers hosting through a reverse proxy the reverse proxy manages the routing of requests to the servers. There could be multiple web servers serving the same resource, or serving different kinds of resources or a combination of both. They may utilize the HTTP protocol to function as a standard web server, however they could also incorporate applications server protocols like FastCGI. You can set up reverse proxy servers to direct clients to particular servers according to the requested service, or observe certain guidelines for traffic volume.




Reverse proxies may also make use of their position prior to web servers by offering caching capabilities. Large static assets can be managed by caching rules to avoid from reaching web servers with every request. There are solutions that offer an option to serve static content without needing to interact with the webserver at all. In addition, reverse proxy is able to manage compressing these files.




The renowned Nginx web server is a well-known reverse proxy option. It is true that the Apache web server has reverse proxy capabilities, it is an added feature available to Apache however Nginx was originally designed to focus on the reverse proxy function.



Differentiating Forward Proxy and reverse Proxy Use Examples



Since "forward" and "reverse" are both associated with a sense of directionality and false comparisons with "incoming" and "outgoing" traffic. They can confuse because both types of proxies process requests and respond. The best way to distinguish between reverse and forward proxy servers would be to analyze the requirements of the app you're building.




Reverse proxy is an important element in the creation of a method to run websites on the internet. They act as your servers when you interact with the Internet.




Forward proxy can be helpful to display customers' information for personal use or for use in a working environment. They represent the client's information whenever you interact on the internet.




A distinction based upon use cases instead of focusing on similar naming conventions can help avoid confusion.



Conclusion



This article clarified the meaning of a proxy, with two types, the forward and the reverse proxy. Practical applications and an exploration of the beneficial attributes were utilized to identify forward proxies and reverse proxies. If you're interested in exploring the benefits for proxy servers learn how to set up Nginx as a web server as well as reverse proxy on Apache in an Ubuntu 20.04 Server.



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