An proxy is also referred to as proxy server software that acts to act as an intermediary between a client and server over the internet. Without a middleman the client would a request the resource directly to a server, and the server would serve the requested resource directly for the client. Although this is a simple process to grasp and use using proxies, it can provide benefits like increased performance, privacy and security, and many more. Apart from providing a layer of security proxy servers also serve as a safeguard for the internet between clients and servers.




The bundled package of servers that have installed proxy software is usually referred to as proxy servers. This article will be focusing on the proxies that are typically referred to as software, and also when referring to web servers. We will present a summary of the two principal types: one being a forward proxy and the other being a reverse proxy. reverse proxy. Each type has a different usage, which may be difficult due to the similar namesake convention.




This article will provide you with the knowledge of the different types of proxy services, their subtypes, and ways in which they can be beneficial for common setups. In this article you'll be in a position to recognize the scenarios where you could benefit from a proxy and choose the correct solution in between reverse and forward proxy in any situation.



Understanding Forward Proxies



Forward proxy, also known as an open proxy, also known as an open, acts as the agent of a client who wants to forward requests over the internet to an the server that initiated it. In this case, it's the scenario that all requests made by the client will instead be directed directly into the forward proxy. This forward proxy acting on behalf on behalf of client examine at the request. It will first will determine whether the client is authorized to send requests through this specific forward proxy. Then, it will either reject requests or redirect them to the origin server. The client will not be capable of having an internet connection directly; it is only capable of accessing the data that forward-proxy enables it to connect to.




A popular use for forward proxy is the desire for greater security or privacy on the internet. Forward proxy can access the internet as the client, and in this process, it uses an additional IP address as opposed to the IP address of your client.




Depending on how it has been configured, based on the configuration, forward proxy may offer a range of functions in addition to the ability to:




Beware of ads-trackers.


Circumvent surveillance.


You can identify restrictions based upon your geolocation.




Forward proxies are also employed in systems that provide central security and access is based on permissions, such as at work. In the event that all internet traffic is routed via an open forward proxy an administrator can restrict access to only certain users to the internet via a common firewall. Instead of implementing firewalls on the client layer that can include multiple machines that have different configurations and user A firewall could be placed at the forward proxy layer.




Remember that forward proxies need to be configured manually to utilize, whereas reverse proxies can be ignored by the client. The type of IP address the client that is transferred to the server from which it originated through the forward proxy privacy and anonymity could be granted or not.




There are a myriad of options to investigate forward proxy options:




Apache The Apache is a popular open-source web server, which offers forward proxy options.


Nginx A renowned open-source webserver with forward proxy capability.


Squid is an Open Source Forward Proxy that utilizes an HTTP protocol. It doesn't provide a complete Web server software. It is possible to refer to our instructions for setting up Squid proxy to permit private connections on Ubuntu 20.04.


Dante Forward Proxy that uses the SOCKS protocol instead of HTTP, making it more suited to use cases like peer-to-peer connections. You can also learn how to configure Dante proxy to support private connections on Ubuntu 20.04



Understanding Reverse Proxies



A reverse proxy serves as an agent for a web server. It manages incoming requests from clients in its place. The web server can serve as a single server, or a number of servers. Furthermore, it could serve as an app server such as Gunicorn. In any of these scenarios the request will come from a user of the internet in general. Most of the time the request will be directed directly to a web server that holds all the information the user is would be looking for. A reverse proxy functions as an intermediary, protecting the webserver from direct contact with the open internet.




From the perspective of the user's perspective reverse proxy's process reverse proxy is not any different than working with the web server directly. It's functionally the same however the client is unable to discern the difference. The client sends a request for an item, and it is followed by receiving it without any additional configuration required on the part of the client.




Reverse proxy proxies can provide features, like:




Centralized security for the web server layer.


Controlling traffic inbound based on rules that you create.


The caching feature has been added to the app.




While central security is an advantage of both reverse and forward proxy service, reverse proxies provide this benefit to Web layer servers and not to the client layer. instead of the maintenance of firewalls on Web server layers that could comprise multiple servers that have different configurations, most of the firewall security is aimed at the reverse proxy layer. Additionally, the absence of interfacing with a firewall and interfacing with requests from clients off of web servers allows them to focus on providing resources.




In the case of multiple servers running behind a reverse proxy it is also able to control how requests are routed to which server. Many web servers may be offering the same service, and each offering different kinds of resources or a mix of both. They may employ the HTTP protocol to function as a web server in the traditional sense, however, they may also use application server protocols like FastCGI. You can create reverse proxy services to redirect users to specific servers based on the resource being requested, or to observe specific rules regarding traffic load.




Reverse proxies also benefit from their positioning in front of web servers through the capability of caching. The large static files can be set up with caching rules to ensure that they don't have to communicate with web servers each time they request. There are solutions that provide the option to directly serve static assets without having to connect to the web server at all. Furthermore, reverse proxy could handle the compressing the assets.




The well-known Nginx web server is a reliable reverse proxy service. Although you can utilize it, the Apache web server also includes reverse proxy, which is an additional feature of Apache which is in contrast to Nginx was originally designed to and concentrates on the reverse proxy feature.



The difference between Forward Proxy and reverse Proxy Use. Differentiating Forward and Reverse Proxy Utilization



Since "forward" and "reverse" are associated with directionality, as well as false comparisons to "incoming" as well as "outgoing" traffic the labels can be confusing as both types of proxies are able to handle requests as well as responses. Instead, a better way to distinguish between forward and reverse proxy providers is to consider the requirements of the app that you are developing.




Reverse proxy can be useful when you are developing an application that can serve web applications on the internet. They act as your web server for all interactions online.




Forward proxy applications can be useful when they are employed in front of client traffic for your personal use, or in a workplace setting. They can be used to represent your client's traffic for any internet-based interaction.




A case-based distinction instead of focusing on the common naming conventions can make it easier to avoid confusion.



Conclusion



In this article, we clarified the definition of a proxy with the two most common kinds of them being the forward proxy and the reverse proxy. Practical applications as well as a look at the beneficial traits were used to define forward proxies and reverse proxies. If you're interested in learning more about how proxies are implemented take a look at our tutorial on how to configure Nginx in a reverse proxy and internet-based server for Apache on one Ubuntu 20.04 Server.



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