The term "proxy" refers to a proxy, also called a proxy server is software acting as an intermediary a client and server over the internet. Without a proxy, a client would send a request for resources directly to a server, and it would deliver the resource directly back to the user. Although this method is easy to comprehend and implement, however, the addition of proxy servers could bring benefits like increased speed as well as privacy, security and more. In addition to providing passing through, the proxy acts as a security guardian of the internet, separating clients from servers.




In general, the combination of server hardware that is paired with installed proxy software is commonly described as proxy servers. This article will concentrate on the proxies that are usually classified as software, and in the context of web servers. The article will provide a detailed discussion of the two main kinds of proxies. One being forward proxy and the other being a forward proxy and the reverse. reverse proxy. Each kind has its own specific application and is often confused due to the resemblance of namesake convention.




This article will provide you with an idea of the different subtypes and proxies, as well as their benefits for setups that are common. If you read in this post, you'll be able to recognize situations where the use of proxy servers is advantageous and choose the best option between forward proxy and reverse proxy based on the situation.



Understanding Forward Proxies



Forward proxy, also referred to in the context of the open proxy is the agent of a customer who wants to make an internet-based request to the server which originated it. In this situation every attempt to send requests from the client's side will be sent directly to forward proxy. The forward proxy, instead of the client, will look into the request. The first step is to verify if the client is authorized to accept requests from this particular forward proxy. Then, it will deny any request, or send it to the origin server. The client doesn't have a direct access to the internet; it can only reach what the forward proxy allows it to access.




The primary reason for people for using forward proxy servers is increased privacy or anonymity online. Forward proxy's access to the internet through clients and, in this manner it may make use of an IP address that is different from the IP of the user.




Depending on how it's been configured the forward proxy will provide a variety of functions and the capability to:




Beware of ads-trackers.


Circumvent surveillance.


Find restrictions that are based on the location you are in.




Forward proxies can also be used in systems that provide central security and access based on permissions, such as in workplaces. When all internet traffic flows through a forward proxy Administrators are able to allow only specific clients to access the internet through a single firewall. Instead of having firewalls for the client layer, which may include multiple computers with varying settings and environment the firewall is put in an forward proxy layer.




It is crucial to keep in mind that forward proxy settings have to be manually set up to permit the forward proxy to function for use in reverse proxies, whereas forward proxies are able to not be noticed by the user. Based on whether or not the IP address of a user is transmitted to the server that originated it via the forward proxy, privacy and security settings, it can be granted or left transparent.




There are many options to consider for forward proxy options:




Apache A well-known open source web server that has forward proxy features.


Nginx A renowned open-source server for web hosting that has forward proxy functions.


Squid: A free forward proxy that utilizes the HTTP protocol. It's not the full Web Server System. We recommend our guide on the best method of configuring Squid proxy to handle connection to private networks in Ubuntu 20.04.


Dante Forward proxy that makes use of the SOCKS protocol instead of HTTP and HTTP, making it more suited to cases like peer-to -peer traffic. It is also possible to learn how to configure Dante proxy for private connections in Ubuntu 20.04



Understanding Reverse Proxies



Reverse proxy functions as an intermediary between a web server, and takes care of requests from clients for the web server. The web server can serve as a single server, or a number of servers. In addition, it could be an application server, such as Gunicorn. In any event, the request for an application comes through the internet in general. Most of the time, the request will go directly to the web server which hosts the content that the client is searching for. A reverse proxy acts as an intermediary in order to block your web server from contact with the internet's open.




From a consumer's point perspective, using reverse proxy isn't different from interacting with your webserver directly. It is functionally identical, but the user isn't able to tell the difference. Client makes a request for an item, and receives it, without any extra configuration required from the user.




Reverse proxy providers provide features like:




The server on the internet is protected centrally.


Sending traffic to be directed in accordance with the rules you have set.


A new feature for caching has been added.




While central security is an advantage of both forward and reverse proxy, reverse proxies do this function only for only the server layer but not to the client layer. instead of the maintenance of security firewalls in Web server layers, which could contain multiple servers with various configurations, the majority in firewall protection is aimed towards the reverse proxy layer. Additionally, removing the burden of interacting with a firewall and interacting with requests from clients off web servers enables them to concentrate on providing resources.




If there are multiple servers existing with a reverse-proxy, the reverse proxy will be also responsible for controlling which requests are routed to which server. There may be several web servers that are running on the same server, each offering different types of resources or a mix of both. These servers could use the HTTP protocol, which is similar to a traditional web server. They could also incorporate applications server protocols such as FastCGI. It is also possible to configure a reverse proxy to route clients to specific servers based on the service being requested or to adhere to certain rules regarding traffic load.




Reverse proxies are also able to benefit from their position on top of web servers through the capability of caching. Large static assets can be configured with caching rules to avoid hitting web servers with every request, with some options even allowing you to provide static files without having to connect directly to the website server. Additionally, reverse proxy can handle compression of these assets.




The well-known Nginx web server is a wildly popular reverse proxy option. While it is a reverse proxy solution, the Apache web server is also available with the reverse proxy function as an added feature that is available to Apache however Nginx was designed initially for and focused on reverse proxy functions.



Differentiating Forward Proxy from reverse Proxy Use Situations



Because "forward" along with "reverse" are associated with an impression of directionality, and also inaccurate comparisons to "incoming" as well as "outgoing" traffic These terms can be confusing because both types of proxies can manage requests and responses. An alternative method to differentiate between reverse and forward proxy servers is to study the specifications of the software you're developing.




Reverse proxy can be a valuable tool when you are designing a solution to host web applications on the internet. They are your web servers during any interaction through the Internet.




A forward proxy is useful to use when you are facing clients for personal usage or even in a business environment. They are a representation of your traffic when you interact with the internet.




A distinction based on usage cases instead of focusing on the common name conventions can aid you in avoiding confusion.



Conclusion



The article described what a proxy is as well as two types of them: the reverse proxy and forward proxy. Examples of how to use them as well as a discussion of most useful features were used to differentiate forward proxies from reverse proxies. If you're looking to learn the ways to use proxies, we recommend you read our tutorial on how to configure Nginx as an internet server and reverse proxy using Apache running the Ubuntu 20.04 server.



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