A proxy can also be referred to as a proxy server software which acts as an intermediary between client and server via the internet. Without the need for a proxy, a user could submit a request to servers directly and servers would provide requests directly for the resource requested by the client. It is an easy process to grasp and use proxy servers can result in benefits like enhanced performance as well as privacy, security and more. As a pass-through layer they are a way to secure the internet between clients and servers.

In general, the integrated combination of server hardware and installed proxy software is commonly called proxy servers. This article will concentrate on proxy servers that are usually regarded as software, and as when referring to web servers. The article will provide a description of the two types, namely which are a forward proxy and reverse proxy. reverse proxy. Each type has a distinct usage scenario, which is often misunderstood due to the similar namesake convention.

This article will provide you with an understanding of what proxy services and their subtypes are, and how they are beneficial for the common setups. If you've read in this post, you'll understand the situations when it's beneficial to utilize a proxy and decide on the appropriate choice between reverse proxy and forward proxy in any circumstance.

Understanding Forward Proxies

The forward proxy, also known as the open proxy serves as the client's representative trying to make an internet-based request to the server that made it. In this case the attempts to make requests by the user will be directed directly to the forward proxy. In this situation the forward proxy, instead of the client will scrutinize the request. It will first determine whether this client is able to make requests using this specific forward proxy. It will then either reject requests or redirect them to the server that originally made the request. The client isn't allowed directly access to internet. It has access to only what the forward proxy permits for it to link to.

The primary reason people use forward proxies is to improve privacy or anonymity on the internet. A forward proxy uses the internet instead of an individual client, and during this manner it can use an alternative IP address in place of the primary IP address that is used by the client.

Depending on the method by which it's configured, a forward proxy can offer a range of features and allow you to:

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  Beware of ads that track you.
  
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  Circumvent surveillance.
  
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  Establish restrictions based upon the place of residence.
  
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Forward proxies are also employed in systems that offer central security and access based on permissions, for instance at work. If all internet traffic flows through an open forward proxy layer an administrator can allow only a small number of clients access to the internet using an ordinary firewall. Instead of establishing firewalls on the client layer, which could involve a number of computers with different settings and users, it is possible to have the firewall configured on the proxy layer that is front.

Take note that forward proxies must be manually set up to allow the use of these proxies, whereas reverse proxies can be ignored by clients. Based on the type of IP address of the client is transmitted to the origin server via the forward proxy privacy and security may be granted or kept in the dark.

There are several options to consider for forward proxy options:

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  Apache is an well-known open-source web server, that offers forward proxy features.
  
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  Nginx: Another widely used open-source webserver that includes forward proxy capabilities.
  
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  Squid: An free forward proxy which uses it's HTTP protocol. This option doesn't include an entire website server program. Learn more from our guide on how to use Squid proxy to enable private connections in Ubuntu 20.04.
  
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  Dante: a forward proxy that operates on the SOCKS protocol in place of HTTP to make it better suited for cases such as peer-to-peer communication. You might also wish to understand how to set up the Dante proxy to permit private connections in Ubuntu 20.04
  
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Understanding Reverse Proxies

A reverse proxy functions as an agent for a web server that handles the incoming requests of clients on its behalf. The web server can comprise a server or multiple servers. Furthermore, it could be used as an application server, such as Gunicorn. In all of these scenarios a request could be made by a user through the internet at large. Most of the time the request is made directly to the website server that hosts the information that the client is requesting. Reverse proxy serves as a middleman to isolate Web servers from direct communication with the internet's public.

From a consumer's point of viewpoint from the perspective of a client, using a reverse proxy is no any different from working with Web server in direct contact. It's basically the same, but clients aren't able distinguish between the two. Client makes request for the resource and it gets it without any extra configuration required by the client.

Reverse proxies provide features like:

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  A centralized layer of security that protects the server.
  
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  Controlling traffic inbound based on rules you can configure.
  
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  New feature added to caching.
  
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Although central security is a benefit of both forward and reverse proxy servers, reverse proxy servers provide this feature to that layer of the webserver and not to the client layer. instead of maintaining firewalls at the server level that may contain multiple servers with different configurations, the bulk of firewall security is concentrated on the reverse proxy layer. Also, the removal of the responsibility to interact with firewalls and interfacing with client requests off of web servers allows the firewall to focus on providing the resources.

In the event of multiple servers participating in a reverse proxy, the reverse proxy also is responsible for directing which requests go at which server. There may be several web servers that provide identical content, supplying different kinds of services or a combination of both. They could use the HTTP protocol exactly the same way as a traditional web server. However, they can be equipped with protocol for application servers like FastCGI. It is possible to configure reverse proxy servers to route visitors to a particular server based on the service being requested, or to adhere to specific rules regarding traffic load.

Reverse proxies can also benefit from their positioning before web servers by providing the capability to store data. The large static files can be configured with caching rules in order to avoid needing to connect with web servers on every request, with some solutions even allowing users to serve static files directly without having to connect to the web server for even one time. Additionally the reverse proxy is able to manage the compression on these resources.

The renowned Nginx web server is also used as a powerful reverse proxy option. While Apache has a reverse proxy option, it is a reverse proxy solution. Apache web server also comes fitted with an reverse proxy function as an additional option for Apache unlike Nginx was initially developed for and focuses on reverse proxy functions.

Differentiating Forward Proxy from reverse Proxy Use-cases

Due to the fact that "forward" and "reverse" are associated with the notion of directionality, as well as misleading comparisons to "incoming" as well as "outgoing" traffic These labels can be confusing as both kinds of proxies manage the process of responding to requests. The most effective way to differentiate between forward and reverse proxy is to study the needs of the app you're developing.

Reverse proxy is a useful tool to use when developing a solution to serve web-based applications over the internet. They act as your web servers when you connect to the internet.

A forward proxy is helpful when placed before clients for personal use or in a professional setting. They represent your client's traffic for any interaction on the internet.

The practice of separating by use case instead of using the same naming conventions will assist you in avoiding confusion.

Conclusion

This article clarifies the meaning of a proxy, with two types being the forward proxy and the reverse proxy. Practical application scenarios as well as an examination of the beneficial attributes were used to distinguish forward proxies as well as reverse proxies. If you're interested in learning more about the use of proxy servers then you should learn how you can configure Nginx for use as an online server as well as reverse proxy to Apache using the Ubuntu 20.04 Server.