An proxy also referred to proxy servers is software that acts as an intermediary between client and server on the internet. Without the need for a proxy, an individual would send a request to an item directly to a server and the server will deliver the resource directly to the user. Though this approach is simple to comprehend and implement the addition of proxies can provide advantages in terms of increased performance and privacy, security and more. In addition to offering a security layer, proxies act as a security guardian for the internet between clients and servers.




There is a general consensus that the servers and the hardware that is used along with proxy software are also referred to proxy servers. But, this article will concentrate on proxies which are usually classified as software and within the context of web servers. This article will give a synopsis of the two principal kinds, namely which are a forward proxy and a reverse proxy. Each has its own usage, which can be confusing due to a similar naming convention.




This article will provide you with an idea of the nature of proxies and what their subtypes are, as well as how they function in common configurations. In in this post, you'll discover how to determine the situations in which it is beneficial to utilize a proxy and choose the best option between forward and reverse proxy for any scenario.



Understanding Forward Proxies



In another way a forward proxy, also called or an open proxy is a proxy of a client who wants to make an internet-based request to an the server that originated it. In this case, every attempt to send requests from the client is instead sent direct to the forward proxy. This forward proxy in the instead of the user, will examine the request. The first step is to determine if the client has the right to accept requests from this particular forward proxy. It will then decide if it is authorized to deny a request and send it back to the original server. The client isn't able to access directly the internet. It can only access what forward proxy allows it access to.




The most popular reason to utilize forward proxy servers is to improve privacy or security on the internet. A forward proxy can be used to connect to the internet in place of a client, and as such, it may use an IP address that is different from the original IP address used by the client.




Based on the way it was set up in the past forward proxy servers are able to provide a range of options. They allow you to:




Beware of ad-tracker.


Circumvent surveillance.


You will be able to identify any limitations based on your geographic place of residence.




Forward proxies are also used in systems that provide centralized security and permission based access, for example, in the workplace. When all traffic on the internet passes via an open forward proxy layer, administrators can limit access to those clients who are and filter it through a standard firewall. Instead of having firewalls to protect the client layer, which could comprise a variety of devices that are different in user and operating environments, the firewall could be placed in the forward proxy layer.




It is important to note that settings for forward proxy have to be manually configured for use in order to be used and reverse proxy settings can be not recognized by clients. Depending on the type of IP address of the client is passed to the original server via the forward proxy, privacy and anonymity could be granted or not.




There are a variety of options to take into consideration for forward proxies:




Apache is a well-known open-source web server with forward proxy functions.


Nginx: Another renowned open-source webserver that has forward proxy features.


Squid: A free forward proxy that uses an HTTP protocol. Squid isn't a complete Web server service. Take a look at our step-bystep guide to set up Squid proxy to allow private connections on Ubuntu 20.04.


Dante forward proxy that runs using the SOCKS protocol, instead of HTTP this makes it more appropriate for scenarios such as peer-to-topeer connections. You can also look into the steps to install an Dante proxy to connect privately in Ubuntu 20.04



Understanding Reverse Proxies



A reverse proxy functions as a representation of web servers, which handles any requests that come in from clients on its behalf. The web server may include one or more servers. Also, it could be a server for applications such as Gunicorn. In any of these scenarios, an application request is made through the internet as a whole. Most of the time the request is sent directly to the web server with the data the user is seeking. Instead, a reverse proxy works as an intermediary, securing Web servers from direct interaction with the public internet.




From the point of viewpoint, or from a user's perspective, working with a reverse proxy is identical to working with direct connections to an internet server. It's the same, but the user is unable to see the differences. The client makes a request for a resource and then receives it without any further configuration required from the client.




Reverse proxies can provide features such as:




Secured centrally to protect Web Server Layer.


Controlling traffic that is inbound, based on rules you can design.


The caching feature has been added to the app.




While central security is an advantage of both reverse and forward proxy servers, reverse proxies offer this feature to only the server layer, and only the layer that clients use. Instead of having firewalls running for Web server layers that could contain multiple servers and different configurations, most of firewall security can be focused at reverse proxy layers. Furthermore, the elimination of the responsibility of interacting with firewalls as well as dealing with requests from clients without the need for web servers enables them to concentrate on providing the needs of their customers.




If there are multiple servers hosted using a reverse-proxy, the reverse proxy will also be responsible to direct which requests are routed at the server. There could be multiple web servers offering identical content or offering various types of resources or a mix of both. These servers may be running the HTTP protocol similar to a traditional web server, however they could also include other protocols for applications servers, such as FastCGI. It is also possible to set up reverse proxy servers to direct clients to specific servers based upon the requested resource or to follow specific rules regarding traffic load.




Reverse proxies also can make use of their position ahead of web servers, by providing the ability to cache. The large static files can be set up using caching rules to prevent the web server from being hit with each request. There are even solutions that allow users to serve static files directly without having to connect to the web server once. In addition reverse proxy is able to manage compression of these assets.




The popular Nginx web server is also used as a well-known reverse proxy service. Even though Apache has a reverse proxy service, the Apache web server is also able to function with a reverse proxy function that is an added characteristic of Apache however Nginx was designed initially to and is focused on the reverse proxy feature.



Distinguishing Forward Proxy from Reverse Proxy Use Examples



Because "forward" and "reverse" are associated with directionality, and false comparisons with "incoming" and "outgoing" traffic, the labels could be confusing because both types of proxy handle responses and requests. A better approach to differentiate between forward and reverse proxy is to look at the requirements of the program you're creating.




Reverse proxy is helpful when building an application that runs web-based applications over the internet. They act as your web server for when you use the internet.




Forward proxy can be useful when placed in front of customers for personal use or within an office environment. They represent your customers when you connect to the internet.




The use of case-based differentiation instead of focusing solely on standard naming conventions could help in eliminating confusion.



Conclusion



This article defined the meaning of a proxy using two types: the forward proxy and reverse proxy. Practical applications and a discussion of beneficial features were used to distinguish between forward and reverse proxies. If you're interested to learn more about how to set up proxy servers, you can refer to our tutorial on how to set up Nginx as a reverse and web server proxy using Apache using the Ubuntu 20.04 server.



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