It is a proxy, also called a proxy server. It's a program that functions in the role of a intermediary between client and server on the internet. Without a proxy, a client can send requests for every resource straight to the server, and then the server would deliver the resource directly for the client. While this is a simple method to grasp and implement, the addition of proxy servers can provide advantages in the form of improved performance as well as privacy, security and many more. As a pass-through layer, a proxy is an additional security layer on the internet between clients and servers.




The general consensus is that the mix of hardware for servers and software used to set up proxy installations is often referred too by the name of proxy servers. However, this article will be focusing on proxy servers which are generally considered to be software, and also when referring to web servers. There will be a discussion of the two main types that are forward proxy and reverse proxy. reverse proxy. They each have their own usage scenario that is frequently not understood due to the similar terms.




This article will give you some knowledge about what proxies are and what their subtypes are and how they operate in the most common configurations. After having read this article, you'll be able determine the situations where you could benefit from a proxy and then select the most appropriate forward and reverse proxy in any particular situation.



Understanding Forward Proxies



The forward proxy also known as the open proxy is the agent of a user who would like to send a request via the internet to an source server. In this instance, the whole request sent by the user is instead transferred to the forward proxy. This forward proxy acting on behalf of the client will review the request. The first step is to determine whether the client is able to accept requests via this particular forward proxy. It then decides whether to deny a request or forward it to its original server. The client isn't capable of having an internet connection directly. It can access only what forward proxy permits it to connect to.




A common use of forward proxy is to achieve greater privacy or security online. A forward proxy is able to access the internet in instead of a client and in this manner it could make use of a different IP address than the client's original IP address.




Depending on how it's been configured, the forward proxy can provide different functions, based upon the way it has been configured and lets you:




Beware of ads that track you.


Circumvent surveillance.


Find restrictions based on the location you are in.




Forward proxies are also used to secure systems that are centralized and based on permission access such as at work. The entire internet can be passed through the open forward proxy, administrators can allow only a handful of clients access to the internet through a common firewall. Instead of creating firewalls for the client layer that could include a variety of devices with various settings and users. A firewall could be set up at an front proxy layer.




It is crucial to keep in mind that forward proxies need to be manually set up to use however reverse proxies will be ignored by users. Depending on the type of IP address of a user is transmitted to the server from which it originated by the forward proxy, privacy and anonymity could be granted, or if it is left unnoticed.




There are numerous options to consider for forward proxy options:




Apache: A popular open-source web server that provides forward proxy functions.


Nginx is another popular open-source webserver that comes with forward proxy functions.


Squid is an open-source forward proxy which makes use of an HTTP protocol. It doesn't come with an entire web server application. You can check out our tutorial on installing Squid proxy to connect privately on Ubuntu 20.04.


Dante Forward Proxy that utilizes the SOCKS protocol instead of HTTP which makes it better suitable for situations such as peer-to-peer traffic. It's also worth taking a look examine how you can setup the Dante proxy for private connections in Ubuntu 20.04



Understanding Reverse Proxies



The reverse proxy acts as the server that handles client requests on its behalf. The web server can serve as a one server or multiple servers. It can also be used in the role of an application server such as Gunicorn. In either of these scenarios the request comes from a customer via the internet. The request is typically directed directly to the server that is the one that has the resources the user wants. Instead, a reverse proxy acts as an intermediary, shielding it from any direct interaction with the open internet.




From the perspective of the user, working using reverse proxy isn't different from interacting with your webserver directly. It's functionally identical and the user is unable to tell the difference. Clients make a request for a resource, which is followed by receiving it without any further configuration by the user.




Reverse proxies offer features like:




Centralized security for the web server layer.


Directing traffic according to rules that you determine.


Additional features to cache data.




Although centralized security is an advantage of both forward and reverse proxy servers, reverse proxy servers provide this benefit only to the web server layer but not to the client layer. Instead of maintaining firewalls on the web server layer, which could contain multiple servers with various configurations, the majority of the firewall security can be concentrated at the reverse proxy layer. In addition eliminating the hassle of dealing with firewalls and communicating with clients who request information from web servers lets them focus on serving the resources.




If multiple servers are running through a reverse proxy, the reverse proxy takes care of the way requests are routed to which server. There could be multiple web servers offering the identical service, and each offering different kinds of resources, or a mix of the two. They may utilize the HTTP protocol as a conventional web server, however they may additionally include application server protocols such as FastCGI. It is possible to set up reverse proxy that routes clients to specific servers based on the resource requested or to follow certain rules regarding traffic volume.




Reverse proxies can also benefit from their placement over web servers by offering the ability to cache data. Massive static resources can be created using caching rules to prevent the web server from being hit with every request, with some solutions providing the option to deliver static files directly without connecting to a web server even once. In addition, the reverse proxy is able to handle compression of these assets.




The popular Nginx webserver is an extremely well-known reverse proxy solution. While Apache has a reverse proxy solution however, this Apache web server does have reverse proxy functions as an additional option to Apache however Nginx was initially designed and focused on reverse proxy functionality.



Differentiating Forward Proxy and Reverse Proxy Use Differentiating Forward Proxy and Reverse Proxy Utilization



Since "forward" and "reverse" have connotations of directionality, as well as false distinctions between "incoming" and "outgoing" traffic These labels are prone to confusion since both kinds of proxy deal with requests and responses. The best method to differentiate between forward and reverse proxy is to look at the requirements of the app that you're developing.




Reverse proxy is an essential aspect when designing a solution to host web applications on the internet. They are your web servers in any interaction with the internet.




A forward proxy is useful when it is used before clients for personal use or in a working environment. They act as your client's proxy through any interaction with the internet.




The use case-based differentiation as opposed to focusing only on the common names will help avoid confusion.



Conclusion



The article clarified the definition of a proxy, with the two main types being the reverse proxy and forward proxy. Practical scenarios for using them and a review of the most beneficial features were used to differentiate between forward proxies and reverse proxies. If you're looking to know more about the benefits of proxies then you can check out our guide on how to install Nginx as an internet server and reverse proxy using Apache on an Ubuntu 20.04 Server.



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