An proxy is also known as a proxy server, is a software that acts as an intermediary between a client and server on the internet. Without proxy servers, a user will send a request to resources directly to the server and it would then serve the resource directly back to the user. This method is simple to comprehend and implement, however, adding proxy servers can offer benefits such as increased efficiency, privacy, security, and more. In addition to providing pass-through the proxy functions as a guardian to the internet, separating clients from servers.




In general, the combination of server hardware coupled with the software for proxy installation is frequently referred to as a proxy server. This article will discuss proxy servers that are typically considered to be software, and specifically in relation to web servers. We will discuss of two types of proxies, one being one that is a forward proxy and the reverse. reverse proxy. Each kind of proxy has its own purpose, and is frequently confused due to the resemblance of namesake convention.




This article will give you an understanding of types of proxies and subtypes, as well as their value for common setups. After reading the article carefully, you'll be able to recognize situations where the use of proxy servers is advantageous and choose the most appropriate option between forward proxy and reverse proxy, based on the circumstances.



Understanding Forward Proxies



Forward proxy also known by the name of the open proxy acts as the representative of a customer who wants to forward a request via the internet to an the server which originated it. In this scenario, all attempts to make requests through the client's end will instead be routed to the forward proxy. Forward proxy in lieu of the client will examine the request. It will first determine if this client is authorized to accept requests from this specific forward proxy. It will then reject any request or forward it to the origin server. The client doesn't have a an internet connection directly; it can only reach what forward proxy permits it to connect to.




The most common reason for using forward proxy servers is the increased privacy or anonymity when surfing the web. A forward proxy accesses the internet through clients and as such it may utilize an IP address different from the IP of the client.




Depending on how it's been configured, forward proxy will provide a variety of functions in addition to the ability to:




Beware of ad-tracker.


Circumvent surveillance.


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




Forward proxies also are utilized in systems that provide centralized security as well as access based on permissions, such as at work. If all internet traffic passes through a common forward proxy, an administrator is able to allow only specific clients access to the internet through a single firewall. Instead of putting firewalls installed for the client layer, which may include multiple computers with different settings, environment the firewall is installed in an forward proxy layer.




It is important to remember the forward proxy configurations must be manually setup to allow the forward proxy to function in order to use them in reverse proxies, whereas forward proxy servers are unable to be detected by users. Based on whether or not the IP address of the user is passed on to the origin server through the forward proxy privacy and security may be granted or kept in the dark.




There are numerous options to think about when it comes to forward proxy alternatives:




Apache An open source well-known web server with forward proxy features.


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


Squid: A no-cost forward proxy that runs on an HTTP protocol. It's not the entire web server system. It is possible to refer to our article on the most efficient way to configure Squid proxy to handle private connections 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. You can also learn how to configure Dante proxy for connection to private networks in Ubuntu 20.04



Understanding Reverse Proxies



Reverse proxy acts as an intermediary for web servers, and handles requests from clients on behalf of. Web servers can function as a single server, or as a series of servers. In addition, it could function as an app server, such as Gunicorn. In all cases, an application request comes through the internet. Most of the time, the request will directly go to the server that hosts the content that the client is trying to find. The reverse proxy serves as an intermediary to isolate your web server from contact with the internet's open.




From a consumer's point of view, interacting with reverse proxy isn't different from communicating with your webserver directly. It's functionally identical, but the user can't discern the difference. Client makes a request for an item, and is given it, without any extra configuration required by the client.




Reverse proxy providers provide features like:




The server on the internet is protected centrally.


Sending traffic to be directed according to rules you set.


Added functionality for caching.




While centralized security is a benefit of both forward and reverse proxy, reverse proxies provide this function only for just the Web server layer but not the client layer. instead of the maintenance of security firewalls in Web server layers, which could contain multiple servers with various configurations, the bulk protection of the firewall is directed at the reverse proxy layer. In addition, taking the responsibility of connecting to firewalls and interfacing with requests from clients off of web servers lets them 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 the server. There may be several web servers running from the same host, all serving various kinds of resources, or a mixture of both. These servers could use the HTTP protocol like a traditional web server. They could also incorporate protocols for application servers like FastCGI. It is also possible to configure a reverse proxy to route clients to specific servers depending on the service being requested or to adhere to certain traffic load rules.




Reverse proxies also can take advantage of their placement on top of web servers with the help of caching. The large static files can be set up with caching rules to avoid getting into web servers for every request, with some solutions even allowing users to upload static files without having to connect directly to the website server. Furthermore, the reverse proxy can handle compression of these assets.




The popular Nginx webserver is a wildly popular reverse proxy solution. While the Apache web server is also available with the reverse proxy option as an additional function that is available for Apache however Nginx was designed initially for and is specifically designed for the reverse proxy function.



Differentiating Forward Proxy from Reverse Proxy Use Situations



Since "forward" in addition to "reverse" are both associated with the notion of directionality and also misleading comparisons with "incoming" in addition to "outgoing" traffic, these terms can be confusing because both types of proxies can manage requests and responses. Another method of separating between reverse and forward proxy servers is to study the needs of the application you're creating.




Reverse proxy can be a valuable tool when you are developing a solution to serve applications that are on the web. They act as your servers during any interaction through the Internet.




A forward proxy is useful to use if you're facing clients to use for personal purposes or in a work environment. They are a representation of your traffic when you are on the internet.




A distinction based on usage rather than using the standard names can help in avoidance of confusion.



Conclusion



The article clarified what a proxy was and the two kinds of proxy being the reverse proxy and forward proxy. Examples of how to use them and a discussion of most useful features were used to differentiate forward proxies from reverse proxies. If you're interested in learning the ways to use proxies, we suggest you go through our guide on how to set up Nginx as an internet server and reverse proxy for Apache on an Ubuntu 20.04 server.



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