proxy or proxy is often referred to by the name of a proxy, software that acts in the middle between server and client via the internet. Without the use of a proxy, a user can send a request for a source directly through the server, and then the server would deliver an item directly for the requester. Although this method is easy to grasp and use but the addition of proxy servers can offer advantages in terms of increased speed, privacy and security, and many more. In addition to adding a layer of protection the proxy also acts as a guardian for the internet between clients and servers.




It is generally accepted that the bundle of server hardware with an installed software proxy is also often referred to as a proxy server. This article we will concentrate on proxies that are typically classified as software, and in connection with web server. The article will give a detailed breakdown of the two principal kinds of proxies. These are an forward proxy and a reverse proxy. Each type of proxy has its own unique usage scenario that is often not understood due to the common names.




This article will give you an understanding of what proxies and their subtypes are and the ways they are useful in a variety of configurations. In this article, you'll learn to identify situations in which a proxy is beneficial, and decide on the appropriate choice between forward and reverse proxy depending on the situation.



Understanding Forward Proxies



An forward proxy sometimes known in the form of open proxy. An open proxy is a proxy for an individual trying to connect via the internet to an source server. In this situation, any attempt to send a request by the client will be routed through an forward proxy. Forward proxy acting in place of the client, will examine the request. It will first determine if the client is authorized to receive requests from this particular forward proxy. Then, it'll either deny requests or redirect it to the server that originated it. It's not able to direct connection directly to internet. It can only access what forward proxy allows the forward proxy to connect.




A typical use of forward proxy is the requirement for greater privacy or security when surfing the web. A forward proxy can connect to internet as a client in this way, it assigns an alternative IP address to your client's IP address.




Depending on how it has been configured based on the method it was set up forward proxy can offer a range of features, allowing users to:




Avoid tracking ads.


Circumvent surveillance.


You can determine restrictions based upon your geolocation.




Forward proxies are also used in systems to give central security and access through permissions, like at work. Internet traffic can be routed through an open forward proxy. administrators can grant access only to specific users to the internet. This is then filtered by the standard firewall. Instead of maintaining firewalls on this layer of client, which could be used by several computers that have different environments and types of users. A firewall may be placed in this forward proxy layer.




Take note that forward proxies must be set up manually in order to allow their use, however reverse proxy servers will not be noticed by the user. Based on the fact that an IP address from a client is transmitted to the original server through the forward proxy, privacy and anonymity could be granted or hidden.




There are numerous alternatives to think about when considering forward proxies.




Apache is a well-known open-source webserver that provides forward proxy features.


Nginx is another well-known open-source web server that has forward proxy functions.


Squid: A free and open source forward proxy that uses an HTTP protocol. It isn't part of the whole web server. We have a step-by-step guide to set up Squid proxy for connection to private networks in Ubuntu 20.04.


Dante Forward proxy that uses the SOCKS protocol instead of HTTP, making it ideal for scenarios such as peer-to-peer communication. You can also look at the steps to install an Dante proxy that will allow private connections in Ubuntu 20.04



Understanding Reverse Proxies



Reverse proxy acts as an intermediary between web servers, which handles incoming requests from clients in its place. It can be used as a single server or a number of servers. Additionally, it can comprise an application server, like Gunicorn. It is possible to receive a request from a customer via the web at large. Most of the time the request will be sent directly to the web server that hosts the information the client wants. A reverse proxy serves as an intermediary that blocks your web server from communication with the internet's public.




From the point of perspective, which is also a user's viewpoint, interfacing using reverse proxy is not different from interacting with the server in its own. It's basically the same as an internet server. The client cannot tell the difference. Clients can request the resource, and is then provided with it, without any extra configuration required from the user.




Reverse proxies grant features like:




Centralized security on webservers.


Controlling traffic coming in according to rules you create.


A new feature for caching has been added.




While central security is an advantage for both forward and reverse proxy, reverse proxies do this service to only the layer of web servers, but not to the client layer. Instead of implementing firewalls at the web servers which might contain multiple servers with various configurations, the majority of firewall security is located at the layer of reverse proxy. Additionally, getting rid of the necessity of interfacing with a firewall and responding to requests from clients that do not use web servers lets them focus on meeting the requirements of their clients.




If there are multiple servers hosting through a reverse proxy, the reverse proxy also is responsible for directing the requests to which server. Multiple servers may be providing the exact same service, but each having different resources, or a combination of both. They can utilize the HTTP protocol similarly to traditional web servers however, they could also be outfitted with application server protocols like FastCGI. You can create reverse proxy servers to redirect clients to an individual server based on the resource requested or to follow certain rules for traffic load.




Reverse proxy solutions benefit from placing them on the top of web servers by using caching functionality. Large static files can be arranged by caching rules to prevent hitting web servers with every request. Certain solutions allow users to serve static content directly without having to connect to the web server in any way. In addition, reverse proxy has the ability to handle compression of these assets.




The popular Nginx web server is also used as a well-known reverse proxy service. Although it is true that the Apache web server comes with reverse proxy function, it's an additional option. Apache and not the default option. Nginx was originally designed to and focused on reverse proxy functionality.



Distinguishing Forward Proxy from Reverse Proxy Use Cases



Because "forward" and "reverse" are both associated with a sense of directionality and false comparisons to "incoming" and "outgoing" traffic These labels are confusing because each type of proxy handles requests and responses. An alternative approach to distinguish between forward and reverse proxy is to think about the needs of the app you're building.




Reverse proxy is a crucial element when designing a solution to deliver web-based applications to the internet. They act as your web server for any interaction on the internet.




Forward proxy applications are useful when they are placed in front of clients for personal use or in a work setting. They can be used to represent the client's activity when you use the internet.




A case-based approach to differentiation rather than focusing exclusively on naming conventions that are commonplace can ensure that you don't become confused.



Conclusion



This article defined what a "proxy" is with the two main types of them being the reverse and forward proxy. Practical applications and a review of beneficial features were utilized to distinguish between forward proxy and reverse proxy. If you're considering how to use proxies, follow our tutorial on how to set up Nginx as web server and reverse proxy for Apache on Ubuntu 20.04 server.



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