An proxy can also be referred to as a proxy server. It is software that acts as an intermediary between a client and server over the internet. If there was no proxy in place, the user could send a request for any resource directly to the server and servers would provide the requested resource directly to the user. Although this method is easy to understand and use, however the addition of proxy servers could provide advantages including increased performance, privacy and security, etc. In addition to providing a layer of security proxy servers act as a guardian for the internet, separating clients from servers.




The general consensus is that the system of servers that are equipped with proxy software is commonly known as proxy servers. But, this article will concentrate on proxies traditionally defined as software, and more specifically in relation with web server. This article will provide a brief overview of the two main kinds of proxy: a forward proxy and reverse proxy. reverse proxy. Each has its own use, and can be confusing because of the same namestamp.




This article will give you an idea of the different types of proxy and subtypes are, as well as their importance in common configurations. By reading this article, you'll be able to understand the situations when you can benefit from a proxy, and make the right choice between reverse proxy and forward proxy for any situation.



Understanding Forward Proxies



Forward proxy sometimes called the open proxy is a proxy for the user who wishes to make a request over the internet to an source server. In this scenario, every attempt to send requests made by the client will rather be handled by this forward proxy. A forward proxy in the place of the client will review the request. It will first determine whether the client is allowed to accept requests via this particular forward proxy. Then, it can either deny requests or send it back to source server. The client is not capable of having an internet connection directly; it can only be capable of accessing the information that forward proxy grants the access.




One of the most popular applications for forward proxy servers is to provide greater privacy or security on the internet. A forward proxy accesses the internet instead of a specific client and during that process it may use a different IP address in comparison to the original IP address of the client.




Depending on how it's been configured depending on how it is configured, forward proxy may offer various features that allow you to:




Do not click on ads that track you.


Circumvent surveillance.


Determine restrictions based on location.




Forward proxies can also be used in systems to provide central security as well as permission-based access, such as in workplaces. In the event that all internet traffic flows through a common forward proxy layer administrators are able to permit only certain users access to the internet. This is controlled by a standard firewall. Instead of putting firewalls for the client layer, which could involve many machines with varying configurations and users, a firewall could be placed on the front proxy layer.




Be aware that forward proxies should be manually configured for use while reverse proxies could be ignored from the clients. Based on the type of IP address of the client's connection to the server which originated it via the forward proxy privacy and security may be made clear.




There are a myriad of possibilities to consider in determining forward proxy:




Apache is a well-known open-source web server that provides forward proxy capability.


Nginx is another popular open-source webserver which has forward proxy capability.


Squid is an open source forward proxy that utilizes an HTTP protocol. It does not contain the entire web server. You can refer to our article on how for installing Squid proxy to permit private connections on Ubuntu 20.04.


Dante is an forward proxy that utilizes the SOCKS protocol instead of HTTP which allows it to be more suitable for scenarios such as peer-to-peer traffic. You can also check out how to configure an Dante proxy for secure connections within Ubuntu 20.04



Understanding Reverse Proxies



Reverse proxy acts as the web server that handles requests from customers on its behalf. The server could function as a single server or multiple servers. It could also include an application servers, like Gunicorn. In any of these situations the request will be made via the web in general. Most of the time, the request is sent directly to the web server, along with the resources the user requires. A reverse proxy serves as an intermediary and separates your web server from communication with the internet's users.




From a consumer's point of view from a client's perspective reverse proxy use isn't different from connecting to an internet server direct. It's functionally identical, however the client isn't able to discern the difference. The client requests the resource and is then granted access without any additional configuration needed on the part of the client.




Reverse proxies provide features such as:




A central layer of security to protect the server.


Directing incoming traffic using rules that you set up.


A new feature to cache is now available.




Although central security is an advantage of both reverse and forward proxy services, reverse proxies give this feature only to only the server layer and not the client layer. In lieu of maintaining firewalls at the server layer which could include multiple servers with different configurations, the bulk of firewall security can be focused at the reverse proxy layer. Furthermore, taking the burden of communicating with firewalls and interacting with requests from clients that are not on web servers permits them to concentrate solely on delivering the requirements of their customers.




In the event of multiple servers hosted by a reverse proxy it also is responsible for routing requests towards which servers. There could be multiple web servers operating on the same server, or serving different types of resources or a mix of the two. They may utilize an HTTP protocol to function as a normal web server, but they could also incorporate application server protocols such as FastCGI. You can create reverse proxy that routes clients to specific servers according to the requested service, or adhere to certain rules for traffic load.




Reverse proxies can also utilize their position before web servers by offering caching capabilities. Large static assets can be managed using caching rules to prevent reaching web servers every request. There are options that provide the possibility of serving static content directly without having to connect with a webserver. Furthermore, reverse proxy can handle compressing these assets.




The renowned Nginx webserver is known as a very popular reverse proxy option. Although it is true that the Apache web server does have reverse proxy capabilities, it is an added feature available to Apache However, Nginx was designed originally to and is focused on reverse proxy functionality.



Differentiating Forward Proxy and reverse Proxy Examples



Because "forward" as well as "reverse" are both associated with an impression of directionality and inaccurate comparisons to "incoming" and "outgoing" traffic. They can confuse because both types of proxy servers process requests and responses. A better approach to differentiate between forward and reverse proxy servers is to study the requirements of the application you're building.




Reverse proxy is an important aspect in the design of a method to run websites on the internet. They function as your servers when you interact with the Internet.




Forward proxy can be helpful to display customers' information to your personal use or for use in a working environment. They represent the client's information when you connect to the internet.




A distinction based on usage case instead of focusing solely on naming conventions that are similar will help avoid confusion.



Conclusion



The article clarified meaning of a proxy with two kinds of proxy being the forward and the reverse proxy. Practical applications and an examination of beneficial attributes were used to determine forward proxies as well as reverse proxies. If you're interested in exploring the role in proxy server, read our guide on how you can configure Nginx as a web server as well as reverse proxy in Apache using Ubuntu 20.04 Server. Ubuntu 20.04 server.



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