It is a proxy is also known as a proxy server software program that acts in the role of an intermediary a server and a client via the internet. Without the proxy, a client would be able to send a request a request directly to the server and the server would then deliver the resource directly back to the client. While this process is simple to understand and implement, however it is possible that the use of proxy servers may provide advantages such as enhanced efficiency, privacy, security as well as other benefits. As an additional pass-through layer proxy servers serve as a guardian for the internet between clients and servers.




In general the mix of server hardware and installed proxy software is also often referred as a proxy server. The article we'll focus on proxies typically considered to be software, and specifically, in relation to servers on the internet. We will also discuss of two types of proxies: a forward proxy and reverse proxy. reverse proxy. Each has its own specific usage situation, however they are often confused because of a similar name convention.




This article will give you some understanding about what proxies as well as their subtypes are, and the ways they can be useful for common setups. In this article you'll know how to recognize the situations in which you can benefit from a proxy and then select the most appropriate option between reverse and forward proxy, in each scenario.



Understanding Forward Proxies



Forward proxy often referred to as an open proxy is an agent used by the user trying to make a request through the internet to an original server. If this is the case, any attempts to send requests made by the client will rather be directed through the forward proxy. In this scenario the forward proxy acting in the place of the client will review the request. It is the first thing to check if the client is permitted to make requests via this specific forward proxy. The forward proxy will then deny any request or forward it to the original server. The client does not have a direct connection to the internet, it can only access what the forward proxy permits it to access.




The most common reason to use forward proxy is to increase privacy or security on the internet. Forward proxy utilizes the internet as a client and during this process, it uses an alternative IP address to the IP address of your client.




Based on the way it was installed in the past, forward proxy servers can offer a range of features, allowing you to:




Avoid ad tracking.


Circumvent surveillance.


Find restrictions based on the geolocation of your home.




Forward proxies are also used in systems for centralized security and access based on permissions for instance in workplaces. In the event that all internet traffic goes through an open forward proxy layer, administrators can permit only a few clients access to the internet through a common firewall. Instead of having firewalls on the client layer that could involve many machines with varying settings as well as users, firewalls can be added to the proxy layer that forwards.




Keep in mind to set forward proxy preferences have to be set up manually prior to their use in order to be used and reverse proxy settings can't be noticed by the user. Depending on the kind of IP address the user's IP address, the server that it came from by the forward proxy privacy and anonymity may be granted or in the dark.




There are many possibilities to investigate for forward proxies:




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


Nginx: Another well-known open-source server for hosting websites with forward proxy features.


Squid is an open source forward proxy that utilizes the HTTP protocol. It's not the complete webserver system. You can refer to our tutorial on how to set up a Squid proxy for private connections using Ubuntu 20.04.


Dante forward proxy that runs the SOCKS protocol rather than HTTP this makes it better suited for scenarios such as peer-to-peer communication. It is also possible to research how to set up a Dante proxy to permit private connections in Ubuntu 20.04



Understanding Reverse Proxies



A reverse proxy functions in the role of an intermediary a web server and it takes responsibility for incoming requests from users on behalf of. This web server may serve as a single server, or multiple servers. In addition, it could be an application-server like Gunicorn. In either of these scenarios the request will be made by a client via the internet as a whole. Typically, the request will be directed directly to a web server which has all the information the user is wants. Reverse proxy acts as an intermediary that shields the webserver from direct communication with the internet.




From the point of view of a client's view of the user reverse proxy use is not different from interacting with the server on its own. It's basically identical, however the client is unable to tell the distinction. The client requests a resource, and then receives it without any extra configuration needed on the part of the client.




Reverse proxy providers provide features like:




The web server is protected centrally.


The direction of traffic coming in is based upon rules you can create.


The caching feature is now available to users.




While central security is a benefit of both reverse and forward proxy systems, reverse proxy providers offer this feature only to the layer of the internet server not the layer that clients use. Instead of having firewalls on Web server layers that could comprise multiple servers and various configurations, the bulk of firewall security can be focused on the reverse proxy layer. In addition, getting rid of the responsibility of interacting with firewalls as well as interfacing with client requests outside of web servers allows the firewall to focus on supplying resources.




If multiple servers are operating in reverse proxy, the reverse proxy also determines how requests are routed through which server. There are many web servers operating on one server each offering different types of resource or a mixture of both. They use the HTTP protocol just like a standard web server, however they could also incorporate applications server protocols like FastCGI. It is possible to configure reverse proxy servers to send clients to specific servers according to the type of resource they are seeking or to follow certain guidelines regarding the load of traffic.




Reverse proxies can also benefit from their positioning over web servers due to the power of caching. Large static assets can be set up using caching rules to prevent hitting web servers on every request. There are a few options that allow users to serve directly static assets without connecting with the server at all. In addition, the reverse proxy can handle compressing these assets.




The popular Nginx web server also functions as a well-known reverse proxy solution. It is factual that Apache webserver also equipped with reverse proxy features but it's an additional option that's available to Apache however Nginx was designed originally for and is specifically designed for reverse proxy functions.



Differentiating Forward and Reverse Proxy Utilizing Differentiating Forward and Reverse Proxy Utilization



Since "forward" along with "reverse" come with connotations of directionality and misleading comparisons to "incoming" or "outgoing" traffic The labels could be confusing since both types of proxy respond to requests and receive responses. In addition, the most effective method to distinguish between reverse and forward proxy is to study the specifications of the application that you're working on.




Reverse proxy is a useful tool when you are developing a solution to serve web-based applications via the internet. Reverse proxy servers represent your website every time you use the internet.




Forward proxy is useful to display clients for personal use or in a working environment. They represent the client's information when you use the internet.




Separating by use case instead of focussing on similar naming conventions will ensure that you don't get confused.



Conclusion



This article explains what a proxy is with the two major types that are reverse proxy and forward proxy. Examples of how to use them as well as a discussion of the most advantageous attributes were used to determine between reverse and forward proxies. If you're interested in learning more about the possibilities of proxy servers, then read our guide on how to configure Nginx as a reverse proxy to Apache on one Ubuntu 20.04 server.



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