An proxy or proxy server is a software that sits acting as an intermediary for client and server over the internet. Without a proxy, a client would send a request for the resource directly to a server, and the server would serve that resource to its user directly. While this is a simple method to grasp and use but adding proxies offers advantages such as increased performance, privacy and security, among others. In addition to being able to pass through, proxies function as a safeguard for the internet between servers and clients.

In general, the package of server hardware with the software used to install proxy services is usually called proxy servers. However, this article will concentrate on the proxy servers that are typically described in terms of software as and those employed in conjunction with web servers. We will present a summary of the two major kinds of proxy servers, namely those that are a one that is forward and a reverse proxy. Each has their own use, which can be confusing due to a similar terminology.

This article will provide you with an idea of the how proxies work and what their subtypes are, as well as their utility in a variety of configurations. After reading in this post, you'll know how to determine the situations that a proxy can be useful, and choose the most appropriate option for forward or reverse proxy depending on the circumstance.

Understanding Forward Proxies

Forward proxy also known in the context of open proxy. An open proxy serves as a representative for a client who attempts to connect online to a server. In this scenario, the entire attempt to send requests from the client will rather be controlled by the forward proxy. The forward proxy, in its place as the customer will examine the request. First, it will determine whether the client has been granted permission to send requests through this specific forward proxy. It then will reject a application and send it back to its source server. The client has no direct access directly to internet. It can access only what the forward proxy permits the client to connect.

A common use case of forward proxies is to provide greater privacy or security on the internet. Forward proxy connects to internet instead of a client, and as a result, it uses an alternate IP address that is different from the client's original IP address.

Based on the way it is set up in accordance with the method of configuration forward proxy can offer a variety of features depending on how it is set up, allowing you to:

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  Do not be a victim of ad tracking.
  
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  Circumvent surveillance.
  
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  Identify restrictions based on the location you are in.
  
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Forward proxies are also utilized in systems of centralized security and permission -based access, like, in workplaces. If all internet traffic flows through a common forward proxy layer, a administrator can restrict access to a specific user group to the internet by a common firewall. Instead of putting firewalls in place on the client layer, which may comprise several machines that have various environments and users, you can install a firewall located at the layer that forwards proxy traffic.

It is essential to note that forward proxy servers need to be set up manually for be used, while reverse proxies are often not noticed by clients. Based on the type of IP address of the client, it will be passed to the server that originated it through the forward proxy privacy and security can be granted or kept hidden.

There are many alternatives to consider for forward proxies:

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  Apache: A popular open-source web server offering forward proxy capabilities.
  
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  Nginx: Another well-known open source web server, which has forward proxy capabilities.
  
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  Squid is an open-source forward proxy which uses the HTTP protocol. This doesn't offer an entire web server application. We have instructions on how to configure Squid proxy to permit private connections in Ubuntu 20.04.
  
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  Dante Forward Proxy that utilizes the SOCKS protocol instead of HTTP which makes it more for use in situations like peer-to-peer communication. It is also possible to discover how to set up a Dante proxy to allow private connections on Ubuntu 20.04
  
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Understanding Reverse Proxies

A reverse proxy is an intermediary for a web server, which handles the incoming requests of clients on its behalf. Web servers can be a single server or a number of servers. Additionally, it could include an application server such as Gunicorn. In both cases, the request is made by users on the internet in general. In the majority of cases, requests will get sent directly to the server which has all the resources the client is requires. In contrast reverse proxy acts as an intermediary that isolates Web server from direct interaction with the internet.

From a consumer's point perspective, using reverse proxy isn't any different from using an internet server direct. It's the same thing, and the client cannot be able to discern the difference. The client makes a request for the resource, and it then gets it without any extra configuration that must be done by the customer.

Reverse proxies can provide features such as:

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  A centralized layer of security that protects the server.
  
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  Controlling traffic inbound based on rules that you create.
  
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  A new feature to cache is now available.
  
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While central security is a benefit of both reverse and forward proxy, reverse proxies do this only to the server layer but not to the layer that clients use. instead of maintaining firewalls at Web server layers which can comprise multiple servers and different configurations, most security for firewalls is focused on the reverse proxy layer. Additionally, removing the burden of communicating with firewalls and communicating with clients outside of web servers allows the firewall to concentrate on meeting the requirements of their clients.

In the event of multiple servers running within a reverse proxy, it determines which requests are sent towards which servers. Many web servers may be running from the same host, providing various kinds of services or a mix of both. These servers utilize the HTTP protocol, which is similar to a traditional web server. However, they could also be equipped with application server protocols like FastCGI. You can configure reverse proxy servers to guide the clients towards specific servers depending on the kind of resource they are seeking, or to comply with certain rules for traffic load.

Reverse proxies also have the ability to gain advantages from their positioning before web servers, by providing caching functions. Large static assets are able to be configured with caching rules to avoid having to contact web servers every time you request. Certain software solutions allow you to serve static assets directly without touching the server once. Furthermore reverse proxy solutions can handle compression of these assets.

The renowned Nginx web server can also function as a reliable reverse proxy solution. While it is real that the Apache web server is also fitted with an reverse proxy which can be used in conjunction with Apache however Nginx was designed originally to and is primarily focused on the reverse proxy feature.

Differentiating Forward Proxy and Reverse Proxy Examples

Because "forward" and "reverse" are associated with the notion of directionality and false comparisons to "incoming" as well as "outgoing" traffic. They could be confusing because both types of proxies process requests and response. The best way to differentiate between reverse and forward proxy services is to think about the requirements of the application that you're developing.

A reverse proxy is useful when you are developing a solution to offer web-based services via the internet. They serve as your servers in any interactions through the Internet.

Forward proxy software is useful when they are put in front of a client for personal use as well as in an office environment. They are your client's representative when you interact with the internet.

The use case-based differentiation instead of focusing solely on commonly used naming conventions can help you in avoiding confusion.

Conclusion

This article defined what a proxy is along with two kinds: forward proxy and reverse proxy. Practical applications and an exploration of the benefits were used to distinguish between reverse and forward proxies. If you're interested to learn more about the implementation of proxies, you can follow our guide on how to set up Nginx as an internet server and reverse proxy on Apache on an Ubuntu 20.04 server.

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