A proxy or proxy server is a program that acts as an intermediary between client and server via the internet. Without proxy, a user could send a request for an item directly the server, and then the server would provide direct to the client. Although this method is easy to understand and use, adding proxies offers advantages, such as increased performance, privacy and security, among other things. As an additional layer moving through, proxies serve as a security layer for the internet, separating servers and users.

It is generally accepted that the bundled package of server hardware with the software for proxy installation is commonly referred to as proxy servers. This article will concentrate on the proxy servers that are typically described as software as and those employed in conjunction with web servers. We will give a synopsis of the two major types of proxies: the one that is forward and the reverse proxy. Each has its own usage that can cause confusion due to the same terminology.

This article will provide you with an understanding of how proxies work and what their subtypes are, as well as their benefits in a range of configurations. After reading in this post, you'll know what situations where proxies are useful, and choose the best choice to use a forward or reverse proxy, based on the specific situation.

Understanding Forward Proxies

Forward proxy also known by the name of an open proxy serves as a representative for a user who is trying to make an online request to a source server. In this scenario, the entire request sent by the client will be directed by the forward-proxy. Forward proxy acting in its place as the customer will examine the request. It will first check if the client been authorized to transmit requests using this particular forward proxy. It will then reject an demand and then forward the request to an origin server. The client does not have direct connection directly to internet. It is able to access only what the forward proxy permits it access to.

A common use case of forward proxies is to provide greater security or privacy online. The forward proxy can connect to internet instead of a client, and in this process it utilizes an alternate IP address to the client's initial IP address.

Based on how it is set up according to the method of configuration, forward proxy may offer a range of features depending on how it's configured. This allows you to:

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  Beware of ad-tracker.
  
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  Circumvent surveillance.
  
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  Identify restrictions based on your area.
  
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Forward proxies are also utilized in systems that use centralized security and based access, for instance, in workplaces. If all traffic on the internet flows through a common forward proxy, the administrator is able to limit access to only a small user group to the internet, which is filtered by a common firewall. Instead of keeping firewalls in place for the client layer that may comprise several computers with diverse environments and users, it is possible to set up an firewall that is located in the layer that forwards proxy traffic.

It is important to remember that forward proxy servers must be manually set up to be utilized, whereas reverse proxy servers are often not noticed by clients. Depending on the type of IP address of the client is passed on to the server which created it through forward proxy privacy and security is granted or kept hidden.

There are a variety of options to be considered for forward proxies:

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  Apache: A popular open-source web server that provides 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 that uses the HTTP protocol. Squid doesn't come with a complete web server application. We have instructions on how to set up Squid proxy to permit private connections with Ubuntu 20.04.
  
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  Dante Forward Proxy that utilizes the SOCKS protocol rather than HTTP and is better suited to use in instances 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 acts as an intermediary for a web server, which handles incoming requests by clients on its behalf. The web server could consist of a single server, or several servers. In addition, it could serve as an app server, such as Gunicorn. In both cases, the request is made by an internet user in general. Most of the time, your request is made directly to the server that has all the resources the client is needs. In contrast reverse proxy acts as an intermediary, and separates Web servers from direct communication with the open internet.

From the consumer's point of view, interacting with reverse proxy is not any different from interacting with an internet server direct. It's basically the same however the user cannot be able to discern the difference. The client requests this resource and it receives it without additional configurations that need to be performed by the customer.

Reverse proxies can provide features such as:

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  A centralized layer of security to guard the server.
  
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  Controlling traffic coming inbound according to rules you can set up.
  
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  A new feature for caching is now available.
  
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While centralized security is a benefit of both reverse and forward proxy, reverse proxies do this to only the server layer and not the layer that clients use. Instead of establishing firewalls on Web server layers that can include multiple servers and various configurations, the bulk of security measures for firewalls are targeted towards the reverse proxy layer. Furthermore, taking the burden of communicating with firewalls and interacting with requests from clients outside of web servers allows the firewall to focus on delivering the needs of their customers.

In the case of several servers running in a reverse proxy it also controls which requests are directed towards which servers. A number of web servers could be operating on the same server, serving different kinds of resources or a combination of both. They use the HTTP protocol, which is similar to a traditional web server. However, they could also be equipped with application server protocols such as FastCGI. It is possible to configure reverse proxy settings to direct the clients towards specific servers based on the kind of resource they're seeking, or to follow certain rules regarding traffic load.

Reverse proxies are also able to benefit from their positioning before web servers, by providing caching functions. Large static assets can to be configured with caching rules so that they do not have to call web servers for every request. Certain software solutions allow you to serve static assets directly without having to contact the web server for even one time. In addition, the reverse proxy can manage compression of these assets.

The renowned Nginx web server can also function as a reliable reverse proxy option. While it is real it is true that Apache webserver is outfitted with a reverse proxy that can be used in conjunction with Apache however Nginx was initially designed to and is primarily focused on the reverse proxy feature.

Differentiating Forward Proxy and Reverse Proxy Use Examples

Because "forward" as well as "reverse" come with connotations of directionality, they can lead to inaccurate comparisons with "incoming" as well as "outgoing" traffic. It can be confusing as both types of proxies handle requests and responses. A better approach to distinguish between reverse and forward proxy service is to think about the requirements of the application you're creating.

Reverse proxy can be useful when you're developing a solution to offer web-based services on the internet. They serve as your servers in any interactions through the Internet.

Forward proxy software is advantageous when put in front of a user for personal use and in the professional environment. They are your client's representative when you interact with the internet.

A case-based distinction instead of focusing on the common naming conventions can assist you to avoid confusion.

Conclusion

This article defined what a proxy is with two kinds: forward proxy and reverse proxy. Practical applications as well as an exploration of the benefits were used to distinguish between forward and reverse proxies. If you're interested in learning more about the ways to implement proxies, you can read our tutorial on how to configure Nginx as an internet server and reverse proxy on Apache on one Ubuntu 20.04 server.

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