It is an proxy commonly known as proxy server software that acts as an intermediary between client and server on the internet. Without proxy, a user could send a request for a resource directly to the server and it would deliver that resource to its user directly. It's not hard to understand and implement the use of proxy servers can offer advantages such as improved performance and privacy, security and more. In addition to providing a layer of security, proxies are a way to secure the internet between servers and clients.

In general, the entire set of server hardware along with the software to install proxy servers is usually referred to as proxy servers. This article will focus on proxies traditionally understood as software and in connection with web server. The article will provide a description of the two major types of proxies, which are forward and reverse. forward proxy and reverse proxy. reverse proxy. Each has a distinct use case, often confused due to the similar namesake convention.

This article will provide you with an idea of the nature of proxies and subtypes are, as well as how they work in the normal configurations. Through this guide, you'll know how to identify the circumstances where the use of proxies is beneficial and how to choose the correct solution in between reverse and forward proxy, for each situation.

Understanding Forward Proxies

In another way, a forward proxy sometimes called an open proxy acts as the representative of the customer who wishes to forward requests via the internet to an original server. In this case any attempts to send requests made by the client will instead be forwarded via the forward proxy. In this scenario the forward proxy that is in the place of the client will review the request. First, it must check if the client is authorized to receive requests from this particular forward proxy. It can then decide whether to deny the request or forward it to the original server. The client is not able to have direct access to the internet It can only connect to what the forward proxy permits the client to access.

The most popular reason to utilize forward proxy servers is to improve privacy or security on the internet. A forward proxy utilizes the internet in place of a client, and could use an alternative IP address that is different from the client's initial IP address.

Based on the way it's set up depending on how it is configured forward proxy could provide various features and also the capability to:

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  Do not be a victim of ad tracking.
  
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  Circumvent surveillance.
  
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  Find limitations based on the geographic area.
  
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Forward proxies are also employed in systems that provide centralized security and access based on permissions such as at work. If all traffic on the internet flows through an open forward proxy layer administrators could allow access to only certain users who are filtered through a common firewall. Instead of putting firewalls installed for the client layer, which may contain various devices with various settings, users and settings, a firewall can be installed at this forward proxy layer.

It is important to note that forward proxy servers have to be manually set up for use to be utilized, whereas reverse proxy servers can be disregarded by clients. Based on the fact that an IP address from the client is transferred to the server that originated it through the forward proxy, privacy and anonymity could be granted or made more transparent.

There are a myriad of options to look into to find forward proxy options

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  Apache: A popular open-source webserver that provides forward proxy capabilities.
  
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  Nginx: Another renowned open-source webserver that includes forward proxy functionality.
  
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  Squid: A free forward proxy using the HTTP protocol. It doesn't provide the complete web server. Check out our guide on the best method of creating Squid proxy to allow private connections in Ubuntu 20.04.
  
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  Dante Forward proxy that makes use of the SOCKS protocol instead of HTTP, making it better suitable for situations such as peer-to-peer communication. It's also a good idea to look into how to configure a Dante proxy for private connections using Ubuntu 20.04
  
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Understanding Reverse Proxies

A reverse proxy acts in the role of an intermediary for a web server, handling any requests that come in from customers on behalf. The web server could be comprised of one server or multiple servers. Additionally, it can serve in the role of an application server, such as Gunicorn. In either scenario the request may be made by a client via the web in general. In most cases, the request will be directly to the server that has the resources that the user requires. Instead, a reverse proxy works as an intermediary that isolates your server from interaction with the open internet.

From the perspective of a user, the experience of interacting with reverse proxy is the same as interacting with your webserver directly. It's basically identical, and the user cannot tell the distinction. Client requests resources and then receives it, without any additional configuration required or input from the end user.

Reverse proxies provide options like:

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  Centralized security on webservers.
  
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  The sending of traffic according to rules you can create.
  
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  New feature added to caching.
  
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While central security can be a benefit of both reverse and forward proxy platforms, reverse proxy providers this service to only the server layer and not to the client layer. instead of the maintenance of firewalls on servers on the internet that could include multiple servers with various configurations, the majority of firewall security could be focused in the reverse proxy layer. Additionally, getting rid of the responsibility of interacting with a firewall as well as dealing with requests from clients far from web servers allows them to focus solely on serving the needs of their customers.

In the case of multiple servers running connected to a reverse proxy the reverse proxy also is responsible to control which requests are placed on which server. There could be multiple web servers providing the exact same service, serving different kinds of resources or a mixture of both. They may use the HTTP protocol just like a standard web server, but can also be equipped with application server protocols like FastCGI. A reverse proxy is used to connect clients to specific servers depending on the kind of resource they're searching for, or comply with specific rules regarding traffic volume.

Reverse proxies also take advantage of their placement in front of web servers through the possibility of storing data. Massive static content can be set up using caching policies to stop the web server from being hit with every request. Some solutions providing the option to deliver static content directly, without having to connect to the server. In addition, reverse proxy can manage compressing these assets.

The popular Nginx web server is an effective reverse proxy solution. Although it is real that Apache web server comes with a reverse proxy however it's an additional feature of Apache but Nginx was initially designed for and focuses specifically on the reverse proxy feature.

Differentiating Forward Proxy from Reverse Proxy Use. and Reverse Proxy Use

Since "forward" in addition to "reverse" can be interpreted as directionality and misleading comparisons with "incoming" as well as "outgoing" traffic. The labels can be confusing because both kinds of proxies are able to handle both requests and responses. A better approach to distinguish between reverse proxy and forward proxy is to research the requirements of the app that you are developing.

Reverse proxy is an essential element to consider when designing a system which can offer web-based services over the internet. They function as servers when you are connected to the internet.

A forward proxy is beneficial when it is placed in front of users for personal usage, or in a corporate setting. They represent your clients when you interact with the internet.

A case-based approach to differentiation instead of focusing solely on similar names can prevent confusion.

Conclusion

The article explained what a proxy is along with the two types of them, namely the forward and reverse proxy. Application scenarios that can be used in practical situations as well as an examination of features that are useful were used to differentiate between forward and reverse proxies. If you're interested to learn more about the advantages of proxies, then you should read our guide on how to configure Nginx as an reverse proxy and internet server to Apache in the Ubuntu 20.04 server.

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