An proxy is also referred to as proxy server software which serves in the role of a mediator a client and server over the internet. Without a middleman the client would a request the resource directly to the server and the server would serve the requested resource directly for the client. While this process is simple to understand and apply the addition of proxies can bring benefits such as more speed as well as security and privacy and a lot more. Alongside adding a layer of security proxy servers also serve as a security guardian of the internet between clients and servers.

Generally speaking, the bundle of server hardware that includes proxy software is usually referred to in the context of proxy servers. But, this article will concentrate on proxies traditionally defined as software, and also in the context of web servers. We will provide a brief overview of the two primary types: one is a forward proxy and the other a reverse proxy. reverse proxy. Each type has a distinct usage, which can be confusing due to the similar namesake convention.

This article will provide you with the understanding of the different types of proxy services, their subtypes are, as well as the ways that they can be helpful for the most common setups. In this article, you'll in a position to recognize the scenarios that you can gain from a proxy. You can also choose the right solution between reverse and forward proxy for any scenario.

Understanding Forward Proxies

Forward proxy, also known as an open proxy is the representative of a customer who wants to forward requests through the internet to a server that created it. In this scenario it is the situation that all requests received from the client will be directed direct to forward proxy. Forward proxy who is acting on behalf of the client, will look into the request. At first, it will determine whether the client is authorized to make requests via this specific forward proxy. It will then either reject requests or redirect them to the origin server. The client will not be capable of having direct access to the internet; it can only be capable of accessing the details that the forward proxy permits the client to access.

One of the most popular reasons for using forward proxy is the need for more privacy or security online. Forward proxy can access the internet using the client. In this way, it is using another IP address, in contrast to the IP address of your client.

Depending on how it has been set up depending on how it is configured, forward proxy may provide a variety of functions in addition to the ability to:

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  Beware of ad-tracker.
  
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  Circumvent surveillance.
  
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  You can spot limitations based on your geographic location.
  
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Forward proxies can also be used in systems of centralized security and access based upon permissions, like, in a workplace. If all internet traffic goes via an open forward proxy an administrator can restrict access to only certain users on the internet using a common firewall. Instead of establishing firewalls for the client layer, which can include multiple machines with different configurations and users, a firewall can be installed on the forward proxy layer.

Remember that forward proxy servers must be manually configured to use, whereas reverse proxies can go unnoticed by the client. Based on the type of IP address a client is transferred to the origin server via forward proxy privacy and anonymity may be granted or left transparent.

There are numerous possibilities to look into for forward proxies:

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  Apache: A popular open-source web server, which offers forward proxy features.
  
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  Nginx A renowned open-source webserver with forward proxy capability.
  
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  Squid: A free and Open Source Forward Proxy that utilizes an HTTP protocol. It doesn't provide a complete website server program. It is possible to refer to our instructions on how to set up Squid proxy to allow private connections on Ubuntu 20.04.
  
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  Dante Forward Proxy that uses the SOCKS protocol instead HTTP, making it more suited to use cases such as with peer-to-peer traffic. You could also find out how to set up Dante proxy to allow private connections in Ubuntu 20.04
  
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Understanding Reverse Proxies

A reverse proxy acts acting as an intermediary for the web server. It handles incoming requests from clients on its behalf. The web server can serve as a one server or as a series of servers. It could also function as an app server such as Gunicorn. In any of these scenarios the request will come from a user who is on the internet generally. The majority of the time, the request would be directed directly to a web server that holds all the resources the client would be looking for. However, a reverse proxy functions as an intermediary, protecting the webserver from direct contact with the internet.

From an individual or user's point of view reverse proxy's process reverse proxy is not any different from working with the website server in direct contact. It's essentially the same thing, however the client can't tell the distinction. The client makes the request to access a resource, which is then followed by the receipt of it with no further configuration required by the client.

Reverse proxy proxies can provide options, such as:

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  Secured centrally for Web Server Layer.
  
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  Controlling traffic inbound based on rules that you can set up.
  
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  The caching function is now available to users.
  
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While central security is a benefit of both reverse and forward proxy services, reverse proxies give this benefit to Web layer servers and not to the client layer. instead of having to maintain firewalls on Web server layers, which can contain multiple servers with various configurations, most of firewall security is focused at the reverse proxy layer. In addition, getting rid of the necessity to interface with a firewall and interfacing with requests made by clients through web servers enables them to focus on providing resources.

In the case of multiple servers operating behind a reverse proxy it is also able to control how requests are routed which server. There are many web servers offering the identical service, but each one serving different kinds of resources or a combination of both. These servers may use their HTTP protocol to function as a standard web server, but they can also incorporate applications server protocols such as FastCGI. You can create reverse proxy services to redirect customers to a specific server according to the resource requested or to adhere to specific rules regarding traffic load.

Reverse proxies can also benefit from their position in front of web servers by virtue of caching. Massive static resources can be arranged by caching rules so that they avoid having to contact web servers each time they request. There are solutions that offer the option of directly serving static assets without needing to connect to a web server in any way. In addition, the reverse proxy can be used to handle compressing these assets.

The popular Nginx webserver is an efficient reverse proxy service. Although you can utilize Nginx, Apache web server also includes a reverse proxy as an additional function of Apache which is in contrast to Nginx was designed initially for and focuses on the reverse proxy function.

The difference between Forward and Reverse Proxy Use Differentiating Forward Proxy and Reverse Proxy Use

Since "forward" or "reverse" have connotations of directionality, and false comparisons to "incoming" as well as "outgoing" traffic, the labels could be confusing since both kinds of proxy services can handle requests as well as respond. A better approach to distinguish between forward and reverse proxy providers is to consider the needs of the application that you are developing.

Reverse proxy can be useful when you are developing a solution to serve web applications on the internet. They act as your web server for any interaction with the internet.

Forward proxy applications can be beneficial when they are used to block client traffic for your private use, or in the workplace. They are a representation of the client's web traffic in any interaction on the internet.

The use case-based differentiation instead of focusing on the common naming conventions can make it easier to avoid confusion.

Conclusion

In this article, we clarified the meaning of a proxy with the two most common types of them that are the forward and reverse proxy. Practical applications and a glance at beneficial characteristics were used in defining forward proxy and reverse proxy. If you're interested in learning more about how proxies are implemented take a look at our tutorial on how to configure Nginx in a reverse proxy and internet-based server for Apache on an Ubuntu 20.04 server.

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