The word "proxy" is a reference to the term "proxy" which refers to proxy also referred to a proxy server which is a server application that acts in the role of an intermediary a client and a server on the internet. Without proxy, a user can send a request directly to a server then the server could return the requested resource directly for the client. This method is simple to understand and use, adding proxies offers advantages such as enhanced performance, privacy, security, and many more. As a further layer of pass-through, the proxy serves as a security safeguard for the internet between clients and servers.

Generally speaking, the combined system of server hardware coupled with the installed proxy software is also often referred too as proxy servers. This article will concentrate on the types of proxies that are typically thought as software, and specifically in relation with web server. The article will provide an explanation of two types that are available, including a forward proxy and reverse proxy. reverse proxy. Each type has a distinct use case, often confused due to the similar terms.

This article will give you the knowledge of what proxies are and what their subtypes are and the way they work in a variety of configurations. In this guide, you'll be able to determine the circumstances in which it is beneficial to use a proxy and decide on the right choice between reverse proxy and forward proxy for any situation.

Understanding Forward Proxies

Forward proxy often called an open proxy serves as an intermediary for clients trying to send a request over the internet to connect to a source server. In this case, the entire attempt to send requests made by the user will instead be transmitted via the forward proxy. The forward proxy, acting in place of the client, will take a look into the request. At the beginning, it will decide whether this client can accept requests from this specific forward proxy. It will then reject requests or redirect it to the original server. The client isn't capable of having an internet connection directly. It has access to only what forward proxy allows for it access to.

A common use case of forward proxies is to gain more privacy or security on the internet. Forward proxy is able to access the internet using the user and, in doing so, it could use a different IP address to that of the initial IP address of the client.

Depending on how it has been set up according to the way it was configured forward proxy may offer a range of features and allow you to:

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  Beware of tracking ads.
  
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  Circumvent surveillance.
  
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  Find restrictions based on the geolocation of your home.
  
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Forward proxies also are used in systems that rely on central security and permission-based access like in workplaces. If all traffic on the internet flows via an open forward proxy administrators are able to grant access to only a few individuals to access the web, and this is filtered by an common firewall. Instead of creating firewalls for the client layer that can be used by several computers with different configurations and settings, firewalls could be installed at the proxy layer.

It is essential to note that forward proxies must be configured manually and reverse proxies could go unnoticed by the client. Depending on the type IP address a client is transmitted to the server from where it came from via the forward proxy, privacy and anonymity may be granted or not.

There are a number of options to consider forward proxy options:

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  Apache An open-source, well-known web server that offers forward proxy functions.
  
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  Nginx: Another well-known open source server for web hosting with the ability to forward-proxy.
  
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  Squid: An open-source forward proxy that uses the HTTP protocol. It's not the complete webserver system. You can refer to our step-by-step instructions to installing Squid proxy to enable private connections on Ubuntu 20.04.
  
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  Dante Forward Proxy which uses the SOCKS protocol instead of HTTP which is more appropriate for scenarios such as peer-to-peer traffic. You may also want to look into how to configure the Dante proxy for private connections in Ubuntu 20.04
  
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Understanding Reverse Proxies

Reverse proxy acts as an intermediary to web servers, which handles the incoming requests of customers on its behalf. The web server could function as a one server, or a number of servers. It could also be used in the role of an application server such as Gunicorn. In any event it is possible to send a request via the internet at large. Most often the request would go directly to the web server, containing the information that the user is looking for. The reverse proxy serves as an intermediary protecting the web server from direct communication with the internet's open.

From a consumer's point of view the experience of interacting with reverse proxy isn't any different than using the server on its own. It's exactly the same but the client isn't able to distinguish between the two. The client is able to make a request for the resource and it receive it, without any additional configuration needed on the part of the client.

Reverse proxy providers offer features such as:

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  Centralized security for the web server layer.
  
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  The direction of traffic coming in is by rules you have set.
  
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  The caching feature was added to the application.
  
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While centralized security is an advantage of both forward and reverse proxy servers, reverse proxies offer this feature to the web server layer but not to the client layer. Instead of maintaining firewalls at Web server layers which may comprise multiple servers with different configurations, the bulk of firewall security can be directed towards the reverse proxy layer. Furthermore, getting rid of the responsibility of working with firewalls and responding to requests from customers outside of web servers allows them to concentrate on meeting the requirements of their clients.

If there are multiple servers running as a reverse proxy, the reverse proxy takes care of directing which requests go to which server. There may be many web servers offering the identical service, but each providing different types of resource or a mixture of both. These servers can be using the HTTP protocol, which is a standard web server. But, they may also be using application server protocols like FastCGI. It is possible to configure a reverse proxy to direct visitors to specific server depending on the service being requested or to adhere to specific rules for traffic load.

Reverse proxies also have the ability to benefit from their positioning ahead of web servers, offering the capability to store information. Massive static resources can be set using caching rules, so that they prevent websites from being hit on every request. Some solutions allowing you to upload static files directly, and without having to connect with the server. Furthermore the reverse proxy may handle the compression of these assets.

The popular Nginx web server also serves as an effective reverse proxy option. Although it, Apache web server with a reverse proxy but it's an additional option to Apache while Nginx was initially designed and specifically designed for reverse proxy features.

Distinguishing the use of reverse and forward proxy The Case

Because "forward" as well as "reverse" have connotations of directionality, as well as false comparisons to "incoming" as well as "outgoing" traffic the labels could be confusing because both kinds of proxy can handle requests as well as responses. Another method of separating between reverse and forward proxy is to look at the requirements of the app you're developing.

A reverse proxy can be beneficial when designing an infrastructure to support websites on the internet. They serve as your web servers for all interactions over the internet.

Forward proxy is useful when placed in front of customers for personal use, or in the corporate setting. They are a representation of the customer's data every time you use the internet.

Distinguishing by use case instead of focusing solely on standard names can aid you in avoiding confusion.

Conclusion

The article clarified the significance of a proxy that has two kinds: the reverse proxy and forward proxy. Practical use cases along with an examination of useful characteristics were used to determine the two types of proxies that are reverse and forward. If you're looking to know more about the benefits of proxies, we suggest you read our tutorial on how to configure Nginx as an internet server as well as reverse proxy in Apache running on the Ubuntu 20.04 Server.

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