An proxy or proxy server is software which acts as an intermediary between client and server via the internet. Without proxy, a user will send a request to resources directly the server, and the server would serve that resource to its user directly. This method is simple to comprehend and utilize, adding proxies offers advantages, such as more performance, privacy and security, and much more. As an additional layer being able to pass through, proxies function as a guardian for the internet, separating servers and clients.

It is generally accepted that the combined combination of server hardware and the software for proxy installation is usually called proxy servers. This article will focus on proxy servers that are usually described as software as well as those used together with web servers. This article will provide a brief overview of the two main kinds of proxy servers, namely the one that is forward and a reverse proxy. Each has their own use that can cause confusion due to a similar terminology.

This article will provide you with an idea of the how proxies work and what their subtypes are, and their value in a variety of configurations. After reading in this post, you'll know what situations that a proxy can be advantageous, and decide on the best option to use a forward or reverse proxy based on the circumstance.

Understanding Forward Proxies

Forward proxy, also referred to as the open proxy serves as a representative for a user who attempts to connect online to a source server. In this situation the entire request sent by the client will rather be controlled by the forward proxy. Forward proxy in the place of the client will examine the request. It will first determine whether the client has been authorized to transmit requests using this particular forward proxy. It will then reject an application and send it back to its source server. The client does not have direct access for the web. It is able to access only the information that the forward proxy permits it to access.

One of the most common uses for forward proxy is increased security or privacy online. A forward proxy is connected to the internet in place of a client and in this process it utilizes an alternate IP address that is different from the client's original IP address.

Based on the way it was set up according to the configuration forward proxy can provide a variety of functions 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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  Find out the restrictions that apply to the location you are in.
  
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Forward proxies are also utilized in systems that rely on central security and permission based access, for instance at workplaces. If all internet traffic flows through a common forward proxy layer, the administrator can limit access to only a small user group to the internet filtered through an common firewall. Instead of keeping firewalls in place for the client layer which could comprise a range of computers with diverse environments and users, there is the possibility to install an firewall that is located in the front proxy layer.

It is essential to note that forward proxy servers need to be set up manually for be utilized, whereas reverse proxy servers may be hidden from clients. Based on the type of IP address of the client is passed on to the server which created it via the forward proxy, privacy and security may be granted or kept hidden.

There are a myriad of alternatives to consider for forward proxies:

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  Apache is a well-known open-source web server that provides forward proxy capabilities.
  
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  Nginx: Another well-known open source web server that has forward proxy capabilities.
  
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  Squid is an open-source forward proxy that utilizes 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 which makes it more suited to use in instances like peer-to-peer communication. You can also discover how to set up a Dante proxy for private connections on Ubuntu 20.04
  
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Understanding Reverse Proxies

A reverse proxy is an intermediary for a web server that handles incoming requests by clients on behalf of. Web servers can consist of a single server, or multiple servers. In addition, it could be an application server such as Gunicorn. In any case, the request is made by an internet user in general. In the majority of cases, your request is sent directly to the web server, which is equipped with all the resources the client is needs. However, a reverse proxy works as an intermediary that isolates Web servers and their direct interaction with the internet.

From the consumer's point of view, interacting with reverse proxy isn't any different from interacting with an internet server direct. It's pretty much the same, and the client cannot see the difference. The client requests it, then it receives it without extra configuration that must be completed by the client.

Reverse proxies can provide features such as:

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  A central layer of security to guard the server.
  
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  Controlling traffic coming inbound according to rules that you create.
  
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  A new feature for caching has been added.
  
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While centralized security is a benefit of both forward and reverse proxy servers, reverse proxies offer this only to the server layer, but not to the layer that clients use. Instead of establishing firewalls on Web server layers that can comprise multiple servers and different configurations, most security measures for firewalls are targeted towards the reverse proxy layer. In addition, the ease of communicating with firewalls and communicating with clients outside of web servers permits the firewall to focus on addressing the needs of their clients.

If there are several servers running in a reverse proxy it also manages controlling which requests go to which servers. There are many web servers operating from the same host, serving different types of resources or a mix of the two. These servers use the HTTP protocol like a traditional web server. They can also be equipped with application server protocols such as FastCGI. You can set up reverse proxy settings to direct the clients to specific servers according to the type of resource they are seeking, or to comply with certain rules for traffic load.

Reverse proxies are also able to gain advantage from their position before web servers, by offering caching capabilities. Large static assets can to be configured with caching rules so that they do not have to call web servers on every request. Certain software solutions allow you to directly serve static files without having to connect to the server once. Additionally, the reverse proxy can manage compression of these assets.

The well-known Nginx web server also functions as an effective reverse proxy option. It is real that the Apache website server fitted with an reverse proxy which is an additional option for Apache but Nginx was initially designed for and is focused on reverse proxy capabilities.

Differentiating Forward Proxy and Reverse Proxy Use Examples

Since "forward" as well as "reverse" have connotations of directionality as well as misleading comparisons to "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 forward and reverse proxy service is to take into account the requirements of the app that you're working on.

A reverse proxy is useful when you're designing a system to provide web-based services via the internet. They act as your servers in any interactions through the Internet.

Forward proxy applications are beneficial when it is put in front of a client for personal use or in a professional environment. They represent your clients when you interact with the internet.

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

Conclusion

This article clarified the definition of a proxy along with two types: the forward proxy and reverse proxy. Practical applications as well as an exploration of beneficial features were used to distinguish between forward and reverse proxy. If you're interested to learn more about the implementation of proxies, you can follow our guide on how to configure Nginx as a reverse proxy using Apache running the Ubuntu 20.04 server.

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