A proxy is also known as a proxy server software serves in the role of an intermediary server and user on the internet. In the absence of proxies, a user could send a request to the source directly through a server and the server could serve the resource directly for the client. While this approach is straightforward to comprehend and implement, using proxies provides advantages such as increased performance as well as privacy, security and much more. As a pass-through layer, the proxy serves as a gatekeeper of the internet between servers and clients.

Generally speaking, the combined mix of hardware for servers and proxy software is often referred too as proxy servers. This article will concentrate on proxy servers that are typically classified as software when referring to web servers. This article will present a detailed breakdown of two types: forward proxy and reverse proxy. reverse proxy. Each kind has its own unique usage scenario, and is frequently not understood due to the similar terms.

This article will provide information about what proxy services and their subtypes, as well as how they work in a variety of configurations. After reading this article, you'll be able to identify the circumstances in which using proxy services is advantageous, and select the best option between reverse and forward proxy in any given scenario.

Understanding Forward Proxies

The forward proxy sometimes called an open proxy is a proxy for a client who wants to send an internet request to an the server that originated it. In this situation, the entire process of sending requests from the user is instead sent via the forward proxy. A forward proxy, acting as a substitute for the client, will look at the request. It will then determine whether this client is authorized to send requests through this specific forward proxy. It will then decide whether to reject any request, or to forward it to the server that originated it. The client does not have direct access to the internet. It can access only the content that the forward proxy allows the client to connect.

A common use of forward proxies is increased privacy or security when using the internet. Forward proxy can access the internet on behalf of a client. by doing this it may use an IP address that is different from the IP address used by the client.

Depending on how it has been configured, based on the way it's set up forward proxy could grant you various features depending on the configuration and enables you to:

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  Don't fall victim of ad-tracking.
  
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  Circumvent surveillance.
  
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  Be aware of restrictions based on the geographical location.
  
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Forward proxies are also utilized for security systems which are centralized as well as permission-based access for instance, such as at work. If all traffic on the internet passes via an open forward proxy the administrator is able to permit just a handful of users connection to internet through the firewall. Instead of creating firewalls for the client layer, which could comprise a range of machines that have diverse environments and users A firewall can be installed at this front proxy level.

It is important to remember that forward proxies need to be manually setup in order to be used, whereas reverse proxies can not be noticed by the user. Based on the type of the IP address of a user is transferred to the origin server via the forward proxy, privacy and anonymity could be granted or not.

There are a variety of alternatives to look into for forward proxies.

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  Apache A well-known open source web server that provides forward proxy features.
  
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  Nginx is another widely-used open-source webserver that comes with capability to use forward proxy.
  
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  Squid is a free forward proxy using the HTTP protocol. Squid doesn't include the full web server. We have an article on how to set up Squid proxy to connect privately within Ubuntu 20.04.
  
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  Dante is forward proxy which utilizes the SOCKS protocol instead of HTTP and HTTP, which makes it better for use instances such as peer-to -peer traffic. It is also possible to learn how to configure Dante proxy to allow private connections in Ubuntu 20.04
  
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Understanding Reverse Proxies

A reverse proxy is an intermediary for the web server which manages the incoming requests of clients on behalf of. Web servers can comprise servers, or even multiple servers. It could also be an application-server like Gunicorn. In either of these scenarios the request will originate from the internet at large. In the majority of cases, your request is sent directly to the webserver with the resources that the user seeks. A reverse proxy serves as an intermediary and isolates this webserver from direct communication via the open internet.

From the point of view of a user the experience of using reverse proxy isn't different from communicating with an internet server directly. It's essentially the same but the user is unable to discern the difference. The client requests a resource and then receives it without extra configuration required by the client.

Reverse proxies can provide features such as:

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  Centralized security to web server.
  
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  Controlling traffic that is incoming based on rules you set.
  
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  New functionality added for caching.
  
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While central security is an advantage of both forward and reverse proxy servers. However, reverse proxy providers offer this feature only to the layer that is the webserver, not those who are on the client side. Instead of maintaining firewalls at webserver level, which could contain multiple servers with different configurations, the bulk in firewall protection is aimed to the reverse proxy layer. Additionally, removing the responsibility of working with a firewall and responding to requests from clients via web servers allows them to focus solely on addressing the requirements of their clients.

In the event of multiple servers running reverse-proxies, the reverse proxy is also responsible for the direction of which requests are directed towards which servers. Multiple web servers could be operating on the same server, offering various kinds of resources or a mix of both. They can utilize the HTTP protocol like a traditional web server, however they could also be outfitted with applications server protocols, like FastCGI. You can set up reverse proxy to direct users to a specific server based on the service requested, or to adhere to a set of rules for the traffic load.

Reverse proxies also gain by being placed over web servers by providing the ability to cache. Large static assets can be set up using caching rules to prevent having to contact web servers every time. Some solutions allowing you to directly serve static assets without having to connect with the webserver even once. In addition the reverse proxy is capable of handling compression of these assets.

The popular Nginx web server functions as a well-known reverse proxy option. While Apache is also an alternative to reverse proxy it is not the only one. Apache web server also comes with reverse proxy functions, but it's a separate feature available to Apache in contrast to Nginx was initially designed for and is focused specifically on reverse proxy features.

Differentiating Forward Proxy and reverse Proxy Use

Because "forward" as well as "reverse" are both associated with a sense of directionality and inaccurate comparisons to "incoming" in addition to "outgoing" traffic the labels could be confusing as both types of proxy services handle requests and responses. The best method to distinguish between forward and reverse proxy providers is to take into account the requirements of the app you're creating.

A reverse proxy is useful when building a solution to provide web-based applications over the internet. They are your web servers during any interaction on the internet.

Forward proxy can be useful when placed in front of users for personal use, or in an office setting. They represent the traffic of your client whenever you interact on the internet.

The practice of separating by use case instead of focusing solely on common naming conventions can make sure that you don't get confused.

Conclusion

This article will explain the significance of a proxy, focusing on the two main types, namely the reverse proxy and forward proxy. Practical examples of use and an overview of useful features were used to differentiate forward proxies and reverse proxy. If you're keen to learn more about the advantages of proxies, you should read our tutorial on how to configure Nginx as an internet server and reverse proxy within Apache on an Ubuntu 20.04 server.

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