proxy or proxy is often referred to for its role as a proxy server a software that sits acting as an intermediary between a server and a client on the internet. Without proxy, a user can send a request for a resource directly to the server, and then the server would deliver the requested resource directly to the user. Although this method is easy to grasp and use however, the addition proxy servers may provide benefits in terms of increased speed, privacy and security, among other things. Apart from adding a layer of protection it also serves as a gatekeeper to the internet, separating clients and servers.

In general, the package of server hardware along with the software for proxy installation is also often referred to as a proxy server. For this post, we'll focus on proxies traditionally classified as software and within relation to web server. The article will give a detailed breakdown of the two principal kinds of proxies: that is the forward proxy and reverse proxy. reverse proxy. Each has its own usage situation, and is frequently misunderstood due to the overlapping naming convention.

This article will give you some understanding about what proxy servers and their subtypes are and the ways they can be beneficial in various configurations. Through this article, you'll be able recognize the situations where it is beneficial to use a proxy and make the right choice between forward and reverse proxy in any given scenario.

Understanding Forward Proxies

An forward proxy sometimes known in the form of the open proxy is a proxy for a user trying to make a request via the internet to an source server. In this scenario every request made by the client will instead be sent through an forward proxy. This forward proxy in the client's stead, will examine the request. It first decides if the client has been granted permission to receive requests from this specific forward proxy. Then, it'll either reject requests or redirect it to the original server. It isn't able to directly connect with the Internet. It can only access what the forward proxy enables it access to.

The most common reason for using forward proxy is the need for more privacy or security while using the internet. The forward proxy is connected to web as a user during this way, it assigns an alternative IP address in addition to the client's IP address.

Based on the way it has been configured in accordance with the method it was set up, a forward proxy could provide a wide range of options which allow users to:

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  Avoid tracking ads.
  
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  Circumvent surveillance.
  
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  You can identify limitations based on your location.
  
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Forward proxies are also used in systems that give central security as well as access permissions, for instance in a workplace. The entire internet can go by an open forward proxy. administrators can grant access only to a specific group of users to the internet, and this is then filtered by the standard firewall. Instead of establishing firewalls on this layer of client, which could be used by several computers with different environments and types of users. A firewall may be located in this forward proxy layer.

It is important to know that forward proxy servers have to be manually setup in order to allow them to be used however reverse proxy servers will not be noticed by users. Based on the fact that the IP address of a client is sent to the origin server via forward proxy Privacy and anonymity could be granted or kept secret.

There are many alternatives to think about when it comes to forward proxy services.

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  Apache The Apache is a popular open-source web server that offers forward proxy features.
  
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  Nginx: Another well-known open-source web server that has forward proxy functionality.
  
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  Squid: A free and free forward proxy that makes use of the HTTP protocol. It isn't part of the complete web server. We have a step-by-step guide to setup Squid proxy to allow private connections in Ubuntu 20.04.
  
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  Dante Forward proxy that uses the SOCKS protocol instead of HTTP which makes it more suitable for situations such as peer-to-peer traffic. You can also look at how you can install an Dante proxy that will allow private connections to Ubuntu 20.04
  
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Understanding Reverse Proxies

Reverse proxy is an intermediary for a web server, handling the incoming requests of clients in its place. The server could function as a single server or as a set of servers. Additionally, it can include an application servers, like Gunicorn. It is possible to get a request from a customer through the internet at large. In the majority of cases, the request would be directed directly to the server hosting the data the client is asking for. A reverse proxy acts as an intermediary that blocks your web server from communication with the web's public.

From the point of viewpoint, or an individual's view, interacting via reverse proxy isn't any distinct from the interaction with the server by itself. It's basically the same as the web server, and the client cannot tell the distinction. The client is able to make a request for the resource and it receive it, with no further configuration from the user.

Reverse proxies grant features like:

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  Security centralized to web server.
  
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  Directing incoming traffic according to rules you make.
  
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  The caching functionality was added to the application.
  
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While central security is a benefit of both forward and reverse proxy systems, reverse proxies provide this function to only the layer of web servers but not to the client layer. instead of maintaining firewalls on the layer of web servers that may contain multiple servers with various configurations, the bulk of firewall security is located on that layer called reverse proxy. In addition, the absence of connecting to a firewall and interacting with requests from clients without web servers lets them concentrate on providing the needs of their clients.

In the case of multiple servers hosting through reverse proxy the reverse proxy determines the requests to which server. Multiple web servers could be offering the identical service, however each having different resources, or some combination of the two. They can utilize the HTTP protocol similarly to traditional web servers however, they could also be equipped with protocols for application servers like FastCGI. It is possible to set up reverse proxy that directs customers to specific server depending on the resource requested or to follow specific rules regarding traffic load.

Reverse proxy solutions can also profit from their placement on the web servers with caching capabilities. Large static assets can be set up using caching rules to prevent hitting web servers with every request. Some solutions even allowing users to serve static content directly without connecting to the web server at all. In addition the reverse proxy is able to compress these files.

The well-known Nginx web server is also used as a well-known reverse proxy solution. It is certain that Apache web server does have reverse proxy feature, it's an additional option. Apache and not the default option. Nginx was designed initially to and focused on the reverse proxy feature.

Differentiating Forward Proxy from Reverse Proxy Use - Situations

Because "forward" and "reverse" are both associated with the perception of directionality, and false comparisons to "incoming" or "outgoing" traffic. The labels can confuse because both types of proxies manage the flow of requests as well as responses. A better approach to distinguish between forward and reverse proxy services is to consider the needs of the app you're building.

Reverse proxy is an essential element when designing an infrastructure to connect web-based applications to the internet. They serve as your web servers for any interaction on the internet.

Forward proxy applications are beneficial when it is displayed in front of clients to use for personal purposes, or even in a working environment. They can be used to represent your client's traffic when you interact with the internet.

Utilizing case-based differentiation instead of focusing solely on naming conventions that are commonplace will help you not become confused.

Conclusion

The article outlined what is a "proxy" is, with the two most common types of them being the reverse and forward proxy. Practical applications as well as a summary of beneficial features was used to differentiate forward proxies as well as reverse proxy. If you're interested exploring how to set up proxies, follow our tutorial on how to set up Nginx as a webserver and reverse proxy to Apache on an Ubuntu 20.04 server.

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