It's proxy, also known as a proxy or proxy server, is a software which acts as an intermediary between a client and server on the internet. Without the proxy, a user could make a request for the server directly and the server would then provide the requested resource directly to the client. Although this method is simple to understand and implement with proxy servers, it could provide advantages in terms of better performance, privacy, security, and more. In addition, a pass-through proxy is a security guardian of the internet between servers and clients.




It is generally accepted that the set of server hardware along with installed proxy software is also often called proxy servers. This article will focus on proxy servers which are usually described as software, and in the context of web servers. This article will present a detailed breakdown of the two types of proxies: forward proxy and a reverse proxy. reverse proxy. Each kind has its own specific usage case, but they are often misunderstood due to the similar namesake convention.




This article will give you information about what proxies are and the subtypes of them, and how they work in common configurations. In this article you will be able identify situations in which you can benefit from a proxy, and decide on the most appropriate solution between forward proxy and reverse proxy for any situation.



Understanding Forward Proxies



The forward proxy, also known as the open proxy, acts as an intermediary for a customer who wants to transmit a request over the internet to an original server. In this situation, it's the scenario that all requests made by the client should be handled by an forward proxy. A forward proxy acting in on behalf of the user will review the request. It is the first thing to determine if the client is allowed to transmit requests through this particular forward proxy. Then, it will either deny any request, or send it on to its server that originally sent it. The client does not have direct access to the internet. It only has access to the internet that the forward proxy allows for it to reach.




A very common reasons for forward proxy is to gain increased privacy or anonymity on the internet. A forward proxy uses the internet as a client. In this way, it can utilize an alternate IP address to the client's original IP address.




Depending on how it has been configured and how it is configured, forward proxy may provide you with a range of options. It will allow you to:




Beware of tracking ads.


Circumvent surveillance.


You can determine limitations based on your geographic area.




Forward proxies also are used in systems that provide central security and access through permissions, like in workplaces. If all internet traffic flows through a forward proxy, an administrator can grant only a small number of users access to the internet that is blocked by a common firewall. Instead of putting firewalls in place for the client layer which may include multiple devices with various configurations and users, the firewall can be placed within the layer which forwards proxy traffic.




Take note that forward proxies need to be manually setup for use while reverse proxies might not be detected from the customer. Depending on the type of IP address the client, it is relayed to the server from which it originated through the forward proxy, privacy and security may be granted, or left unnoticed.




There are a myriad of options to look into for forward proxy options:




Apache A well-known, open-source web server that offers forward proxy functions.


Nginx is another well-known open-source web server that has the ability to forward-proxy.


Squid is an open source forward proxy which uses the HTTP protocol. It doesn't provide a complete Web server. We recommend that you follow our step-by-step guide to set up Squid proxy to allow private connections on Ubuntu 20.04.


Dante Forward Proxy that uses the SOCKS protocol instead HTTP which is more suitable for peer-to-peer traffic. It's also possible to find out how to set up an Dante proxy to connect private connections on Ubuntu 20.04



Understanding Reverse Proxies



Reverse proxy functions as a representative for web servers, which handles any requests that come in from clients on behalf of. This server can comprise a singular server or multiple servers. It could also function as an application server, such as Gunicorn. In any case, the request will be received via the web in general. Most of the time the request will be sent directly to the server, containing the information that the client is in need of. A reverse proxy serves as an intermediary, and is able to block it from directly interacting with the open internet.




From a client's perspective, interacting with reverse proxy is not any different from interacting with the Web server direct. It's exactly the same, and the client is unable to tell the difference. The client requests an item, then gets it without any additional configuration needed on the part of the client.




Reverse proxy providers provide features like:




The web server is secured centrally.


The sending of traffic in accordance with rules you can define.


Additional functionality for caching.




Central security is an advantage of both forward and reverse proxy service, reverse proxy providers provide this benefit only to Web layer servers, but not to the layer of clients. instead of maintaining firewalls on the web server layer, which could contain multiple servers that have different configurations, the bulk of firewall security is concentrated on the reverse proxy layer. Furthermore eliminating the burden of interacting with firewalls and coordinating requests from clients who aren't connected to web servers allows them to concentrate on delivering the needs of their clients.




In the case of multiple servers that are behind a reverse proxy, the reverse proxy also is responsible for directing which requests pass through which server. Multiple web servers could be providing the exact same resource, supplying various kinds of resources or a combination of both. They can utilize the HTTP protocol in the same way as a traditional web server but they could include other protocols for application servers such as FastCGI. There is the possibility to set up reverse proxy services that redirects clients to particular servers based on the requested resource or to follow specific rules regarding traffic load.




Reverse proxies also gain from their positioning in front of web servers, providing caching functionality. Massive static images can be set up by caching rules, avoiding having to contact web servers on every request. Some solutions offering an option to serve static assets directly without contacting the web server in any way. Furthermore, the reverse proxy can handle compression of these assets.




The well-known Nginx web server functions as a well-known reverse proxy service. Even though Apache can also be a reverse proxy service however, the Apache web server comes with an reverse proxy which adds a feature to Apache however Nginx was originally designed to and is focused specifically on its reverse proxy feature.



Differentiating Forward Proxy and reverse Proxy Examples



Because "forward" and "reverse" are associated with the perception of directionality, and are misinterpreted as comparing "incoming" and "outgoing" traffic, these labels can confuse since both kinds of proxies process requests and responses. A better approach to distinguish between forward and reverse proxy services is to study the requirements of the app that you are building.




Reverse proxy is a useful tool to develop an approach to offer web-based internet-based services. They serve as your web servers every time you use the internet.




Forward proxy applications are beneficial for displaying clients for personal usage, or even in a corporate setting. They serve as the proxy for your client for all interactions via the internet.




The practice of separating by use case, instead of focussing on the commonly used naming conventions can make it easier for people to stay clear of confusion.



Conclusion



This article describes what a proxy is, along with the two types of proxy, namely the forward proxy and the reverse proxy. Practical applications as well as a brief overview of the most beneficial features were used to distinguish forward proxies from reverse. If you're interested in exploring the possibilities of proxies, then take a look at our guide on how to set up Nginx as an reverse proxy and internet server in Apache on an Ubuntu 20.04 server.



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