It is proxy is proxy is also referred to as a proxy server is software that sits acting as an intermediary between client and server over the internet. Without the use of a proxy, users would make a request a resource directly to the server and it would serve that resource to its user directly. Although this method is easy to comprehend and implement, the addition of proxies can provide advantages in the form of greater performance, privacy, security, and much more. In addition to being able to pass through, a proxy acts as a gatekeeper for the internet between clients and servers.




The general consensus is that the combination of server hardware and installed proxy software is often referred too as proxy servers. For this post, we will examine proxies commonly described in terms of software as well as those used together with web servers. This article will present an in-depth description of two types of proxy: that is one that is a forward proxy and reverse proxy. reverse proxy. Each type comes with its own specific use case that is frequently confused due to the similar namesake convention.




This article will provide some knowledge about the different types of proxy and subtypes they have, and what ways in which they can be beneficial for common setups. Through this article you'll learn to identify the circumstances where a proxy can be beneficial, and decide on the best forward proxy or reverse proxy in any given situation.



Understanding Forward Proxies



The forward proxy, also known by the name of an open proxy is a representative of a customer that is trying to send requests via the internet to an the server that originated it. In this case, it's the scenario that all requests made by the client will be directed via this forward proxy. In this scenario, the forward proxy in lieu of the client, will examine the request. At the beginning, it will determine if the client is permitted to transmit requests through this specific forward proxy. It then decides whether to refuse this request and transfer it over to the original server. It's not able direct connection with the web. It is only able to access the information forward proxy permits the forward proxy to connect.




A common reason for using forward proxies is for greater privacy or security online. A forward proxy uses the internet as an individual client, and during this manner, it may use another IP address in contrast to the IP address of the client.




Depending on how it's been configured in the past, forward proxy servers can offer a wide range of options, allowing you to:




Beware of ads that track you.


Circumvent surveillance.


Establish restrictions based on the place of residence.




Forward proxies are also employed in systems that provide central security and permit-based access, such as in a workplace. In the event that all internet traffic flows by an open forward proxy, the administrator is able to permit only a small number of clients online access, which is filtered by a standard firewall. Instead of establishing firewalls at the level of client which could include multiple computers with different user and environment the firewall can be set up on the layer that is responsible for forwarding proxy data.




Keep in mind that forward proxy servers have to be set up manually for use, whereas reverse proxy are often disregarded by clients. Depending on whether clients' IP addresses are transmitted to the server that originated it via the forward proxy Privacy and anonymity could be granted or made transparent.




There are a myriad of choices to think about for forward proxies:




Apache An open-source, well-known web server that provides forward proxy features.


Nginx: Another renowned open-source web server with forward proxy features.


Squid is an open-source forward proxy that utilizes it's HTTP protocol. It doesn't provide an entire web server. Take a look at our article on the best method of setting up Squid proxy to allow connection with private networks in Ubuntu 20.04.


Dante forward proxy that utilizes the SOCKS protocol rather than HTTP and HTTP, which makes it better suited for scenarios like peer-to-peer communication. It's also a good idea to check out how to set up the Dante proxy to allow private connections in Ubuntu 20.04



Understanding Reverse Proxies



Reverse proxy is a representation of a web server that manages requests from customers on behalf of. The web server could represent one or more servers. Additionally, it could be an application server, such as Gunicorn. For any one of these scenarios, the request may come via the internet at large. The majority of the time, the request will be delivered directly to the server along with the data the user is seeking. A reverse proxy is a intermediary and isolates your server from interactions with the internet.




From the perspective of a customer from a user's point of view using a reverse proxy isn't any different from communicating with the webserver in direct communication. It's basically the same and the client is unable to tell the difference. Client requests resources, that is then followed by receiving it, without any additional configurations required for the end-user.




Reverse proxy proxies can provide features, like:




Centrally secured for Web Server Layer.


The sending of traffic according to the rules you set up.


Additional functions for caching.




Although central security is a benefit of both reverse and forward proxy solutions, reverse proxy providers provide this benefit only to the server layer and not to the client layer. Instead of maintaining firewalls at the layer of web servers which can contain several servers that have different configurations, the bulk of firewall security is centered at the layer of reverse proxy. Furthermore, removing the obligation of interacting with firewalls and connecting with requests from clients that are not connected to web servers allows the firewall to concentrate on serving the requirements of their clients.




If there are multiple servers that are in a reverse proxy, the reverse proxy will also take care of how requests are routed on the server. There could be multiple web servers operating on the same server and serving various kinds of resources or a combination of both. These servers can use the HTTP protocol in the same way as a traditional web server. They can also use applications server protocols like FastCGI. You can set up reverse proxy that directs users to specific servers according to the type of resource they're looking for, or to comply with certain rules regarding traffic load.




Reverse proxies also profit from their positioning prior to web servers, by providing the ability to cache. Large static assets can be configured using caching rules to prevent having to connect to web servers with each request, with some solutions giving the option to directly serve static assets without connecting to the internet server at all. Additionally reverse proxy can handle the compression of these assets.




The well-known Nginx web server is also an acknowledged reverse proxy feature. You can also use it, Apache web server, it's also equipped with a reverse proxy feature it's a distinct feature available only for Apache while Nginx was originally designed and focused on the reverse proxy function.



Differentiating Forward and Reverse Proxy Utilizing Differentiation of Forward Proxy and reverse Proxy Use



Because "forward" or "reverse" come with connotations of directionality, as well as false connections to "incoming" in addition to "outgoing" traffic. The terms can be confusing since both kinds of proxies can manage requests and responses. A better approach to distinguish between forward and reverse proxy is to look at the requirements of the application that you are creating.




Reverse proxy is beneficial in the development of a system to deliver web-based services over the internet. They function as servers during any interaction with the internet.




Forward proxy are beneficial when they are used by the client for your personal use, or in a work environment. They are a representation of your traffic whenever you use the internet.




A distinction based on use case instead of focusing solely on similar naming conventions can assist you in avoiding confusion.



Conclusion



This article clarifies the meaning of a proxy with the two main kinds of proxy: the forward one and the reverse proxy. Practical scenarios for application and a review of the advantageous features were utilized to distinguish forward proxies and reverse proxy. If you're interested exploring the possibilities of proxy services, then check out our tutorial on how to configure Nginx as reverse and webserver proxy using Apache on one Ubuntu 20.04 Server.



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