An proxy, also called a proxy server software, serves to act as a mediator between server and client on the internet. In the absence of proxies, a user could make a request an online source directly through a server, and the server would serve the resource directly back at the requester's. This is a simple method to grasp and implement, the addition of proxies can bring advantages such as increased performance and security, privacy, and more. As an additional layer of pass-through, the proxy serves as a security guardian of the internet between clients and servers.

Generally speaking, the combined combination of server hardware with proxy software is commonly referred too as proxy servers. This article will focus on proxies that are traditionally defined as software, and in the context of web servers. This article will provide a detailed breakdown of two types: the forward proxy and reverse proxy. reverse proxy. Each type has its own usage scenario, and is frequently not understood due to the similar terminology.

This article will provide you with details about what proxy services and subtypes are, and how they work in various configurations. After reading this article, you'll be able to identify the circumstances in which using proxies can be advantageous and pick the most appropriate solution for reverse or 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 make an internet-based request to an the server which originated it. In this situation, the entire attempt to send requests made by the user will be made via the forward proxy. A forward proxy, acting in place of the client will take a look into the request. Then, it determines whether the client has the right to transmit 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 connection for the web. It can access only the information that forward proxy permits it access to.

A popular use for forward proxies is greater privacy or security when using the internet. Forward proxy can access the internet instead of a client and as such it can use an alternative IP address to the original IP address of the client.

Depending on how it has been configured, based on the way it is configured 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 trackers.
  
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  Circumvent surveillance.
  
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  Recognize the restrictions based on your geographical location.
  
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Forward proxies are also used for security systems that are centralised as well as access that is permission-based, like at a workplace. When all internet traffic passes via an open forward proxy the administrator is able to permit just a handful of users access to the internet filtered through the firewall. Instead of setting up firewalls on the server layer which can comprise a variety of computers with various environments and users, a firewall could be placed at the intermediate layer of forward proxy.

It is essential to note that forward proxies need to be manually configured in order to be used and reverse proxies may not be noticed by the user. Depending on the type of the IP address that a user is transferred to the server from which it originated via forward proxy Privacy and anonymity could be granted or not.

There are numerous possibilities to think about when it comes to forward proxies.

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  Apache A well-known open source web server that offers forward proxy functions.
  
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  Nginx is another widely-used open-source web server with forward proxy capabilities.
  
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  Squid: A free forward proxy using the HTTP protocol. This doesn't offer the entire web server. Read our article on how to set up Squid proxy for private connections in Ubuntu 20.04.
  
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  Dante is an forward proxy that utilizes the SOCKS protocol instead of HTTP and HTTP which makes it better for usage scenarios such as peer-to-peer traffic. It is also possible to learn how to set up Dante proxy to permit private connections in Ubuntu 20.04
  
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Understanding Reverse Proxies

A reverse proxy acts as a representative of a web server that handles incoming requests from clients on behalf of. The web server may include servers, or even multiple servers. It could also be an application-server, such as Gunicorn. In any of these scenarios the request will be made via the web in general. In the majority of cases, requests will then be transmitted directly to the webserver along with the resources the user is seeking. A reverse proxy functions as an intermediary, separating the webserver from direct communications via the open internet.

From the viewpoint of a user, the experience of using reverse proxy isn't different than connecting to an internet server direct. It's basically the same, but the client is unable to discern the difference. The client asks for an item and receives it, with no extra configuration required from the client.

Reverse proxies can provide features such as:

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  Centralized security on webservers.
  
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  Directing incoming traffic based on rules you set.
  
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  New feature added to caching.
  
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While centralized security can be a benefit of both forward and reverse proxy servers. However, reverse proxy providers provide this benefit only to that layer on the webserver, not the client layer. Instead of maintaining firewalls in the layer of web servers, which could contain multiple servers with different configurations, the bulk protection of firewalls is aimed at the reverse proxy layer. Additionally, removing the responsibility of interfacing with firewalls and connecting with requests from customers off of web servers enables them to concentrate solely on addressing the requirements of their clients.

In the case of multiple servers using a reverse-proxy the reverse proxy can also handle the direction that requests are directed to which servers. Multiple web servers could be operating on the same server, each providing various kinds of resources or a combination of both. They can use the HTTP protocol as a traditional web server, however they may also be able to be equipped with application server protocols like FastCGI. It is possible to set up reverse proxy to direct users to a particular server according to the service required, or to specific rules pertaining to the load of traffic.

Reverse proxies can also benefit by being placed on top of web servers as they offer caching capabilities. Large static assets can be configured using caching rules to prevent the need to call web servers for each request. Some solutions allowing you to directly serve static files without having to connect with the webserver at all. Additionally, the reverse proxy is able to handle compression of these assets.

The renowned Nginx web server functions as an extremely popular reverse proxy solution. While Apache is an alternative to reverse proxy however, the Apache web server does have reverse proxy features however, it's a distinct feature to Apache as opposed to Nginx was designed initially to and is focused upon the feature of reverse proxy.

Differentiating Forward Proxy and reverse Proxy Use

Since "forward" as well as "reverse" are ascribed to a sense of directionality and false comparisons with "incoming" and "outgoing" traffic, the names could be confusing because both kinds of proxies handle requests and responses. The best way to differentiate between forward and reverse proxy is to consider the requirements of the application that you are developing.

A reverse proxy is useful in the development of a solution to deliver web-based apps over the internet. They serve as your web servers in any interaction with the internet.

Forward proxy are useful when they are displayed in front of users either for personal use, or in a workplace setting. They are a representation of the traffic of your client whenever you interact on the internet.

The practice of segregating by use case, instead of just focusing on the most standard naming conventions can help ensure that you don't get confused.

Conclusion

This article provides the definition of a proxy with the two major types, namely the reverse proxy and forward proxy. Practical examples of how to use them and an overview of useful features were utilized to distinguish forward proxies and reverse proxies. If you're interested to learn more about the possibilities of proxies, you should read our tutorial on how to set up Nginx as a web server and reverse proxy within Apache on one Ubuntu 20.04 server.

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