proxy is also referred to as a proxy is commonly referred to as a proxy server software that sits as a mediator between client and server via the internet. Without the use of proxy servers, users could send a request for any source directly through the server and then the server will deliver the requested resource directly to the user. While this is a simple method to understand and use, however, the addition of proxy servers may provide benefits in terms of better performance, privacy, security, and much more. In addition to providing a layer of security it also serves as a guardian for the internet between clients and servers.

In general, the combined package of server hardware along with installed proxy software is often referred as proxy servers. In this article, we will focus on proxies traditionally classified as software, and also in relation to web server. You will get a breakdown of the two principal kinds of proxies, which are the forward proxy and reverse proxy. reverse proxy. Each one has its own use scenario that is often confused due to the overlap in naming convention.

This article will provide you with some understanding about what proxies and their subtypes are as well as the ways they can be beneficial in various configurations. In this article, you'll learn to identify situations in which a proxy is beneficial, and make the right option between reverse and forward proxy in any given circumstance.

Understanding Forward Proxies

A forward proxy, also known by the name of an open proxy acts as an agent for an individual trying to connect via the internet to an source server. In this case, every request made by the client will instead be handled by an forward proxy. This forward proxy in the client's stead, will examine the request. It will first determine if the client has been granted permission to receive requests from this particular forward proxy. Then, it'll either reject requests or redirect them to the source server. It's not able to directly connect directly to internet. It only has access to what the forward proxy permits it to access.

A typical use of forward proxy is the need for greater security or privacy when online. Forward proxy connects to web as a user through this process, it uses an alternate IP address for the client's IP address.

Depending on how it's been configured based on the method it was set up, forward proxy may provide a wide range of options that allow users to:

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  Beware of tracking ads.
  
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  Circumvent surveillance.
  
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  You can spot limitations based on your location.
  
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Forward proxies are also employed in systems that provide central security and access through permissions, like at work. The entire internet can go via an open forward proxy, administrators can grant access only to specific users to the internet. This is then filtered by the standard firewall. Instead of establishing firewalls on the client layer, this can be utilized by a variety of computers that have different types of environments and users, a firewall could be found at this forward proxy layer.

Be aware that forward proxies require manual setup to allow them to be used however reverse proxy servers will not be detected by the user. Based on the fact that your IP address a user is transmitted to the source server by the forward proxy, privacy and anonymity may be granted or kept secret.

There are a variety of alternatives to think about when considering forward proxies.

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  Apache The Apache is a popular open-source webserver that provides forward proxy functions.
  
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  Nginx is another well-known open-source web server that comes with forward proxy functions.
  
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  Squid: An free forward proxy which uses the HTTP protocol. It isn't part of the whole web server. We have a step-by-step guide to setup Squid proxy for connection to private networks in Ubuntu 20.04.
  
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  Dante Forward proxy that uses the SOCKS protocol instead of HTTP and is better suited for cases like peer-to-peer traffic. You could also examine how to set up the Dante proxy to allow private connections in Ubuntu 20.04
  
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Understanding Reverse Proxies

Reverse proxy functions as an intermediary for a web server that handles incoming requests from clients in its place. It can be used as a one server, or a number of servers. Additionally, it can comprise an application server, such as Gunicorn. In any event, it's possible to receive the request of a customer via the web at large. In the majority of cases the request will be sent directly to the website server that hosts the information the client wants. A reverse proxy works as an intermediary in order to block your server from communications with the internet's public.

From the point of view that is a user's viewpoint, interfacing with reverse proxy isn't distinct from the interaction with the server by itself. It's functionally the same as Web server and client cannot tell the difference. The client is able to make a request for the resource and it receive it, without any extra configuration required from the user.

Reverse proxies grant features like:

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  Centralized security for web servers.
  
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  Directing incoming traffic based on rules you can design.
  
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  The caching functionality was added to the application.
  
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While centralized security is a benefit of both reverse and forward proxy systems, reverse proxies perform this function to servers on the internet but not the layer of clients. instead of having firewalls installed at the web servers, which could include multiple servers that have different configurations, the bulk of firewall security is located at the layer of reverse proxy. In addition, the absence of interfacing with firewalls and interfacing with requests from clients that do not use web servers lets them concentrate on addressing the needs of their clients.

In the event of multiple servers being hosted through a reverse proxy the reverse proxy is responsible for directing which requests go to which server. Multiple servers may be providing the exact identical service, however each offering different kinds of resources, or some combination of the two. They may use the HTTP protocol similar to traditional web servers, but they can also be equipped with applications server protocols such as FastCGI. You can set up reverse proxy that directs customers to specific server based on the resource requested, or to observe specific rules regarding traffic load.

Reverse proxy solutions also benefit from their positioning on top of web servers through caching functionality. Large static assets can be configured using caching rules to ensure that web servers are not hit with every request. Certain solutions allow you to serve static content directly without connecting to a web server in any way. Additionally the reverse proxy can be used to handle compression of these assets.

The popular Nginx web server also functions as a popular reverse proxy service. It is true that the Apache web server comes with reverse proxy function, it's an alternative option. Apache in contrast to Nginx was originally designed to focus on reverse proxy functionality.

Differentiating Forward Proxy from reverse Proxy Use Situations

Since "forward" as well as "reverse" are associated with the perception of directionality, and inaccurate comparisons with "incoming" or "outgoing" traffic. The labels are confusing because each type of proxy handles both requests and replies. A better approach to distinguish between reverse and forward proxy services is to consider the requirements of the app you're building.

Reverse proxy is an important feature when building a solution to deliver web-based applications to the internet. They are your web servers in any interaction with the internet.

Forward proxy applications are beneficial when it is put in front of customers to use for personal purposes, or in a work setting. They are a representation of the traffic of your client as you interact on the internet.

A case-based approach to differentiation instead of focusing solely on the most common names will ensure that you don't become confused.

Conclusion

This article defined what a "proxy" is, with the two primary kinds of them being forward and reverse proxy. Practical applications as well as a summary of beneficial features was used to distinguish forward proxies and reverse proxy. If you're interested exploring how to set up proxies, read our guide on how to configure Nginx as web server and reverse proxy for Apache on an Ubuntu 20.04 server.

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