A proxy, also known as a proxy is also known as a proxy server. It is software that acts in the role of intermediaries between client and server via the internet. In the absence of a proxy server, a user would be able to send a request to any resource directly to the server and servers would deliver the requested resource directly to the user. This is a simple method to grasp and use however, the addition of proxy servers may provide benefits such as more performance, privacy, security, among others. In addition to providing a layer of security, proxies act as a guardian for the internet, separating clients from servers.

The general consensus is that the system of hardware for servers, paired with proxy software is also often called proxy servers. This article will focus on proxies that are traditionally referred to as software, and more specifically with respect to web servers. We will give a synopsis of the two major types of proxies: a forward proxy and a reverse proxy. Each type has a different use, and can be confusing because of the identical name convention.

This article will provide you with an understanding of types of proxies, their subtypes are, as well as their importance for common setups. Through this article you'll recognize the situations where you can benefit from a proxy, and decide on the appropriate option between reverse proxy and forward proxy in any given situation.

Understanding Forward Proxies

Forward proxy sometimes called open proxy, sometimes referred to as open proxy serves as an agent for users who wish to make a request over the internet to an source server. In this case every attempt to send requests made by the user will be handled by this forward proxy. A forward proxy in the position of the customer will review the request. It will first determine whether the client is authorized to accept requests through this particular forward proxy. It will then either refuse requests or send it back to source server. The client is not able to have directly access to internet. it will only be allowed access to the information that forward proxy grants its access.

A very common reasons for forward proxy is increased privacy or security on internet. A forward proxy accesses the internet in lieu of a specific client and in the process, it can use another IP address, in contrast to the original IP address used by the client.

Depending on how it's set up, and how it's configured forward proxy can provide a range of features and allow you to:

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  Avoid tracking ads.
  
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  Circumvent surveillance.
  
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  Find restrictions based on the your location.
  
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Forward proxies are also employed in systems to offer central security as well as permission-based access, such as in a workplace. In the event that all internet traffic flows through an open forward proxy layer, administrators are able to permit only certain users access to the internet. The web is blocked by a common firewall. Instead of putting firewalls in place for the client layer which may involve many machines with varying user configurations, firewalls may be placed at an intermediary layer.

Keep in mind that forward proxy servers must be set up manually for use, while reverse proxy servers could be disregarded in the eyes of the user. Depending on the kind of IP address the client, it is transmitted to the server that generated it through the forward proxy, privacy and security may be made clear.

There are a myriad of possibilities to consider in determining forward proxy:

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  Apache is a well-known open-source web server which provides forward proxy capabilities.
  
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  Nginx is another well-known open-source webserver that includes forward proxy capabilities.
  
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  Squid is an open forward proxy open source that uses the HTTP protocol. It does not contain the entire web server. You can refer to our article on the best method to set up Squid proxy to permit private connections in Ubuntu 20.04.
  
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  Dante is a forward proxy which uses the SOCKS protocol instead of HTTP which makes it more suitable for scenarios like peer-to-peer traffic. It is also possible to learn how to setup the Dante proxy for secure connections within Ubuntu 20.04
  
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Understanding Reverse Proxies

Reverse proxy is the web server, which handles the requests of customers on its behalf. This server can serve as a one server, or multiple servers. Additionally, it can comprise an application server, like Gunicorn. In any of these situations the request will be made through the internet at large. In most cases the request is made directly to the server along with all the information the client in need of. A reverse proxy functions as an intermediary, segregating your server from communications with the web's public.

From a consumer's point of viewpoint from the perspective of a client, using reverse proxy isn't different from connecting to an internet server direct. It's functionally identical, however the client isn't able to discern the difference. The client asks for the resource and receives it without any further configuration required by the client.

Reverse proxy providers offer options like:

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  A central layer of security that protects the server.
  
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  Directing incoming traffic based on rules that you can set up.
  
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  A new feature to cache has been added.
  
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While central security is a benefit of both forward and reverse proxy solutions, reverse proxies provide this feature only to only the server layer and it is not available to the client layer. Instead of focusing on the maintenance of firewalls at the server level that could contain multiple servers and different configurations, the majority of firewall security could be focused at the reverse proxy layer. In addition, eliminating the burden of interacting with firewalls and responding to requests from clients not connected to web servers allows them to focus on only the requirements of their clients.

In the event of multiple servers hosting through a reverse proxy it also manages the routing of requests to the server that is hosting them. There could be multiple web servers serving the same resource, providing different kinds of resources or a mixture of the two. They may use an HTTP protocol to function as a standard web server, but they may also include applications server protocols like FastCGI. You can set up reverse proxy that routes clients to specific servers based on the request for resource, or to observe specific rules regarding traffic load.

Reverse proxies also can make use of their positioning before web servers, by providing caching capabilities. Large static assets can be managed with caching rules that prevent from reaching web servers with every time you request. There are options that provide the option of serving static content directly without having to interact with the webserver at all. In addition, reverse proxy is able to handle compressing these assets.

The renowned Nginx webserver is known as a very popular reverse proxy choice. Although the Apache web server has a reverse proxy capabilities as an added feature for Apache but Nginx was originally designed to and focuses on reverse proxy functionality.

Differentiating Forward Proxy and Reverse Proxy Use Examples

Since "forward" as well as "reverse" are associated with an impression of directionality and false comparisons with "incoming" as well as "outgoing" traffic. They can confuse because both types of proxies process requests and respond. A better approach to distinguish between reverse and forward proxy servers is to analyze the requirements of the application that you are building.

Reverse proxy is a vital element in the creation of a system to support web applications on the internet. They serve as servers when you interact with the Internet.

Forward proxy can be helpful to display customers' information to your personal use or in a work environment. They represent the client's information when you connect to the internet.

A distinction based on use cases instead of focusing on similar naming conventions will help avoid confusion.

Conclusion

The article clarified meaning of a proxy, with two types of them being the reverse and forward proxy. Practical applications and an exploration of beneficial attributes were used to identify forward proxies and reverse proxy. If you're interested exploring the role of proxy servers, read our guide on how you can configure Nginx as web server as well as reverse proxy on Apache on the Ubuntu 20.04 Server.

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