The word "proxy" is a reference to a proxy as well as a proxy server which is a server application which serves to act as an intermediary for client and server over the internet. Without the use of proxy, a user can send a request straight to servers while the server will then provide the resource directly back to the user. This method is simple to comprehend and utilize, using proxies has benefits such as enhanced performance, privacy, security, and many more. As a further layer of pass-through, the proxy acts as a security layer for the internet between clients and servers.




Generally speaking, the combined system of server hardware with proxy software installed is sometimes referred to as a proxy server. This article will concentrate on proxies typically considered as software, and specifically with regard to servers on the internet. The article will provide details of two types, namely one being a forward proxy and reverse proxy. reverse proxy. Each type has a different use case, often confused due to the similar terms.




This article will provide the understanding of what proxies are and what their subtypes are and the way they work in various configurations. In this guide, you'll be able to recognize the situations where the use of proxies is advantageous, and select the best option between forward and reverse proxy, in any scenario.



Understanding Forward Proxies



A forward proxy, also referred to an open proxy, is a means of intermediary to allow a user to send a request over the internet to connect to a source server. In this situation the entire attempt to send requests made by the user is instead sent through the forward proxy. The forward proxy, acting as a substitute as the customer, is able to examine at the request. In the beginning, it will determine if the client can accept requests through this specific forward proxy. It will then reject requests or redirect them to the original server. The client is not allowed an internet connection directly. It has access to only what forward proxy allows the client to connect.




A common use case of forward proxies is to gain greater privacy or security on the internet. A forward proxy accesses the internet as the client and it may use an alternative IP address to that of the initial IP address of the client.




Based on how it's been configured in accordance with the way it was configured forward proxy may offer a range of features and let you:




Beware of tracking ads.


Circumvent surveillance.


Find restrictions based on your geolocation.




Forward proxies also are used in systems of centralized security and access based on permissions, like at a workplace. When all internet traffic passes through a forward proxy open layer, administrators are able to grant access only to a select group of people to connect on the internet, and this is blocked by a common firewall. Instead of establishing firewalls on the layer of clients that can be used by several computer systems with different configurations and users and environments, a firewall can be installed at the proxy layer.




It is essential to note that forward proxies need to be manually configured for use and reverse proxies could be ignored by the client. Depending on the type of IP address of a client is transmitted to the server where it came from via the forward proxy, anonymity and privacy may be granted or not.




There are several options to think about for forward proxy possibilities:




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


Nginx: Another well-known open source server for web hosting that has forward proxy features.


Squid: An open-source forward proxy that uses the HTTP protocol. It's not the full web server system. It is possible to refer to our step-by-step instructions to install Squid proxy to permit private connections on Ubuntu 20.04.


Dante Forward Proxy which uses the SOCKS protocol instead of HTTP this makes it more appropriate for scenarios such as peer-to-peer traffic. You might also want to learn how to set up the Dante proxy to connect privately in Ubuntu 20.04



Understanding Reverse Proxies



A reverse proxy serves as an intermediary between web servers, which handles the incoming requests of customers on behalf of the server. This server can function as a one server, or as a series of servers. Furthermore, it could be used as an application server, such as Gunicorn. In any case the request will be made through the internet in general. In most cases the request will be sent directly to the server, containing the information that the user is looking for. However, reverse proxy functions as an intermediary, protecting the server from direct communication with the internet's open.




From a user's point of perception, the experience with reverse proxy isn't any different than using the server on its own. It's the same, but the client can't distinguish between the two. Clients can request the resource and receive it, with no further configuration required by the client.




Reverse proxy providers can provide features such as:




Security centralized for web servers.


Incoming traffic is directed based upon rules you set.


The caching feature has been added to the app.




While central security is an advantage of both reverse and forward proxies, reverse proxies provide this service for the Web server layer, but not the client layer. Instead of maintaining firewalls at Web server layers that could contain multiple servers with different configurations, most of the firewall security is focused at reverse proxy layers. In addition, removing the responsibility of working with firewalls and interacting with requests from clients that are not on web servers allows them to focus on delivering the needs of their customers.




If there are several servers working in a reverse proxy, the reverse proxy is responsible for directing the flow of requests to each server. There could be multiple web servers that provide the same service, each offering different types of resource or a mixture of both. These servers can be using the HTTP protocol as a conventional web server. However, they can include other protocols for application servers like FastCGI. You can configure a reverse proxy to direct users to a particular server based on the service requested, or to follow specific rules regarding traffic load.




Reverse proxies also have the ability to benefit from their positioning prior to web servers by providing the ability to cache information. Massive static resources can be configured using caching rules, so that they do not prevent websites from getting hit on every request. Certain software solutions let you provide static files directly without connecting to the web server in any way. Additionally the reverse proxy may be able to handle compression of these files.




The popular Nginx web server also serves as a reliable reverse proxy solution. You can also use Nginx, the Apache web server as reverse proxy capabilities as an alternative option to Apache while Nginx was initially designed and is focused specifically on reverse proxy capabilities.



Distinguishing Between Forward and Reverse Proxy Cases



Since "forward" and "reverse" have connotations of directionality, and false comparisons to "incoming" and "outgoing" traffic, the labels could be confusing as both types of proxies are able to handle requests as well as responses. A different method of distinguishing between reverse and forward proxy is to look at the requirements of the application that you are creating.




A reverse proxy is helpful when creating an application to run websites on the internet. They serve as your web servers for all interactions over the internet.




Forward proxy can be beneficial when it is displayed in front of customers for your personal use or within the corporate setting. It is a way to protect the information of your client when you interact with them on the internet.




Differentiating by case of use instead of focusing on common names can aid you in avoidance of confusion.



Conclusion



The article explained the purpose of a proxy that has two types: the forward proxy and reverse proxy. Practical use cases as well as an examination of the most useful features were used to define the two types of proxies which are reverse and forward. If you're keen to know more about the advantages of proxies then we recommend that you go through our guide on how you can install Nginx to function as an Internet server and reverse proxy on Apache on an Ubuntu 20.04 Server.



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