It is a proxy frequently known as proxy server. It is a software that sits as a middleman between the user and server on the web. Without the use of a proxy, a user could send a request for a resource directly to a server, and it would then serve the requested resource directly to the user. This is not difficult to understand and implement the proxy feature can provide advantages such as improved performance and privacy, security and more. As an additional layer of pass-through, they serve as a security barrier on the internet between servers and clients.




The general collection of server hardware as well as the software for proxy installation is usually referred to in the context of proxy servers. This article will concentrate on proxies traditionally understood as software, and in connection with web server. The article will offer a description of the two major types of proxies that comprise a forward proxy and reverse proxy. reverse proxy. Each has its own usage scenario, which is often misunderstood due to the overlapping name convention.




This article will provide you with an idea of the types of proxies, their subtypes, and how they function in common configurations. In this guide, you'll be able to understand how to recognize the situations that using proxy servers is advantageous, and choose the right option, based on reverse and forward proxy, depending on the situation.



Understanding Forward Proxies



In the same way a forward proxy, also called an open proxy is a representative of a customer who wants to send requests via on the web to an original server. In this case any requests sent by the client are instead transferred to the forward proxy. In this situation the forward proxy that is in the place of the client will review the request. First, it must determine if the client is authorised to receive requests from this particular forward proxy. It can then decide whether to deny an request and forward it to its original server. The client does not have direct access to the internet but it is able to connect to the internet that forward proxy allows it to connect to.




The primary reason for people for using forward proxies is to gain greater privacy or security on the internet. A forward proxy utilizes the internet instead of a client and in that process it can use an alternate IP address to the initial IP address of the client.




Depending on how it's configured, and based on the way it's configured forward proxy could provide a range of features as well as the ability to:




Do not be a victim of ad tracking.


Circumvent surveillance.


Find limitations based on the geographic area.




Forward proxies are also employed in systems that provide centralized security and access based on user permissions like in a workplace. If all internet traffic is routed via an open forward proxy an administrator could grant access only to specific users to the internet through a common firewall. Instead of having firewalls in place for the client layer which may contain various devices with various settings, users and environments A firewall could be set up at the forward proxy layer.




Be aware that forward proxy servers have to be manually set up for use in order to be used, while reverse proxies are able to be disregarded by clients. Depending on whether the IP address of the client has been transferred to the server that originated it through the forward proxy privacy and anonymity can be provided or rendered clear.




There are a myriad of options to look into to find forward proxy options




Apache: A popular open-source web server, which offers forward proxy functionality.


Nginx: Another well-known open source webserver with forward proxy functionality.


Squid: A free forward proxy that uses the HTTP protocol. It doesn't provide the complete web server. Check out our article on the best method of creating Squid proxy to allow private connections on Ubuntu 20.04.


Dante Forward proxy that makes use of the SOCKS protocol instead of HTTP, which makes it better suitable for situations such as peer-to-peer traffic. You might also want to know how to set up the Dante proxy for private connections on Ubuntu 20.04



Understanding Reverse Proxies



A reverse proxy functions as an agent for web servers, which handles incoming requests from customers on behalf. The web server may comprise a single server, or even multiple servers. In addition, it could serve as an application server, like Gunicorn. In both cases, a request could originate from a user on the internet at large. The majority of the time, this request is sent directly to the server that has the resources the client requires. Instead, a reverse proxy works as an intermediary in order to protect your server from interaction with the internet's open.




From a client's perspective the experience of using reverse proxy is the same as connecting directly to your webserver. It is functionally identical, and the user is unable to discern the difference. Client requests resources and then receives it, with no additional configuration needed or input from the end user.




Reverse proxy services offer functions like:




Centralized security for web servers.


Directing traffic in accordance with rules you create.


New feature added to caching.




While central security is a benefit for both reverse and forward proxy platforms, reverse proxy provides this service only to the server layer, and not to the layer that clients use. In lieu of the maintenance of firewalls on servers on the internet, that could include multiple servers with various configurations, the majority of firewall security could be focused in the reverse proxy layer. Furthermore eliminating the burden of interfacing with firewalls and dealing with requests from clients far from web servers allows them to concentrate on meeting the requirements of their customers.




In the event of multiple servers that are behind a reverse proxy the reverse proxy also is responsible to control which requests are placed on which server. There could be multiple web servers offering the same service, but serving different types of resources or a mix of both. They can utilize the HTTP protocol as a conventional web server, but can also be equipped with protocols for application servers such as FastCGI. A reverse proxy can be used to direct clients to specific servers depending on the kind of resource they're looking for, or to follow specific rules regarding traffic volume.




Reverse proxies also take advantage of their location in front of web servers by offering the capability to store data. The large static file can also be set up with caching policies to avoid hitting web servers with each request. Some applications allow users to deliver static content directly without touching the web server at all. Additionally, reverse proxy can manage compressing these assets.




The well-known Nginx webserver is a powerful reverse proxy service. It is real that Apache web server is also equipped with reverse-proxy capabilities feature, however it's a distinct function of Apache however Nginx was initially designed to and is focused on reverse proxy functions.



Differentiating Forward Proxy from Reverse Proxy Use Differentiating Forward Proxy and Reverse Proxy Utilization



Since "forward" along with "reverse" have connotations of directionality, they can be misleading when comparing "incoming" or "outgoing" traffic. The labels can be confusing because both kinds of proxies are capable of handling both requests and responses. A better approach to distinguish between reverse proxy and forward proxy is to study the requirements of the app that you are developing.




Reverse proxy is an essential feature when designing a solution that can provide web-based applications over the internet. They serve as your servers when you are connected to the internet.




A forward proxy is useful when presented to people for personal use, or even in a business setting. They are your customers when you interact with the internet.




Utilizing case-based differentiation instead of focusing solely on similar names will help you avoid confusion.



Conclusion



The article explained what a proxy is and the two kinds of them being the both reverse and forward proxy. Application scenarios that can be used in practical situations and a review of the most useful features were used to distinguish between reverse and forward proxies. If you're looking to know more about the possibilities of proxies then you can check out our guide on how to configure Nginx as an reverse proxy and internet server to Apache on Ubuntu 20.04. Ubuntu 20.04 server.



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