The term "proxy" refers to a proxy, also called the software for proxy servers that serves in the role of an intermediary server and client over the internet. With no proxy in place, a client could send a request to a resource directly to a server, and the server could serve the requested resource directly back at the requester's. This is a simple method to grasp and implement, using proxies provides benefits such as improved performance and security, privacy, and much more. As an additional layer of pass-through, the proxy acts as a guardian for the internet between servers and clients.

Generally speaking, the combined combination of server hardware and installed proxy software is usually called proxy servers. This article will focus on proxies which are generally classified as software in the context of web servers. This article will provide the full description of two types: forward proxy and reverse proxy. reverse proxy. Each type of proxy has its own situation, and it is frequently not understood due to the similar terms.

This article will provide details on what proxy services and subtypes are, and how they work with a range of configurations. Through this article, you'll be able to recognize the circumstances in which using proxies can be beneficial, and choose the best option between forward and reverse proxy for any particular scenario.

Understanding Forward Proxies

The forward proxy, sometimes referred to as an open proxy acts as a representative for a user who wishes to send an internet request to the server that originated it. In this scenario the entire attempt to send requests from the user will instead be made through the forward proxy. A forward proxy acting as a substitute for the client will take a look into the request. Then, it determines whether the client has the right to send requests via this particular forward proxy. It will then decide whether to refuse any request or to forward it to the server that originated it. The client is not able to have direct access to the internet. It can access only the content that the forward proxy allows it to access.

A popular use for forward proxies is greater privacy or security while using the internet. Forward proxy can access the internet in place of a client and by doing this, it could utilize a different IP address than the IP address used by the client.

Depending on how it has been configured and how it's set up forward proxy can grant you various features depending on the configuration and enables you to:

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  Don't fall victim of ad tracking.
  
  
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  Circumvent surveillance.
  
  
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  Recognize the restrictions based on your geographical location.
  
  

Forward proxies can also be used to secure systems which are centralized as well as permission-based access, like at a workplace. When all internet traffic passes via an open forward proxy the administrator is able to permit only a few clients online access filtered through the firewall. Instead of setting up firewalls for the client layer that could include a variety of machines that have various environments and users A firewall can be installed at the forward proxy layer.

It is essential to note that forward proxies need to be manually setup to use and reverse proxies may be hidden from the user. Depending on the type of IP address of the user, they are transferred to the origin server through the forward proxy, privacy and anonymity can be granted or denied.

There are numerous alternatives to look into for forward proxies.

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  Apache A well-known open source web server that offers forward proxy functions.
  
  
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  Nginx: Another popular open-source webserver that comes with capability to use forward proxy.
  
  
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  Squid: A free forward proxy using an HTTP protocol. This doesn't offer the entire web server. Read our article on how to set up Squid proxy to connect privately on Ubuntu 20.04.
  
  
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  Dante is an forward proxy that uses the SOCKS protocol instead of HTTP and HTTP which makes it better for applications such as peer-to-peer traffic. You can also check out how to configure Dante proxy to allow private connections on Ubuntu 20.04
  
  

Understanding Reverse Proxies

A reverse proxy is an agent for a web server that handles the incoming requests of clients on its behalf. The web server could comprise one or more servers. Also, it could become an application-server like Gunicorn. In any of these scenarios the request will be made via the web at large. In the majority of cases your request is made directly to a web server with the resources that the user is looking for. A reverse proxy serves as an intermediary, separating the webserver from direct communications via the open internet.

From the perspective of a user the experience of using reverse proxy is not different than communicating with an internet server direct. It's functionally the same however the user is unable to discern the difference. The client requests the resource, and is then provided with it, without any further configuration needed on the part of the client.

Reverse proxies provide features like:

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  Centralized security on webservers.
  
  
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  Directing incoming traffic by implementing rules that you establish.
  
  
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  New functionality added for caching.
  
  

While central security is a benefit of both forward and reverse proxy servers. Reverse proxy servers offer this feature only to the layer that is the webserver and not those who are on the client side. instead of the maintenance of firewalls in webserver level, that could include multiple servers and various configurations, the bulk of firewall security is targeted to the reverse proxy layer. Furthermore, the removal of the burden of interfacing with firewalls and communicating with requests from clients off of web servers enables them to concentrate on the requirements of their clients.

In the event of multiple servers using a reverse-proxy the reverse proxy can also handle the direction in which requests are directed towards which servers. Multiple web servers could be operating from the same host, providing different types of resources or a mix of the two. They may use the HTTP protocol as a traditional web server, however they can also be equipped with protocols for application servers like FastCGI. You can create reverse proxy servers that redirect users to a particular server according to the service requested, or to adhere to a set of rules for the amount of traffic.

Reverse proxies can also benefit by their position over web servers as they offer the ability to cache. Massive static files can be configured using caching rules to prevent the need to call web servers for each request. Certain solutions allow you to directly serve static files without having to interact with the webserver for even one time. Furthermore reverse proxy solutions are able to handle the compression of these assets.

The popular Nginx web server is also used as a highly regarded reverse proxy service. Although Apache is also a reverse proxy service however, the Apache web server also has reverse proxy features however, it's a separate feature available to Apache in contrast to Nginx was originally designed to and is focused upon the feature of reverse proxy.

Differentiating Forward Proxy and reverse Proxy Use The Case

Because "forward" or "reverse" are both associated with an impression of directionality and misleading comparisons with "incoming" and "outgoing" traffic the labels can be confusing since both types of proxy services handle requests and responses. The best method to distinguish between forward and reverse proxy providers is to consider the requirements of the application you're creating.

Reverse proxy can be useful when building a solution to deliver web-based apps over the internet. They serve as your web servers during any interaction on the web.

Forward proxy is beneficial when they are placed in front of users for personal use or in the workplace. They are a representation of your client's traffic every time you connect to the internet.

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

Conclusion

This article explains the meaning of a proxy, focusing on the two primary kinds, namely forward proxy and reverse proxy. Practical examples of how to use them and an overview of useful features were used to differentiate forward proxies and reverse proxy. If you're keen to learn more about the advantages of proxies, then you should read our tutorial on how to configure Nginx as a web server and reverse proxy in Apache on an Ubuntu 20.04 Server.

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