If Proxy Sites Is So Bad, Why Don't Statistics Show It?

An proxy or proxy server is a software which acts in the middle between client and server via the internet. Without a proxy, a client would send a request for the resource directly to the server, and then the server would serve the requested resource directly to the user. This method is simple to grasp and use but using proxies has advantages in the form of greater performance, privacy, security, among other things. As an additional layer of being able to pass through, proxies function as a safeguard to the internet between servers and users.




The combination of server hardware and the software used to install proxy services is often referred to as proxy servers. This article will concentrate on proxy servers that are usually described in terms of software as and those used to complement web servers. We will give a synopsis of the two primary types of proxies: the one that is forward and the reverse proxy. Each has its own specific usage that can cause confusion because of a similar language.




This article will give you an understanding of types of proxies and subtypes they are, and their utility in a variety of configurations. By reading this article, you'll be aware of how to identify the scenarios that a proxy can be beneficial, and determine the best choice to use a forward or reverse proxy, based on the circumstance.



Understanding Forward Proxies



Forward proxy, also referred to as open proxy. An open proxy is a proxy for a client that is trying to connect online to a server. In this case, the whole request sent by the client will rather be directed by the forward-proxy. The forward proxy, in lieu of the user, will review the request. The first step is to verify if the client has been granted permission to send requests through this specific forward proxy. It then will reject a request and forward it to the source server. The client is not able to have direct connection for the web. It is able to access only what the forward proxy permits it to access.




One of the most common uses for forward proxies is greater privacy or security on the internet. The forward proxy can connect to the internet instead of a client and in this process it is using an alternative IP address that is different from the client's original IP address.




Based on how it was configured according to the way it was configured, a forward proxy could provide a variety of functions depending on how it is set up, allowing users to:




Avoid ad tracking.


Circumvent surveillance.


Identify restrictions based on your area.




Forward proxies also are used in systems that use centralized security and -based access, like at workplaces. When all internet traffic is routed through an open forward proxy, a administrator can restrict access to only a small user group to the internet filtered by a common firewall. Instead of having firewalls in place on the client layer, which can comprise a variety of computers with diverse environments and users, it is possible to set up an firewall that is located in the layer that forwards proxy traffic.




It is crucial to keep in mind the fact that forward proxy servers have to be set up manually for use, whereas reverse proxies are often not noticed by clients. Depending on the kind of IP address the client, it will be passed to the server that created it via forward proxy, privacy and security may be granted or kept in the dark.




There are a myriad of choices to think about when it comes to forward proxy options:




Apache The most well-known open source web server with forward proxy capabilities.


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


Squid: A free forward proxy which uses the HTTP protocol. It doesn't provide a complete website server software. It is possible to read our guide on how to configure Squid proxy to allow private connections on Ubuntu 20.04.


Dante Forward Proxy that utilizes the SOCKS protocol instead HTTP which makes it more for use in situations like peer-to-peer communication. You can also learn how to setup the Dante proxy for private connections in Ubuntu 20.04



Understanding Reverse Proxies



A reverse proxy acts as a representative of a web server that handles incoming requests by clients on its behalf. The web server may be a single server or several servers. Additionally, it could be an application server, such as Gunicorn. In either scenario the request is made by an internet user in general. The majority of the time requests will get transmitted directly to the server, which is equipped with all the resources the client is in need of. Contrarily reverse proxy acts as an intermediary that isolates Web servers from direct interaction with the internet.




From the consumer's point of view, interacting with reverse proxy is not different from using an internet server direct. It's basically the same but the user is unable to see the difference. The client asks for this resource and then gets it without any additional configuration needed to be performed by the customer.




Reverse proxies can provide features such as:




A centralized layer of security to guard the server.


Controlling traffic inbound based on rules that you establish.


A new feature to cache is now available.




While centralized security is a benefit of both reverse and forward proxy, reverse proxies do this only to the server layer and not to the layer that clients use. instead of maintaining firewalls at Web server layers, which could include multiple servers and various configurations, most firewall security is targeted at the reverse proxy layer. Furthermore, taking the burden of interacting with a firewall and interacting with requests from customers who aren't connected to web servers enables the firewall to focus on addressing the needs of their clients.




In the case of multiple servers operating within reverse proxy, it determines which requests are sent towards which servers. There are many web servers operating within the exact same system and serving different kinds of resources or a combination of the two. These servers utilize the HTTP protocol, which is similar to a traditional web server. However, they can be equipped with applications server protocols such as FastCGI. You can configure reverse proxy settings to direct the clients towards specific servers according to the kind of resource they're searching for, or adhere to certain rules for traffic load.




Reverse proxies are also able to gain advantage from their position prior to web servers, through offering caching capabilities. Large static assets are able to be set up with caching rules, so that you do not need to connect with web servers for every request. Some solutions offering an option to serve static assets directly without touching the web server for even one time. Additionally, the reverse proxy can handle compression of these assets.




The renowned Nginx web server can also function as an effective reverse proxy service. Although it is real that the Apache web server is fitted with an reverse proxy, it is an additional option for Apache but Nginx was designed originally for and is focused on reverse proxy functionality.



Differentiating Forward Proxy and Reverse Proxy Examples



Since "forward" and "reverse" have connotations of directionality as well as false comparisons to "incoming" as well as "outgoing" traffic. They can be confusing as both types of proxy services process requests and response. An alternative approach to distinguish between forward and reverse proxy is to take into account the needs of the application that you're working on.




A reverse proxy is useful in the case of designing a system to provide web-based solutions on the internet. They act as your servers when you interact with the Internet.




Forward proxy software is beneficial when it is presented to the client for your personal usage or in a professional setting. They represent your clients when you interact with the internet.




Utilizing case-based differentiation instead of focusing on the standard naming conventions will assist you to avoid confusion.



Conclusion



This article explains what a proxy is along with two kinds: forward proxy and the reverse proxy. Practical applications and an exploration of the benefits were used to differentiate between reverse and forward proxies. If you're interested to learn more about the ways to implement proxies we recommend you read our tutorial on how to configure Nginx as an internet server and reverse proxy on Apache using an Ubuntu 20.04 server.



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