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A proxy or proxy server is software which acts acting as an intermediary for client and server on the internet. Without proxy, a user would send a request for an item directly the server, and the server would provide the requested resource directly to the user. While this is a simple method to comprehend and utilize, the addition of proxies can provide advantages, such as more performance, privacy and security, and much more. In addition to moving through, proxies serve as a security layer for the internet between servers and users.




It is generally accepted that the bundled system of server hardware along with the software to install proxy servers is usually called proxy servers. But, this article will focus on proxy servers which are generally described as software as well as those utilized together with web servers. We will give a synopsis of the two main types of proxies, the forward proxy and the reverse proxy. Each has their own use, which can be confusing due to the same terminology.




This article will provide you with an idea of the types of proxies and subtypes they are, and their benefits in a range of configurations. By reading the article you will know what situations where proxies are beneficial, and determine the best choice for forward proxy or reverse proxy depending on the specific situation.



Understanding Forward Proxies



Forward proxy, also referred to as open proxy. An open proxy acts as a representative for a client who attempts to send an online request to an source server. In this case, the whole attempt to send requests from the client will rather be controlled by the forward proxy. The forward proxy, acting in the place of the client, will scrutinize the request. It will first determine whether the client has been granted permission to send requests through this specific forward proxy. It will then reject an demand and then forward the request to an original server. The client has no direct connection for the web. It is able to access only what the forward proxy allows it access to.




One of the most common uses for forward proxies is greater security or privacy on the internet. A forward proxy is connected to internet in place of a client. in this process it utilizes an alternate IP address to the client's original IP address.




Based on how it has been set up according to the way it was configured, a forward proxy could offer a range of features dependent on the way it's set up, allowing users to:




Do not be a victim of ad tracking.


Circumvent surveillance.


Find out the restrictions that apply to your location.




Forward proxies can also be used in systems that rely on central security and permission dependent access, such as, in workplaces. If all internet traffic flows through a common forward proxy layer a administrator can restrict access to a specific group of users to the internet, which is filtered by a common firewall. Instead of having firewalls in place on the client layer, which could comprise a range of devices with different environments and users you can set up a firewall at the forward proxy layer.




It is crucial to keep in mind the fact that forward proxy servers need to be manually configured for be used, while reverse proxies can remain unnoticed by clients. Based on the type of IP address the client is passed on to the server which created it by forward proxy, privacy and security is granted or left hidden.




There are a variety of alternatives to consider for forward proxies:




Apache: A popular open-source web server with forward proxy capability.


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


Squid: An open-source forward proxy that utilizes the HTTP protocol. Squid doesn't come with a complete web server application. We have instructions on how to set up 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 such as peer-to-peer traffic. You can also learn how to setup the Dante proxy to allow private connections on Ubuntu 20.04



Understanding Reverse Proxies



A reverse proxy functions as an agent for web servers that handle any requests made by clients on its behalf. The web server could be a single server or multiple servers. In addition, it could include an application server, such as Gunicorn. In both cases, the request comes from users on the internet generally. Most of the time, your request is sent directly to the server that has all the resources that the user is needs. In contrast, a reverse proxy works as an intermediary that isolates Web server from direct contact with the open internet.




From the consumer's point of perspective, using reverse proxy is not different from interacting with an internet server direct. It's the same thing, and the client cannot discern the distinction. The client asks for it, then it receives it without extra configuration that must be completed by the client.




Reverse proxies can provide features such as:




A central layer of security to guard the server.


Controlling traffic coming inbound according to rules that you create.


A new feature for caching is now available.




While centralized security is an advantage of both forward and reverse proxy servers, reverse proxies offer this to only the server layer and not the client layer. Instead of establishing firewalls on Web server layers, which could contain many servers and different configurations, the majority of security measures for firewalls are targeted towards the reverse proxy layer. Furthermore, taking the burden of communicating with firewalls and interacting with requests from clients outside of web servers permits the firewall to focus on meeting the requirements of their clients.




If there are multiple servers running within a reverse proxy it also determines which requests are sent to which servers. A number of web servers could be running from the same host, providing different types of resources or a combination of the two. These servers utilize the HTTP protocol like a traditional web server. However, they can be equipped with applications server protocols like FastCGI. It is possible to configure a reverse proxy to direct the clients to specific servers based on the type of resource they're looking for, or to adhere to certain rules for traffic load.




Reverse proxies also have the ability to gain advantage from their position prior to web servers, through providing caching functionality. Large static assets are able to be set up with caching rules so that they do not have to contact web servers on every request. Certain software solutions allow you to directly serve static files without touching the web server even once. Additionally reverse proxy is able to manage compression of these files.




The well-known Nginx web server also functions as an effective reverse proxy solution. Although it is real it's true Apache web server is also equipped with a reverse proxy that is a different option to Apache however Nginx was initially designed for and is focused on reverse proxy capabilities.



Differentiating Forward Proxy and reverse Proxy Use Examples



Since "forward" and "reverse" have connotations of directionality and misleading comparisons to "incoming" and "outgoing" traffic. It can be confusing as both types of proxy services process requests and response. A better approach to distinguish between reverse and forward proxy services is to consider the requirements of the app you're creating.




Reverse proxy can be useful when you're designing a system to provide web-based services on the internet. They act as your servers for any interaction with the Internet.




Forward proxy applications can be advantageous when placed in front of the client for your personal usage or in a professional setting. They are your client's representative when you interact with the internet.




The use case-based differentiation instead of focusing solely on standard naming conventions will assist you to avoid confusion.



Conclusion



This article defined what a proxy is along with two types: forward proxy and the reverse proxy. Practical applications as well as an exploration of beneficial features were used to distinguish between reverse and forward proxies. If you're interested in learning more about the implementation of proxies we recommend you learn how to configure Nginx as a reverse proxy with Apache running an Ubuntu 20.04 server.



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