Discover A fast Solution to Proxy Sites

A proxy or proxy server is software that sits in the middle between client and server via the internet. Without a proxy, a client would send a request for resources directly the server, and then the server would provide that resource to its user directly. While this is a simple method to grasp and use but using proxies has advantages in the form of increased performance, privacy and security, among other things. In addition to moving through, proxies serve as a safeguard for the internet, separating servers and users.

The bundled system of server hardware along with the software used to install proxy services is usually referred to as proxy servers. But, this article will concentrate on proxy servers that are usually described as software as well as those utilized to complement web servers. We will give a synopsis of the two primary types of proxies, the forward proxy and the reverse proxy. Each has its own specific usage, which can be confusing because of a similar language.

This article will provide you with an understanding of types of proxies and subtypes they are, and their benefits in a range of configurations. By reading this article, you'll be aware of how to identify the scenarios where proxies are useful, and choose the best choice to use a forward or reverse proxy based on the situation.

Understanding Forward Proxies

Forward proxy also known as open proxy. An open proxy acts as a representative for a client who is trying to connect online to a server. In this case, the whole request sent by the client is instead directed by the forward-proxy. A forward-proxy, acting in the place of the client will examine the request. It will first verify if the client has been granted permission to send requests through this specific forward proxy. It will then reject an application and send it back to its source server. The client has no direct connection for the web. It is able to access only the information that the forward proxy allows it access to.

The most frequent use of forward proxy is increased security or privacy on the internet. Forward proxy connects to internet instead of a client, and as a result it is using an alternative IP address from that of the client's original IP address.

Based on how it is set up in accordance with the method of configuration, forward proxy may provide a variety of functions depending on how it's configured, which allows users to:

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  Do not be a victim of ad tracking.
  
  
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  Circumvent surveillance.
  
  
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  Find out the restrictions that apply to the location you are in.
  
  

Forward proxies also are used in systems that rely on central security and permission based access, for instance at workplaces. If all traffic on the internet flows through a common forward proxy layer a administrator is able to limit access for only a select set of users to the internet filtered by a common firewall. Instead of putting firewalls in place for the client layer that may comprise several machines that have diverse environments and users, you can install an firewall that is located in the layer that forwards proxy traffic.

It is important to remember that forward proxy servers need to be set up manually for use, whereas reverse proxies are often not noticed by clients. Depending on the type of IP address the client, it will be passed to the server that originated it via forward proxy's privacy and security is granted or left secret.

There are many alternatives to consider for forward proxies:

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  Apache is a well-known open-source web server offering forward proxy capability.
  
  
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  Nginx is another well-known open-source web server, which has forward proxy capabilities.
  
  
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  Squid: A free forward proxy which uses the HTTP protocol. It doesn't provide a complete website server software. We have instructions on how to set-up Squid proxy to permit private connections with Ubuntu 20.04.
  
  
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  Dante Forward Proxy that utilizes the SOCKS protocol rather than HTTP and is better for use in situations such as peer-to -peer traffic. It is also possible to learn how to setup an Dante proxy to allow private connections on Ubuntu 20.04
  
  

Understanding Reverse Proxies

A reverse proxy acts as an agent for a web server, which handles the incoming requests of clients on behalf of. The web server may be a single server or several servers. Additionally, it could be an application server, such as Gunicorn. In both cases, the request will come from a user on the internet generally. In the majority of cases your request is sent directly to the web server, which is equipped with all the resources the client requires. In contrast reverse proxy acts as an intermediary, and separates Web servers and their direct contact with the open internet.

From the consumer's point of view, interacting with reverse proxy is not different from interacting with an internet server direct. It's pretty much the same however the user cannot be able to discern the difference. The client asks for the resource, and receives it without extra configuration that must be done by the customer.

Reverse proxies offer features like:

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  A central layer of security to guard the server.
  
  
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  Controlling traffic coming inbound according to rules that you set up.
  
  
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  A new feature for caching has been added.
  
  

While central security is a benefit of both forward and reverse proxy, reverse proxies do this feature only to the server layer and not to the client layer. Instead of establishing firewalls on Web server layers which can include multiple servers and various configurations, the bulk of security measures for firewalls are targeted towards the reverse proxy layer. Furthermore, taking the burden of communicating with firewalls and communicating 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 event of multiple servers running within a reverse proxy it also determines which requests are sent to which servers. A number of web servers could be working within the exact same system, providing different types of resources or a combination of both. These servers utilize the HTTP protocol, which is similar to a traditional web server. However, they could also be equipped with application server protocols like FastCGI. You can set up reverse proxy servers to guide the clients to specific servers depending on the kind of resource they're looking for, or to follow certain rules regarding traffic load.

Reverse proxies are also able to gain advantages from their positioning ahead of web servers by providing caching functions. Large static assets are able to be set up with caching rules so that they do not have to contact web servers every time you request. Certain solutions offer the option to serve static assets directly without having to contact the server once. Furthermore reverse proxy solutions can manage compression of these assets.

The well-known Nginx web server also functions as a reliable reverse proxy solution. While it is true that the Apache website server equipped with a reverse proxy, it is a different option to Apache but Nginx was initially designed for and focuses on the reverse proxy feature.

Differentiating Forward Proxy and reverse Proxy Examples

Because "forward" and "reverse" are associated with the notion of directionality as well as inaccurate comparisons with "incoming" as well as "outgoing" traffic and can be confusing since both types of proxies handle requests and respond. The best way to differentiate between reverse and forward proxy is to consider the requirements of the application you're creating.

A reverse proxy is useful when you are designing a system to provide web-based services via the internet. They serve as your servers in any interactions through the Internet.

Forward proxy applications are useful when they are presented to the client for personal use and in the professional context. They represent your customers when you connect to the internet.

Utilizing case-based differentiation instead of focusing on commonly used naming conventions can help you to avoid confusion.

Conclusion

This article explains what a proxy is with two kinds: forward proxy and the reverse proxy. Practical applications and an examination of useful features were utilized to distinguish between reverse and forward proxies. If you're interested in exploring the use of proxy servers we recommend you read our tutorial on how to configure Nginx as a web server and reverse proxy on Apache on one Ubuntu 20.04 server.

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