If You don't (Do)Proxy Sites Now, You'll Hate Your self Later

A proxy or proxy server, is a piece of software acting as an intermediary a client and server on the internet. Without a proxy, a client would send a request for resources directly to the server and it would deliver the resource directly back for the client. This method is simple to grasp and implement however, the addition of proxy servers could bring benefits such as increased efficiency as well as privacy, security and a host of other benefits. In addition to providing pass-through the proxy functions as a guardian for the internet between servers and clients.

In general, the combined system of server hardware that is paired with installed proxy software is also often called a proxy server. This article will concentrate on proxy servers that are typically considered to be software, as well as in relation to web servers. We will discuss of the two main kinds of proxies. One being a forward proxy and the other a reverse proxy. reverse proxy. Each type has its own application and can be confusing due to the similar namesake convention.

This article will give you an understanding of types of proxies and subtypes, as well as their value for common setups. If you've read the article carefully, you'll understand the situations when using proxies can be beneficial, and you can then select the best option between forward proxy and reverse proxy depending on the circumstance.

Understanding Forward Proxies

Forward proxy, also referred to by the name of an open proxy serves as the representative of a user who would like to make an internet-based request to the server which originated it. In this case any attempts to make requests through the client's end will instead be sent directly to forward proxy. The forward proxy, instead of the client will review the request. It will first find out if the client is allowed to receive requests from this specific forward proxy. Then, it will deny any request, or send it to the server that originated it. The client doesn't have a direct connection to the internet It can only access what forward proxy permits it to access.

The most popular reason to utilize forward proxies is the increased privacy or anonymity when surfing the web. A forward proxy accesses the internet as clients, and, in this manner it may use an IP address different from the IP address of the user.

Depending on how it's been configured the forward proxy will provide a variety of functions and the capability to:

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  Beware of ads-trackers.
  
  
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  Circumvent surveillance.
  
  
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  Find restrictions that are based on the location you are in.
  
  

Forward proxies can also be utilized in systems that provide centralized security as well as access based on permissions, such as in workplaces. When all internet traffic flows through a forward proxy, an administrator is capable of allowing only certain clients to access the internet through a single firewall. Instead of putting firewalls installed for the client layer that can involve many machines with different settings, environment, a firewall can be installed in an forward proxy layer.

It is essential to note that forward proxy settings have to be manually set up to permit the use of these proxy servers in order to use them and reverse proxy settings are not able to be detected by users. Based on whether or not an IP address belonging to a user is passed on to the server from which it originated through the forward proxy, privacy and security may be granted or kept in the dark.

There are many options to think about when it comes to forward proxy options:

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  Apache A well-known open source web server that has forward proxy functions.
  
  
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  Nginx: Another renowned open-source server used for web hosting with forward proxy functions.
  
  
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  Squid is a free forward proxy that utilizes an HTTP protocol. It's not the complete Web Server System. You can refer to our article on the best way to configure Squid proxy to allow private connections in Ubuntu 20.04.
  
  
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  Dante Forward proxy that makes use of the SOCKS protocol instead of HTTP and HTTP, which makes it better suited to scenarios like peer-to -peer traffic. It is also possible to learn how to configure Dante proxy for secure connections within Ubuntu 20.04
  
  

Understanding Reverse Proxies

Reverse proxy functions as an intermediary between web servers, and takes care of requests from clients on behalf of. The web server may serve as a single server, or a number of servers. Additionally, it can function as an app server such as Gunicorn. In any case the request for an application comes from a user via the internet in general. The request will typically be sent directly to the web server which hosts what the client is trying to find. Reverse proxy, however, serves as an intermediary in order to block your server from interaction with the internet's open.

From a consumer's point view, interacting with reverse proxy doesn't differ from interacting with Web server in direct contact. It is functionally similar, however the client cannot tell the difference. The client requests an item and gets it without requiring any additional configuration by the client.

Reverse proxy providers provide features like:

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  The server for the web is secure centrally.
  
  
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  Directing traffic according to rules you set.
  
  
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  The caching functionality was added to the application.
  
  

While central security can be a benefit of both reverse and forward proxy, reverse proxies do this function only for just the Web server layer and not to the client layer. instead of the maintenance of firewalls on Web server layers which may include multiple servers with different configurations, the bulk of firewall security is aimed to the reverse proxy layer. In addition, taking the burden of interfacing with a firewall and interacting with requests from clients off of web servers allows them to focus on serving resources.

In the case of multiple servers that have a reverse proxy, the reverse proxy is also responsible for controlling which requests go at which server. There may be several web servers running on the same server, each serving different kinds of resources or a combination of the two. These servers may use the HTTP protocol similar to a conventional web server. They can also include protocols for application servers like FastCGI. It is also possible to configure a reverse proxy to route clients to specific servers depending on the service being requested or to adhere to certain rules regarding traffic load.

Reverse proxies can also take advantage of their placement over web servers through the capability of caching. Large static assets can be set up with caching rules in order to avoid hitting web servers with every request, with some options even allowing the provision of static files directly without connecting directly to the website server. Additionally, reverse proxy can manage compression of these assets.

The popular Nginx webserver is a well-known reverse proxy option. While it is a reverse proxy solution, the Apache web server also comes with a reverse proxy option as an additional function that is available to Apache whereas Nginx was originally designed to and specifically focused on the reverse proxy feature.

Differentiating Forward Proxy from reverse Proxy Use Situations

Because "forward" along with "reverse" are both associated with a sense of directionality and also false comparisons with "incoming" in addition to "outgoing" traffic These labels can be confusing because both types of proxies can respond to requests and responses. A different method of distinguishing between forward and reverse proxy servers is to analyze the requirements of the application that you're developing.

Reverse proxy is an effective tool to use when developing a solution to serve applications that are on the web. They act as your servers when you interact with the Internet.

A forward proxy is useful to use when you are working with clients in front to use for personal purposes or even in a professional setting. They can be used to represent the traffic of your clients when you are on the internet.

A distinction based on usage case instead of focusing on the common naming conventions can assist you in avoiding confusion.

Conclusion

The article explained what a proxy is as well as two types of them: the forward proxy and reverse proxy. Practical examples of its use and a discussion of most beneficial features was used to distinguish forward proxies from reverse. If you'd like to explore how to implement proxies we recommend you read our guide on how to configure Nginx as an reverse proxy and internet server on Apache running an Ubuntu 20.04 server.

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