proxy, also known as a proxy is often referred to for its role as a proxy server a software that acts as a mediator between a server and client on the internet. Without a proxy, a user can send a request for a resource directly to the server, and the server would give an item directly for the requester. This method is simple to comprehend and utilize, however, the addition proxy servers may provide benefits in terms of more speed, privacy and security, among other things. In addition to adding a layer of protection, a proxy acts as a gatekeeper to the internet, separating clients and servers.




The combined combination of server hardware and installed proxy software is often referred as proxy servers. This article we will examine proxies commonly categorized as software, and in connection with web server. You will get a breakdown of the two main types of proxies, which are an forward proxy and a reverse proxy. Each one has its own use situation, and is frequently misunderstood due to the overlapping name convention.




This article will provide you with the knowledge of what proxy servers and their subtypes are as well as the ways they are useful in a range of configurations. In this guide, you'll be able to recognize the situations where a proxy is beneficial, and decide on the appropriate alternative between forward and reverse proxy depending on the scenario.



Understanding Forward Proxies



An forward proxy sometimes known as an open proxy is a proxy for a user trying to make a request via the internet to an source server. In this scenario every attempt to send a request by the client will be routed through the forward proxy. This forward proxy acting in place of the client will review the request. It will first determine whether the client is authorized to accept requests from this specific forward proxy. Then, it will either reject requests or redirect them to the server that originated it. It's not able to directly connect with the Internet. It only has access to what the forward proxy permits it to access.




A common use for forward proxy is the requirement for greater privacy or security when surfing the web. A forward proxy can connect to the internet as a client through this process, it uses an alternative IP address in addition to the IP address of your client.




Depending on how it's been configured based on the configuration forward proxy can provide a variety of functions, allowing you to:




Do not click on ads that track you.


Circumvent surveillance.


You can spot limitations based on your geographic location.




Forward proxies are also used in systems to provide central security and access through permissions, like in the workplace. All internet traffic can pass via an open forward proxy. administrators can grant access only to specific individuals to access the web, and this is filtered by the common firewall. Instead of maintaining firewalls on this layer of client, which may be used by several computers that have different environments and types of users. A firewall may be located in this forward proxy layer.




Be aware that forward proxy servers have to be manually setup for their use, however reverse proxies will not be noticed by users. Depending on whether the IP address of a client is transmitted to the source server through the forward proxy, privacy and anonymity may be granted or kept in the dark.




There are a variety of alternatives to think about in the case of forward proxy services.




Apache: A popular open-source web server that offers forward proxy functions.


Nginx: Another well-known open-source web server that comes with forward proxy functions.


Squid: A free and Open Source Forward Proxy which makes use of an HTTP protocol. It isn't part of the entire web server. This is a step-by-step tutorial to set up Squid proxy to allow secure connections on Ubuntu 20.04.


Dante Forward proxy that uses the SOCKS protocol instead HTTP, making it better suited for cases like peer-to-peer communication. You can also look at how you can install a Dante proxy to allow private connections in Ubuntu 20.04



Understanding Reverse Proxies



Reverse proxy is an intermediary between web servers, which handles the incoming requests of clients in its place. The server could function as a single server or multiple servers. Additionally, it can include an application servers, such as Gunicorn. In any event, it's possible to get the request of a customer via the internet in general. In the majority of cases, the request would be made directly to the website server that hosts the information the customer is seeking. A reverse proxy serves as an intermediary to isolate your server from communications with the web's public.




From the point of perspective, which is also from a user's perspective, interacting via reverse proxy isn't any distinct from the interaction with the server by itself. It's functionally identical to the web server, and the client isn't able to tell the difference. The client is able to make a request for the resource and it is then given it, without any additional configuration needed from the user.




Reverse proxies grant features like:




Security centralized on webservers.


The direction of traffic that is incoming based on rules you can create.


Added functionality for caching.




While centralized security is an advantage for both forward and reverse proxy, reverse proxies perform this service to servers on the internet but not the layer of clients. Instead of implementing firewalls at the web servers that may include multiple servers that have different configurations, most of firewall security is located on the layer of reverse proxy. Additionally, getting rid of the necessity of interfacing with firewalls and interacting with requests from clients without web servers lets them concentrate on addressing the needs of their customers.




In the case of multiple servers being hosted through a reverse proxy the reverse proxy determines which requests are routed towards which servers. Multiple web servers could be offering the same service, but each offering different kinds of resources, or perhaps a mix of the two. They may use the HTTP protocol similarly to a traditional web server, but they can also be outfitted with protocols for application servers like FastCGI. You can set up reverse proxy that directs clients to an individual server depending on the resource they are looking for or to follow specific rules regarding traffic load.




Reverse proxy systems can also benefit from their positioning on top of web servers through caching functionality. Large static files can be arranged by caching rules to prevent hitting web servers with every request. Certain solutions allow you to serve static content directly without having to connect to the web server in any way. Additionally, reverse proxy has the ability to compress these assets.




The popular Nginx web server is also used as a popular reverse proxy solution. Although it is true that the Apache web server comes with reverse proxy function, it's a different option. Apache as opposed to Nginx was initially designed focus on the reverse proxy feature.



Differentiating Forward Proxy from Reverse Proxy Use Cases



Since "forward" as well as "reverse" are associated with a sense of directionality and false comparisons to "incoming" or "outgoing" traffic These terms can be confusing since both kinds of proxies handle requests and responses. The best way to differentiate between forward and reverse proxy is to think about the requirements of the application you're creating.




Reverse proxy is an important aspect when developing an infrastructure to connect web-based applications to the internet. They act as your web server during any interaction with the internet.




Forward proxy software is advantageous when displayed in front of clients for personal use or even in a working environment. They represent the client's activity when you interact with the internet.




Utilizing case-based distinction instead of focusing only on the most common names can ensure that you don't become confused.



Conclusion



The article outlined what an "proxy" is and the two main kinds being reverse and forward proxy. Practical applications and a review of beneficial features were used to differentiate forward proxies and reverse proxy. If you're looking for ways to set up proxies, follow our tutorial on how to configure Nginx as a webserver and reverse proxy to Apache on Ubuntu 20.04 server.



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