It is an proxy, also called a proxy server. It's software that acts in the role of a intermediary between a server and a client over the internet. Without a proxy, a client can send requests for or resource to the server directly and the server will serve the resource directly back at the request of the customer. While this is a simple method to comprehend and implement the addition of proxies can offer advantages in terms of improved performance, privacy, security, and many other benefits. As a layer of pass-through, a proxy acts as an extra layer of security on the internet between clients and servers.




There is a general consensus this: the mix of servers hardware and software used to set up proxy installations is often referred too as proxy servers. However, this article will focus on proxy servers that are usually classified as software and also when referring to web servers. There will be a discussion of the two principal kinds of proxy servers, which include a forward proxy and reverse proxy. reverse proxy. Each has its own unique usage scenario that is frequently misunderstood because of the similar terms.




This article will provide you with some knowledge about the types of proxies and the subtypes of them and how they operate in the most common configurations. After having read this article, you'll be able determine the situations in which you can benefit from a proxy and then decide which is the best choice between reverse and forward proxy options for each circumstance.



Understanding Forward Proxies



The forward proxy, also known as the open proxy acts as the representative of a user who would like to send a request via the internet to a source server. In this instance, the whole attempt to send requests by the user will instead be transferred to the forward proxy. This forward proxy, acting in the client's stead, will review the request. The first step is to determine if the client is able to accept requests via this specific forward proxy. Then, it decides to deny a request or forward it to its original server. The client is not allowed directly access to internet. It is only able to access what the forward proxy allows it to connect to.




A popular use for forward proxy servers is to obtain more privacy or protection online. A forward proxy is able to connect to the internet instead of a client and in this manner, it may use an IP address that is different from the initial IP address.




Depending on how it has been configured, the forward proxy will provide various functions based on how it is configured and lets you:




Beware of ads that track you.


Circumvent surveillance.


Find restrictions based on your location.




Forward proxies are also used to secure systems which are centralised and have permission-based access, such as at work. Every internet connection can go by an open forward proxy. an administrator could permit only a few clients connection to internet through a common firewall. Instead of creating firewalls at the layer of clients which may comprise a variety of machines that have different settings and users A firewall can be placed at an forward proxy layer.




It is crucial to keep in mind that forward proxies must be set up manually for use, however reverse proxy servers will remain unnoticed by users. Depending on whether the IP address of the user is transferred to the server that originated it from the forward proxy privacy and anonymity could be granted, or left unnoticed.




There are many possibilities to look into for forward proxy options:




Apache The Apache is a popular open-source web server which provides forward proxy functions.


Nginx is another popular open-source web server that has forward proxy capabilities.


Squid is an open source forward proxy that utilizes an HTTP protocol. It doesn't come with an complete web server application. You can check out our tutorial on installing Squid proxy to connect privately on Ubuntu 20.04.


Dante Forward Proxy that utilizes the SOCKS protocol instead of HTTP which makes it better to handle peer-to-peer connections. It is also possible to examine how you can setup the Dante proxy to connect privately in Ubuntu 20.04



Understanding Reverse Proxies



The reverse proxy acts as the server, which takes care of requests from clients on its behalf. The web server can serve as a single server or a number of servers. In addition, it could function like an app server such as Gunicorn. In any of these scenarios, the request comes from an internet-connected user. The request is typically directly sent to the web server, which is the one that has the resources the user wants. A reverse proxy functions as an intermediary, separating it from any direct interaction with the open internet.




From the point of view of the user, working via reverse proxy isn't different from interacting with your website server direct. It's functionally the same and the user cannot discern the difference. Clients make an request for a resource and then receiving it without any further configuration by the user.




Reverse proxies provide features like:




Security centralized for web servers.


The sending of traffic in accordance with rules you decide to define.


Additional functionality for caching.




While centralized security is an advantage of both forward and reverse proxy servers, reverse proxies offer this benefit only to those who use the server layer but not to the layer that clients use. Instead of having to maintain firewalls at the server level that can include several servers that have different configurations, most of firewall security may be concentrated at the reverse proxy layer. Furthermore eliminating the hassle of dealing with firewalls and communicating with clients who request information from web servers lets them concentrate on serving resources.




If there are multiple servers operating in a reverse proxy, the reverse proxy takes care of how requests are routed which server. There could be multiple web servers providing the exact same service, all offering different types of resources or a combination of the two. They can utilize the HTTP protocol for a traditional web server, however, they might also include protocols for application servers like FastCGI. You can set up a reverse proxy to route users to specific servers based on the resource they request or to follow certain rules regarding traffic load.




Reverse proxies also can profit by their position on top of web servers by offering caching capabilities. Massive static resources can be configured by using caching rules to stop hitting web servers with each request. Certain options allowing users to upload static files without having to connect to the web server even once. In addition, the reverse proxy can manage the compression of these assets.




The well-known Nginx website server also a highly popular reverse proxy solution. While Apache has a reverse proxy option but this Apache web server has a reverse proxy functionality as an added option for Apache and Nginx was originally designed for and focused on reverse proxy functionality.



Differentiating Forward and Reverse Proxy Use. Differentiating Forward and Reverse Proxy Use



Because "forward" along with "reverse" come with connotations of directionality, and false distinctions between "incoming" in addition to "outgoing" traffic, these labels can confuse because both types of proxies handle responses and requests. Better yet, the best method to distinguish between forward and reverse proxy is to analyze the specifications of the application you're creating.




Reverse proxy is an essential aspect when developing a solution to serve web-based applications via the internet. They act as your web server during any interaction via the internet.




A forward proxy is beneficial when used in front of customers for your own use or in a work environment. They act as your client's proxy via any communication with the internet.




Differentiating by use case as opposed to focusing only on standard name conventions can make it easier to avoid confusion.



Conclusion



The article clarified the definition of a proxy with the two main types being the reverse proxy and forward proxy. Practical scenarios for use as well as a discussion of most beneficial features were used to differentiate forward proxies from reverse proxies. If you're keen to learn more about the possibilities of proxies, you can read our tutorial on how to set up Nginx as an internet server and reverse proxy with Apache using the Ubuntu 20.04 Server.



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