It is a proxy or proxy server, is a software program for servers which serves as an intermediary between a the server and the client on the internet. With no intermediaries, a user would be able to make a request for or resource to the server directly, and the server would then serve any requested resources directly to customer. While this procedure is easy to understand and apply using proxy servers, it does offer advantages in the form of more performance and privacy, security and many more. As a pass-through layer, the proxy functions as a security guardian of the internet between the servers and clients.




In general, the mix of the server hardware and the software for proxy installation is often referred as proxy servers. In this article, we'll concentrate on proxies that are typically thought of as software, and those that are used to complement web servers. We will provide a description of two types of proxies, a forward proxy and a reverse proxy. reverse proxy. Each kind has its own unique use case, and is often misunderstood due to the similar naming convention.




This article will provide you with some understanding about what proxies and their subtypes are, and how they can be used in typical configurations. Through this article, you can identify the scenarios where an effective proxy can be useful, and select the best option between forward and reverse proxy to suit your needs in any given scenario.



Understanding Forward Proxies



Also a forward proxy also known as open proxy open proxy is the representative of a client who is trying to transmit an internet request to an origin server. In this case, the entire attempt to send requests from the client will instead be made by the forward-proxy. In this case an agent acting on behalf of the forward proxy in the instead of the user will look over the request. The first step is to establish whether the client is authorized to send requests through this specific forward proxy. The forward proxy will then deny this request and forward it to the original server. The client isn't able to have direct connection to the internet. It can only reach what the forward proxy gives its access.




One of the most popular uses for forward proxies is greater privacy or anonymity on the internet. A forward proxy can be utilized to connect to the internet lieu of a client, and could use an alternate IP address in place of the original IP address of the client.




Depending on how they were set up in the past, forward proxy servers can offer a range of services and let you:




Beware of ad-tracker.


Circumvent surveillance.


You can determine limitations based on your location.




Forward proxies can also be used to secure systems that are centralized and have permission-based access like in a workplace. When all internet traffic passes through a common forward proxy layer, an administrator can restrict access to certain people to connect on the internet, which is then filtered by a common firewall. Instead of having firewalls installed for the client layer which may comprise a variety of devices that are different in environments and users and environment, a firewall may be placed at an forward proxy layer.




Take note of the fact that forward proxies have to be manually configured for use, but reverse proxies are ignored to the user. Based on whether the IP address of the customer is sent to the source server via the forward proxy, privacy and anonymity could be granted or not noticed.




There are a variety of options to consider to find forward-looking proxy services:




Apache is an well-known open-source web server, that offers forward-looking proxy features.


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


Squid is an open-source forward proxy that makes use of the HTTP protocol. This option doesn't include the entire web server. We have a tutorial on how you can configure Squid proxy so that it allows private connections to Ubuntu 20.04.


Dante Forward Proxy that utilizes the SOCKS protocol instead of HTTP which makes it better suitable for situations such as with peer-to-peer traffic. It is also possible to look at how to set up Dante proxy to connect privately using Ubuntu 20.04



Understanding Reverse Proxies



Reverse proxy functions as an agent on behalf of web servers, which handles any requests that are received by clients on behalf of. This server can comprise one server or even multiple servers. It can also function in the role of an application server, such as Gunicorn. In any of these situations, it is possible to get a request from a user through the internet in general. Most of the time it will be routed straight to the web server hosting the information the user needs. Reverse proxy is an intermediary, separating Web server from direct communication with the internet.




From a user's perspective, which is the user's perspective connecting to reverse proxy isn't that different from connecting directly to your webserver. It's the same thing, however the client can't tell the distinction. The client requests an item and receives it without any additional configuration that needs to be done by the customer.




Reverse proxy proxy servers can offer some features, including:




A centralized layer of security that protects the server.


Controlling traffic inbound based on rules you can set up.


A new feature for caching is now available.




Central security is an advantage of both forward and reverse proxy service, reverse proxies give this feature to the level of an internet server not clients. Instead of focusing on the maintenance of firewalls in the layer of web servers that may contain multiple servers with various configurations, the majority of firewall security could be targeted at the reverse proxy layer. Additionally, getting rid of the necessity to interface with firewalls and also interacting with the requests of clients from web servers enables them to concentrate on the needs of their customers.




If there are several servers that are running a reverse proxy the reverse proxy determines the method of routing requests to which server. A number of web servers could be providing the same content however, they each serve different kinds of content, or a mixture of the two. These servers may use the HTTP protocol similar to a traditional web server, however, they may include applications server protocols like FastCGI. You may also set up a reverse proxy to redirect clients to specific servers based on the service requested, or to observe certain rules for traffic load.




Reverse proxies also can make use of their position in front of web servers, by offering the ability to cache data. Large static files can be set with caching rules to stop the web server from being hit with every request, with certain solutions providing the option to provide static files directly without touching the web servers in any manner. Additionally reverse proxy may handle the compressing these assets.




The well-known Nginx web server is an extremely popular reverse proxy option. Although it is true that the Apache webserver is also equipped with reverse proxy function as an added option. Apache in contrast to Nginx was designed initially for and focused on reverse proxy functionality.



Differentiating Forward Proxy and Reverse Proxy Use Examples



Because "forward" in addition to "reverse" are associated with the notion of directionality and a false comparison to "incoming" or "outgoing" traffic. These labels are confusing because each type of proxy handles both responses and requests. Instead, a better way to differentiate between reverse and forward proxy services is to consider the requirements of the application that you are developing.




A reverse proxy can be helpful in designing a solution that can provide web-based applications on the internet. They are your web servers in all interactions with the web.




A forward proxy can be helpful when it is placed on the internet in front of traffic from clients to your personal use, or in a work environment. They represent the traffic of your clients every time you connect to the internet.




Differentiating by case of use as opposed to focusing only on the common naming conventions will help in avoidance of confusion.



Conclusion



This article describes what a proxy is, with the two primary kinds being forward proxy and reverse proxy. Practical application scenarios as well as an examination of important characteristics were used to define forward proxies as well as reverse proxies. If you're interested in knowing more about the process of implementing proxies you can check out our tutorial on how you can set up Nginx as a web server and reverse proxy on Apache running on one Ubuntu 20.04 server.



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