An proxy or proxy server is a program that acts as an intermediary between a client and server over the internet. Without proxy, a user would send a request for an item directly a server, and the server will serve the requested resource directly to the user. Although this method is easy to comprehend and utilize, the addition of proxies can provide advantages in the form of more performance, privacy and security, among others. As an additional layer moving through, proxies serve as a safeguard to the internet between servers and clients.




In general, the bundled combination of server hardware and the software for proxy installation is commonly referred to as proxy servers. However, this article will concentrate on the proxy servers that are typically described in terms of software as well as those utilized together with web servers. We will give a synopsis of the two primary kinds of proxy servers, namely they are forward proxy and the reverse proxy. Each has its own specific usage that can cause confusion because of a similar language.




This article will provide you with an idea of the types of proxies and subtypes they are, as well as their value in a variety of configurations. Through this article, you'll be aware of how to determine the situations in which a proxy is advantageous, and decide on the best choice for forward or reverse proxy depending on the specific situation.



Understanding Forward Proxies



Forward proxy, also known as open proxy. An open proxy is a proxy for a client who is trying to connect online to a source server. In this situation the entire attempt to send requests from the client will rather be controlled by the forward proxy. A forward-proxy, in lieu of the user, will review the request. The first step is to determine whether the client has been authorized to transmit requests using this particular forward proxy. It will then reject an request and forward it to the original server. The client does not have direct access directly to internet. It is able to access only what the forward proxy allows it access to.




A common use case of forward proxy is increased security or privacy on the internet. A forward proxy is connected to the internet instead of a client and in this process, it uses an alternate IP address to the initial IP address of the client.




Based on how it has been configured according to the method of configuration forward proxy can offer a range of features depending on how it's configured. This allows users to:




Do not be a victim of ad tracking.


Circumvent surveillance.


Identify restrictions based on your area.




Forward proxies also are used in systems that rely on central security and permission dependent access, such as, in workplaces. If all internet traffic flows through an common forward proxy layer, an administrator can limit access for only a select group of users to the internet filtered by a common firewall. Instead of putting firewalls in place for the client layer which could comprise a range of computers with different environments and users you can set up a firewall located at the front proxy layer.




It is crucial to keep in mind the fact that forward proxy servers must be manually configured for use, whereas reverse proxies are often not noticed by clients. Based on the type of IP address of the client, it is sent to the server that created it through forward proxy, privacy and security can be granted or left secret.




There are a variety of choices to think about when it comes to forward proxy options:




Apache: A popular open-source web server with forward proxy capabilities.


Nginx: Another well-known open-source web server that has forward proxy capabilities.


Squid: A free forward proxy that utilizes the HTTP protocol. It doesn't provide a complete website server software. We have instructions on how to configure Squid proxy to permit private connections with Ubuntu 20.04.


Dante Forward Proxy that utilizes the SOCKS protocol instead of HTTP and is better suited to use in instances like peer-to-peer communication. It is also possible to learn how to setup the Dante proxy for private connections in Ubuntu 20.04



Understanding Reverse Proxies



A reverse proxy functions as an agent for a web server that handles incoming requests by clients on behalf of. The web server could comprise a single server or a number of servers. It could also serve as an app server, such as Gunicorn. In either scenario the request is made by an internet user generally. Most of the time, requests will get transmitted directly to the web server, which is equipped with all the resources the client needs. In contrast reverse proxy acts as an intermediary, and separates Web servers from direct communication with the internet.




From a consumer's point view, interacting with reverse proxy is not different from interacting with an internet server direct. It's basically the same, and the client cannot see the difference. The client asks for the resource, and then gets it without any extra configuration that must be performed by the customer.




Reverse proxies provide features such as:




A centralized layer of security that protects the server.


Controlling traffic inbound based on rules that you create.


A new feature for caching is now available.




While central security is a benefit of both forward and reverse proxy, reverse proxies do this feature only to the server layer but not to the layer that clients use. instead of maintaining firewalls at Web server layers that can comprise multiple servers and different configurations, the bulk of security measures for firewalls are targeted towards the reverse proxy layer. Additionally, removing the burden of interacting with a firewall and communicating with customers who aren't connected to web servers permits the firewall to concentrate on delivering the needs of their customers.




If there are several servers running in a reverse proxy it also determines which requests are sent to which servers. A number of web servers could be running from the same host and serving different types of resources or a combination of the two. They use the HTTP protocol just like a conventional web server. However, they could also be equipped with application server protocols like FastCGI. You can configure reverse proxy settings to direct the clients towards specific servers depending on the kind of resource they are seeking, or to adhere to certain rules for traffic load.




Reverse proxies are also able to gain advantage from their position before web servers, by offering caching capabilities. Large static assets can to be configured using caching rules, so that you do not need to connect with web servers for every request. Certain software solutions allow you to serve static assets directly without having to connect to the server once. Additionally reverse proxy is able to manage compression of these assets.




The popular Nginx web server is also used as a powerful reverse proxy service. Although it is true it's true Apache web server is also equipped with a reverse proxy, it is an additional option for Apache but Nginx was designed originally to and is primarily focused on the reverse proxy feature.



Distinguishing Forward Proxy from reverse Proxy Examples



Since "forward" and "reverse" have connotations of directionality and false comparisons to "incoming" and "outgoing" traffic. They can be confusing since both types of proxies handle requests and responses. The best way to differentiate between forward and reverse proxy service is to consider the requirements of the application you're creating.




Reverse proxy can be useful in the case of creating a solution for offering web-based solutions on the internet. They function as servers in any interactions through the Internet.




Forward proxy software is useful when they are put in front of a client for personal use as well as in an office context. They represent your customers whenever you use the internet.




Utilizing case-based differentiation instead of focusing on the standard naming conventions will assist you to avoid confusion.



Conclusion



This article explains the definition of a proxy along with two types: the forward proxy and reverse proxy. Practical applications and an exploration of useful features were utilized to differentiate between forward and reverse proxies. If you're interested in exploring the implementation of proxies, you can follow our guide on how to configure Nginx as a reverse proxy with Apache running the Ubuntu 20.04 server.



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