A proxy is also known as a proxy server, is a piece of software which acts as an intermediary for client and server over the internet. Without a proxy, a client could send a request for resources directly to the server and it would deliver the resource directly for the client. This method is simple to understand and implement, however, adding proxy servers could bring benefits such as increased performance, privacy, security, and many more. In addition to providing passing through, the proxy acts as a guardian to the internet, separating clients from servers.




The combination of server hardware coupled with installed proxy software is commonly called a proxy server. This article will focus on proxies typically classified as software, as well as in relation to web servers. We will discuss of two kinds of proxies. One being forward proxy and the other being a forward proxy and reverse proxy. reverse proxy. Each kind of proxy has its own purpose and can be confusing due to the resemblance of namesake convention.




This article will provide you with an understanding of different subtypes and proxies and their benefits for setups that are common. If you read in this post, you'll to recognize situations where the use of proxies is advantageous and choose the most appropriate option between forward proxy and reverse proxy, based on the circumstances.



Understanding Forward Proxies



Forward proxy, also known by the name of the open proxy is the agent of a client who wishes to make an internet-based request to the server which originated it. In this scenario, all attempts to send requests from the client's end will instead be routed to forward proxy. Forward proxy in place of the client, will look into the request. The first step is to verify if the client is authorized to accept requests from this specific forward proxy. It will then deny any request, or send it to the origin server. The client does not have direct access to the internet It can only access what forward proxy permits it to connect to.




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




Depending on the way it's set up, the forward proxy can grant a number of features in addition to the ability to:




Beware of ads-trackers.


Circumvent surveillance.


Find restrictions based on the location you are in.




Forward proxies also are utilized in systems that provide central security and access to users based on permissions, for instance in a workplace. If all internet traffic passes through a forward proxy, an administrator is in a position to grant only specific clients access to the internet through a single firewall. Instead of putting firewalls for the client layer that could include multiple machines with varying settings and environment A firewall could be placed in a forward proxy layer.




It is important to remember the forward proxy configurations have to be set up manually to permit the forward proxy to function in order to be used, while reverse proxies are able to not be detected by users. Based on whether or not an IP address belonging to a user is passed on to the server that originated it via forward proxy privacy and security settings, it can be granted or not.




There are a variety of options to consider for forward proxy alternatives:




Apache An open source well-known web server that has forward proxy functions.


Nginx: Another renowned open-source server used for web hosting with forward proxy capabilities.


Squid: A no-cost forward proxy that uses an HTTP protocol. It's not the entire Web Server System. It is possible to refer to our guide on the best way to configure Squid proxy to handle secure connections within Ubuntu 20.04.


Dante Forward proxy that makes use of the SOCKS protocol instead of HTTP and HTTP, making it better suited to scenarios like peer-to-peer traffic. You can also check out how to configure Dante proxy to allow private connections in Ubuntu 20.04



Understanding Reverse Proxies



Reverse proxy functions as an intermediary for web servers and takes care of requests from clients for the web server. Web servers can function as a single server, or a number of servers. It could also be an application server, such as Gunicorn. In all cases, an application request is made through the internet in general. The request will typically go directly to the web server which hosts the content that the client is searching for. A reverse proxy serves as an intermediary in order to block your web server from contact via the web's public.




From the perspective of a user's perspective, using reverse proxy isn't any different than connecting to Web server in direct contact. It's functionally similar, however the client isn't able to tell the difference. Client makes a request for an item, and gets it without requiring any additional configuration by the client.




Reverse proxy providers provide features like:




The server on the internet is protected centrally.


Sending traffic to be directed in accordance with the rules you have set.


Added functionality for caching.




While centralized security is a benefit of both forward and reverse proxy, reverse proxies do this feature only to the web server layer but not to the client layer. instead of the maintenance of firewalls on Web server layers which may contain multiple servers with various configurations, the bulk of firewall security is aimed at the reverse proxy layer. Additionally, removing the burden of interacting with a firewall and interacting with clients' requests off of web servers allows them to concentrate on providing resources.




If there are 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 that are running within the server each serving different kinds of resources or a mix of the two. They could be using the HTTP protocol, which is similar to a traditional web server. They may also use protocols for application servers like FastCGI. You can also set up reverse proxy servers to direct the clients towards specific servers depending on the service requested or to follow certain traffic load rules.




Reverse proxies are also able to take advantage of their placement over web servers by making use of caching. The large static files can be set up with caching rules to avoid hitting web servers with every request. Some solutions even allowing users to upload static files directly without connecting directly to the website server. Additionally, reverse proxy can handle compression of these assets.




The popular Nginx web server has become a well-known reverse proxy solution. Although it is a reverse proxy solution, the Apache web server is also available with a reverse proxy feature as an additional feature which is accessible for Apache however Nginx was designed initially for and is specifically designed for the reverse proxy feature.



Differentiating Forward Proxy from reverse Proxy Use Cases



Since "forward" along with "reverse" are associated with a sense of directionality as well as false comparisons with "incoming" as well as "outgoing" traffic, these terms can be confusing as both types of proxies can be used to manage requests and responses. Another method of separating between reverse and forward proxy servers is to look at the needs of the application you are developing.




Reverse proxy is an effective tool when you're designing a solution to host web applications on the internet. They represent your web servers during any interaction through the Internet.




Forward proxy is a great tool to have working with clients in front for personal usage or even in a professional setting. They can be used to represent the traffic of your clients when you interact with the internet.




A distinction based on use case instead of looking at the common name conventions can aid you in avoidance of confusion.



Conclusion



The article explained what a proxy is along with two types being the forward proxy and reverse proxy. Examples of how to use them and a discussion of most useful features were used to distinguish forward proxies from reverse. If you're looking to learn how to set up proxies, we suggest you go through our tutorial on how to set up Nginx as an reverse proxy and internet server for Apache using the Ubuntu 20.04 server.



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