A proxy, also known as a proxy often referred to as the proxy server, is software that acts as a mediator between client and server on the internet. Without proxy, a user could send a request for resources directly to the server and it will serve that resource to its user directly. Although this is a simple process to comprehend and implement using proxies, it can provide benefits in the form of enhanced performance as well as privacy, security and more. As an additional layer of security, a proxy acts as a guardian for the internet between servers and clients.




It is generally accepted that the bundle of server hardware with installed proxy software is often referred to as proxy servers. In this article, we'll focus on proxy servers which are usually defined as software, and also when it comes to web servers. You will get a breakdown of the two primary types of proxy servers: a forward proxy and the reverse proxy. Each type has a different usage scenario, which is often misunderstood because of a similar naming convention.




This article will give you an idea of the types of proxy services and what their subtypes are, as well as their value in the common configurations. By reading this post, you'll know how to identify the circumstances that a good proxy could be useful and select the best alternative between forward and reverse proxy depending on the circumstance.



Understanding Forward Proxies



A forward proxy, sometimes known as an open proxy acts as an intermediary for a client that is trying to connect via the internet to a source server. In this instance, any attempt to send requests made by the client will be directed directly to forward-proxy. A forward proxy acting in the place of the client will review the request. First, it will decide if the client's permitted be able to accept requests through this specific forward proxy. It will then reject any request, or send it to the original server. The client is not able to have connection to any internet. It is able to access only what the forward proxy allows the client access.




A very common reasons for forward proxy is to gain greater privacy or security while using the internet. Forward proxy utilizes the internet as a client and in this process, it will use an alternative IP address for the client's original IP address.




Based on the way it was configured, based on the configuration, forward proxy may offer various features based on the way it's configured, which allows users to:




Avoid tracking ads.


Circumvent surveillance.


You can determine limitations based on your geographic area.




Forward proxies can also be used in systems that provide centralized security as well as access based on permissions, such as in the workplace. Internet traffic can go through an open forward proxy. administrators can limit access to specific users to the internet, which is protected by a common firewall. In lieu of having firewalls for the client layer which may include multiple computers with different configurations and users you can install an firewall that is located in the forward proxy layer.




Note that forward proxy settings should be set manually for be used, however reverse proxies will be ignored from the clients. Based on the fact that your IP address a user is sent to the server where it originated via the forward proxy, privacy and anonymity may be granted or kept in the dark.




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




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


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


Squid: A free forward proxy that utilizes the HTTP protocol. It's not the complete web server. Read our tutorial on how to install Squid proxy for private connections within Ubuntu 20.04.


Dante is a forward-looking proxy, which uses the SOCKS protocol instead of HTTP to make it better suitable for peer-to-peer traffic. You might also want to know how to set up Dante proxy to allow connection to private networks in Ubuntu 20.04



Understanding Reverse Proxies



A reverse proxy acts as the web server that handles all requests received from customers on behalf of. The web server can represent a single or a number of servers. It may also be an application server, such as Gunicorn. In all of these scenarios, an application request comes by a user on the internet. Most of the time, the request would be sent directly to the server with the resources the user is seeking. However, a reverse proxy serves as an intermediary and isolates your web server from contact with the internet's open.




From the perspective of the individual client's point of view, the process of using reverse proxy is similar to communicating with Web server in direct communication. It's exactly the same, and the client cannot discern the difference. The client makes a request for a resource, which is then followed by the receipt, without any additional configuration needed for the end-user.




Reverse proxies provide options like:




A central layer of security to guard the server.


Incoming traffic is directed on the rules you determine.


New caching functionality has been added.




Although centralized security is an advantage of both reverse and forward proxy, reverse proxy adds this function to the web server layer, but not the client layer. In lieu of focussing on the maintenance of firewalls at the layer of web servers which may contain many servers and different configurations, most of firewall security is targeted on the reverse proxy level. Additionally, removing the responsibility of interacting with firewalls as well as communicating with clients distant from web servers permits them to concentrate on delivering the requirements of their customers.




If there are multiple servers that are connected via a reverse proxy, the reverse proxy also is responsible to direct which requests are routed to which servers. There could be multiple web servers providing identical content, but offering different kinds of services, or a mix of the two. They could be running the HTTP protocol, which is a typical web server, but they can also contain other protocols for application servers, such as FastCGI. You can also set up reverse proxy settings to direct users to a specific server based on the service requested or to adhere to certain guidelines regarding the load of traffic.




Reverse proxies can benefit from their position on top of web servers, as they have the capability to store information. The large static files can be set up with caching policies to avoid the web server from being hit with every request. Certain applications allow users to serve static content directly without contacting the web server in any way. Additionally reverse proxy solutions can handle compressing these assets.




The well-known Nginx web server is also used as a well-known reverse proxy solution. However, an equivalent feature available in the Apache web server, it has reverse proxy capabilities as an additional option that is accessible for Apache however Nginx was initially designed to and is focused on the reverse proxy feature.



Differentiating Forward Proxy from Reverse Proxy Use Cases



Since "forward" along with "reverse" conveys the notion of directionality and misleading comparisons with "incoming" and "outgoing" traffic, these labels can be confusing because both kinds of proxy servers process requests and responses. The best method to differentiate between both reverse and forward proxies is to research the requirements of the app you're developing.




Reverse proxy is beneficial when you are developing a solution to serve websites online. They represent your web servers whenever you connect to the internet.




Forward proxy are helpful when displayed in front of customers for your own usage, or even in a business environment. They are a representation of your customer's traffic in any interactions on the internet.




A case-based distinction instead of focusing on common naming conventions can aid in eliminating confusion.



Conclusion



This article clarified what a proxy is, and compared it to the two most common types that are forward and reverse proxy. Practical applications as well as a review of the beneficial attributes were used to distinguish forward proxies and reverse proxies. If you're interested to learn more about the implementation of proxy servers, you can check out our tutorial on how to set up Nginx as reverse proxy and webserver proxy using Apache on an Ubuntu 20.04 server.



Here is more info regarding Proxy Sites, telegra.ph, have a look at our own web-site.