proxy, also known as a proxy is often referred to as a proxy server software that acts as a mediator between a server and client via the internet. Without the use of a proxy, a user could send a request for any service directly from the server and the server would provide the requested resource directly to the user. While this is a simple method to comprehend and utilize, but the addition of proxy servers could provide advantages in terms of increased performance, privacy, security, and much more. Apart from adding a layer of protection it also serves as a guardian to the internet, separating clients and servers.




It is generally accepted that the combined bundle of server hardware with an installed software proxy is also often referred to as proxy servers. This article we'll examine proxies commonly categorized as software and within relation to web server. We will provide a description of the two principal kinds of proxies: that is the forward proxy and a reverse proxy. Each one has its own use situation, and is frequently not understood due to the common naming convention.




This article will provide you with an understanding of what proxies and subtypes are as well as the ways they can be useful in a range of configurations. Through this article, you'll learn to recognize the situations where it is beneficial to use a proxy and then make the best alternative between forward and reverse proxy for any particular circumstance.



Understanding Forward Proxies



A forward proxy, also known as an open proxy acts as an agent for an individual trying to make a request via the internet to an source server. In this situation, any attempt to send requests made by the client will be routed through the forward proxy. Forward proxy acting in the place of the client will review the request. It will first determine if the client is authorized to accept requests from this specific forward proxy. Then, it will either deny requests or redirect them to the source server. It's not able to directly connect to the internet. It can only access what the forward proxy permits it access to.




The most common reason for using forward proxy is the need for greater privacy or security when using the internet. The forward proxy is connected to the internet as a client and through this way, it assigns an alternative IP address to your client's IP address.




Depending on how it has been configured based on the configuration, forward proxy may provide a variety of functions which allow users to:




Do not click on ads that track you.


Circumvent surveillance.


You can spot limitations based on your location.




Forward proxies can also be used in systems to give central security as well as access permissions, like in the workplace. All internet traffic can pass via an open forward proxy. administrators are able to grant access to specific individuals to access the web, which is blocked by the typical firewall. Instead of having firewalls at this layer of client, which may be used by multiple computers with different settings and users, a firewall could be found in this forward proxy layer.




Be aware that forward proxy servers must be set up manually to allow the use of them, but reverse proxies won't be detected by the user. Based on the fact that your IP address the client is sent to the origin server through the forward proxy Privacy and anonymity could be granted or kept secret.




There are many possibilities to think about when considering forward proxies.




Apache The Apache is a popular open-source web server, which offers forward proxy capabilities.


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


Squid: An free forward proxy that makes use of an HTTP protocol. It isn't part of the whole web server. This is a step-by-step tutorial to setup Squid proxy to allow connection to private networks in Ubuntu 20.04.


Dante Forward proxy that uses the SOCKS protocol instead of HTTP and is ideal for scenarios such as peer-to-peer communication. It is also possible to look into how to set up an Dante proxy to allow private connections to Ubuntu 20.04



Understanding Reverse Proxies



Reverse proxy acts as an intermediary between a web server, handling any requests that come in from clients its place. The server could function as a one server, or as a set of servers. Additionally, it can include an application servers, like Gunicorn. It is possible to receive an inquiry from a client through the internet at large. Most of the time the request will be made directly to the server hosting the data the customer is seeking. A reverse proxy works as an intermediary to isolate your web server from communication with the web's public.




From the point of perspective, which is also from a user's perspective, interacting using reverse proxy is not different from interacting with the server on its own. It's functionally identical to an internet server. The client cannot tell the distinction. The client is able to make a request for the resource and it is then provided with it, with no additional configuration needed by the user.




Reverse proxies grant features like:




Security centralized to web server.


Directing incoming traffic by using rules that you make.


Added functionality for caching.




While centralized security is an advantage of both forward and reverse proxy systems, reverse proxies perform this for servers on the internet but not to the layer of clients. instead of having firewalls installed at the web servers that may include multiple servers that have different configurations, most of firewall security is concentrated on that layer called reverse proxy. In addition, the absence of connecting to a firewall and interacting with requests from clients who do not have web servers allows them to focus on meeting the requirements of their clients.




In the event of multiple servers hosted by reverse proxy the reverse proxy is responsible for directing the requests to which server. Multiple servers may be providing the exact same service, but each providing different types of resources, or perhaps a mix of the two. They can utilize the HTTP protocol similarly to a traditional web server but can be equipped with protocols for application servers like FastCGI. It is possible to set up reverse proxy servers to redirect clients to an individual server based on the requested resource or to adhere to specific rules regarding traffic load.




Reverse proxy solutions also profit from their placement on the top of web servers by using caching functionality. Large static assets can be set up by caching rules to avoid hitting web servers with every request. Certain solutions allow you to serve static content directly without having to connect to the web server at all. Additionally the reverse proxy can be used to handle compression of these assets.




The well-known Nginx web server is also used as a well-known reverse proxy service. It is true that the Apache web server does have reverse proxy function, it's a different option for Apache as opposed to Nginx was initially designed focus on reverse proxy capabilities.



Differentiating Forward Proxy from Reverse Proxy Use - Situations



Because "forward" as well as "reverse" are both associated with a sense of directionality and false comparisons to "incoming" as well as "outgoing" traffic. These labels are confusing because both types of proxies manage the flow of requests as well as responses. A better approach to distinguish between reverse and forward proxy is to think about the needs of the application you're creating.




Reverse proxy is an important feature when building a solution to deliver web-based applications to the internet. They act as your web server during any interaction with the internet.




Forward proxy applications are useful when they are displayed in front of clients for personal use or even in a working environment. They can be used to represent your client's traffic as you interact on the internet.




Utilizing case-based differentiation rather than focusing exclusively on the most common names can ensure that you don't be confused.



Conclusion



The article outlined what is a "proxy" is with the two primary types of them being the forward and reverse proxy. Practical applications and a review of beneficial features was utilized to distinguish between forward proxy from reverse proxy. If you're interested exploring how to use proxies, check out our guide on how to configure Nginx as a webserver and reverse proxy to Apache on an Ubuntu 20.04 server.



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