A proxy also referred to the software that acts as an intermediary between a client and server over the internet. Without the use of a proxy, a user could submit a request to servers directly and servers would then serve direct to users. Although this may be a straightforward process to grasp and use proxy servers can result in benefits like enhanced performance as well as privacy, security and more. As a pass-through layer they are a way to secure the internet between servers and clients.




In general, the integrated package of server hardware with installed proxy software is commonly referred as proxy servers. This article will focus on proxy servers which are typically understood as software, as well as in the context of web servers. The article will provide details of the two types that are forward proxy and reverse proxy. reverse proxy. Each type has a different usage scenario, which is often misunderstood because of the resemblance to the namesake convention.




This article will give you an idea of the types of proxy services, what their subtypes are, and the ways they can be useful for common setups. After reading this article, you'll be able understand the situations when it is beneficial to use a proxy and decide on the right choice between forward proxy and reverse proxy in any circumstance.



Understanding Forward Proxies



The forward proxy also referred to by the name of an open proxy is the agent of the client, trying to make an online request to the server which made it. In this situation any attempts to send requests from the user will be directed direct through the forward proxy. In this scenario the forward proxy acting instead of the client will examine the request. It will first decide if this client is able to make requests using this specific forward proxy. It will then either reject requests or redirect them to the server that originally made the request. The client is not allowed an internet connection directly. It can access only what the forward proxy permits the client to access.




The primary reason for people to utilize forward proxy services is to increase privacy or anonymity on the internet. A forward proxy uses the internet in lieu of an individual client, and, in doing so, it may utilize an alternate IP address to the original IP address of the client.




Depending on the method by which it's setup, forward proxy may offer a variety of features and allow you to:




Stay clear of tracking ads.


Circumvent surveillance.


Find restrictions based on the location.




Forward proxies are also used in systems that provide central security and access based on permissions, for instance in a workplace. If all traffic on the internet flows through a common forward proxy layer an administrator can allow only a few clients connection to internet using an ordinary firewall. Instead of maintaining firewalls on the client layer, which could involve a number of computers with varying settings and users you can put the firewall configured on the front proxy layer.




Take note that forward proxies require manual setup for their use, whereas reverse proxies can be omitted by clients. Based on the type of IP address of a client is sent to the source server via the forward proxy privacy and security may be granted or not.




There are many possibilities to think about when it comes to forward proxies:




Apache is a well-known open-source web server that provides forward proxy features.


Nginx is another widely-used open-source webserver, which includes forward proxy functions.


Squid is an free forward proxy that makes use of it's HTTP protocol. It does not come with an an entire Web server software. We have a tutorial on how to set up Squid proxy to enable private connections in Ubuntu 20.04.


Dante: a forward proxy that uses on the SOCKS protocol rather than HTTP to make it more suited for cases such as peer-to-peer connections. You may also want to understand how to set up a Dante proxy that allows private connections on Ubuntu 20.04



Understanding Reverse Proxies



A reverse proxy acts as an intermediary for the web server, taking care of the incoming requests of clients on behalf of. The web server could comprise an individual server or a number of servers. Furthermore, it could function as an app server, such as Gunicorn. In any of these scenarios the request will come from a user via the internet in general. The majority of the time it is transmitted directly to the website server that hosts the information that the client wants. Reverse proxy is a intermediary to shield Web server from direct contact with the web's public.




From the point of viewpoint from the perspective of a client, using reverse proxy is not the same as working with a Web server in direct contact. It's basically the same thing, however the client isn't able to discern the difference. Client requests the resource, and it gets it, with no further configuration required from the user.




Reverse proxies provide features like:




A central layer of security that guards the server.


Controlling traffic coming inbound on rules you can define.


New caching functionality has been added.




Central security is an advantage of both reverse and forward proxy servers, reverse proxy providers offer this feature only to the layer of the webserver rather than the client layer. Instead of coordinating firewalls on the server level that may include multiple servers that have different configurations, the bulk of firewall security is concentrated on the reverse proxy layer. Additionally, removing the responsibility of interacting with firewalls and interacting with requests from clients off of web servers allows the firewall to focus on supplying the necessary resources.




If there are multiple servers in a reverse proxy, the reverse proxy also determines the requests to the server. There may be several web servers providing the same content, offering various kinds of services, or a combination of both. These servers could be running the HTTP protocol similar to an ordinary web server. However, they can also be able to use protocol for application servers like FastCGI. It is possible to set up reverse proxy servers to route visitors to a particular server based on the service they require or to follow certain rules for traffic load.




Reverse proxies may also benefit from their position before web servers by providing the capability to store data. Massive static resources can be set up with caching rules in order to avoid having to contact web servers for every request, with some solutions even allowing you to serve static files directly without having to connect to the server once. In addition reverse proxy can deal with compression on these resources.




The popular Nginx web server can also function as a powerful reverse proxy option. Although Apache can also be a reverse proxy solution but it is a reverse proxy solution. Apache web server is also fitted with an reverse proxy function as an additional feature for Apache unlike Nginx was initially designed for and focuses on reverse proxy functions.



Differentiating Forward Proxy from Reverse Proxy Use Cases



Since "forward" and "reverse" have connotations of directionality as well as inaccurate comparisons with "incoming" as well as "outgoing" traffic These labels can be confusing since both types of proxies manage requests and responses. The best way to distinguish between reverse and forward proxy is to look at the requirements of the app you're developing.




Reverse proxy is a useful tool to use when developing a solution to serve applications on the web via the internet. Reverse proxy servers represent your website whenever you interact on the internet.




Forward proxy can be useful when placed in front of clients for personal use or in a professional context. They represent the client's online traffic in any internet-based interaction.




The practice of separating by use case rather than focussing on similar names will help in avoidance of confusion.



Conclusion



This article will explain the significance of a proxy, with two types: the forward proxy and the reverse proxy. Practical application scenarios as well as an examination of the beneficial attributes were used to distinguish forward proxies as well as reverse proxies. If you'd like to explore the implementation of proxies we recommend you read our guide on how to configure Nginx to act as an Internet server and reverse proxy to Apache in the Ubuntu 20.04 Server.



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