proxy is also referred to as a proxy is often referred to for its role as a proxy server a software that acts acting as an intermediary between client and server via the internet. Without the use of proxy servers, users could send a request for any service directly from the server, and then the server would give direct access to that resource. While this is a simple method to grasp and use however, the addition of proxy servers may provide benefits in terms of increased performance, privacy, security, and many more. Alongside providing a layer of security it also serves as a gatekeeper to the internet, separating clients and servers.




The combination of server hardware and the software for proxy installation is also often referred as proxy servers. This article we will concentrate on proxies that are typically classified as software, and in relation to web server. You will get a breakdown of the two main types of proxies. These are a forward proxy and a reverse proxy. Each has its own usage scenario that is often misunderstood due to the overlapping names.




This article will give you some understanding about what proxies and subtypes are and the ways they are useful in various configurations. Through this article, you'll be able recognize the situations where it is beneficial to use a proxy and decide on the appropriate choice between forward and reverse proxy for any particular situation.



Understanding Forward Proxies



An forward proxy sometimes known in the form of the open proxy acts as an agent for a user trying to connect via the internet to a source server. In this situation, any attempt to send a request by the user will be routed through an forward proxy. Forward proxy acting in the place of the client, will examine the request. It will first determine if the client has been granted permission to receive requests from this particular forward proxy. Then, it'll either refuse requests or redirect it to the source server. It's not able to direct connection directly to internet. It is only able to access the information the forward proxy enables it to access.




A typical use of forward proxy is the need for more privacy or security while surfing the web. Forward proxy connects to internet as a client during this way, it assigns an alternative IP address in addition to your client's IP address.




Based on the way it has been configured according to the way it was configured, a forward proxy could offer a range of features which allow users to:




Avoid tracking ads.


Circumvent surveillance.


You can spot restrictions based upon your geolocation.




Forward proxies can also be used in systems that provide central security and access via permissions, such as in the workplace. All internet traffic can pass through an open forward proxy. administrators can restrict access to a specific group of users to the internet, and this is blocked by the typical firewall. Instead of establishing firewalls on clients, which may be utilized by a variety of computer systems with different settings and users, a firewall could be located at this forward proxy layer.




Be aware that forward proxies must be set up manually for them to be used however reverse proxies won't be detected by the user. Depending on whether the IP address of the client is sent to the origin server by forward proxy Privacy and anonymity could be granted or kept secret.




There are many options to consider when it comes to forward proxy services.




Apache: A popular open-source web server, which offers forward proxy functions.


Nginx is another well-known open-source web server that has forward proxy functionality.


Squid: An free forward proxy that uses the HTTP protocol. It doesn't come with the complete web server. We have a step-by-step guide for setting up Squid proxy for private connections 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 the Dante proxy to allow private connections on Ubuntu 20.04



Understanding Reverse Proxies



Reverse proxy is an intermediary to a web server, handling any requests that come in from clients its place. It can be used as a single server or as a set of servers. It could also include an application servers, such as Gunicorn. It is possible to receive a request from a customer through the internet at large. In most cases, the request would be made directly to the server hosting the information the client wants. Instead, a reverse proxy works as an intermediary to isolate your server from communications with the web's public.




From the point of perspective, which is also an individual's view, interacting using reverse proxy is not different from connecting to the server on its own. It's functionally identical to the web server, and the user cannot tell the distinction. The client is able to request the resource and is then given it, without any additional configuration needed from the user.




Reverse proxies grant features like:




Security centralized to web server.


Directing incoming traffic according to rules you design.


The caching functionality was added to the application.




While centralized security is an advantage for both forward and reverse proxy systems, reverse proxies perform this for only the layer of web servers, but not the client layer. Instead of implementing firewalls at the web servers that may contain multiple servers with various configurations, the bulk of firewall security is concentrated on the reverse proxy layer. In addition, the absence of connecting to a firewall and responding to requests from clients who do not have web servers lets them concentrate on providing the needs of their clients.




If there are multiple servers hosted by a reverse proxy, the reverse proxy also takes care of directing the requests to which server. There could be multiple web servers providing the exact same service, but each offering different kinds of resources, or perhaps a mix of the two. They may use the HTTP protocol in the same way as a traditional web server, but they can also be outfitted with protocols for application servers like FastCGI. You can create reverse proxy that directs clients to an individual server based on the resource requested or to follow specific rules regarding traffic load.




Reverse proxy solutions also benefit from their positioning on the top of web servers by using caching capabilities. Large static assets can be configured by caching rules to avoid hitting web servers with each request. Certain solutions allow users to serve static content directly without connecting to the web server at all. In addition, reverse proxy has the ability to manage compression of these assets.




The popular Nginx web server also functions as a well-known reverse proxy service. Although it is real that Apache web server comes with reverse proxy function, it's an alternative option. Apache and not the default option. Nginx was originally designed to and focused on reverse proxy capabilities.



Distinguishing Forward Proxy from Reverse Proxy Use Situations



Because "forward" and "reverse" are both associated with the perception of directionality, and false comparisons to "incoming" and "outgoing" traffic. These labels are confusing because both kinds of proxies handle requests and responses. An alternative approach to distinguish between reverse and forward proxy services is to consider the needs of the application you're developing.




Reverse proxy is a crucial element when designing an application that can deliver web applications to the internet. They serve as your web servers for any interaction on the internet.




Forward proxy software is beneficial when it is placed in front of clients for personal use, or in a workplace. They are a representation of the client's activity when you use the internet.




Utilizing case-based differentiation rather than focusing exclusively on naming conventions that are commonplace can ensure that you don't become confused.



Conclusion



This article clarified what an "proxy" is, with the two main types of them being the reverse and forward proxy. Practical applications and a review of beneficial features was used to distinguish forward proxies from reverse proxy. If you're interested exploring how to use proxies, follow our tutorial on how to configure Nginx as a web server and reverse proxy on Apache on an Ubuntu 20.04 server.



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