proxy, also known as a proxy is often referred to for its role as a proxy server software that sits as a mediator between client and server on the internet. Without the use of proxy, a user could send a request for any source directly through the server and then the server would deliver the requested resource directly to the user. While this is a simple method to grasp and use but the addition of proxy servers may provide benefits in terms of increased performance, privacy and security, and much more. In addition to adding a layer of protection, a proxy acts as a security guard for the internet between clients and servers.

The bundle of server hardware with the software for proxy installation is also commonly referred to as a proxy server. This article we will focus on proxies traditionally classified as software, and in the context of web servers. The article will give a detailed breakdown of the two principal kinds of proxies, which are an forward proxy and reverse proxy. reverse proxy. Each type of proxy has its own unique usage scenario that is often confused due to the overlap in name convention.

This article will give you some understanding about what proxies and subtypes are as well as the ways they can be beneficial in a variety of configurations. Through this article, you'll learn to recognize the situations where a proxy is beneficial, and make the right alternative between forward and reverse proxy for any particular circumstance.

Understanding Forward Proxies

A forward proxy also referred to as an open proxy is a proxy for a user trying to send a request through the internet to an source server. In this scenario every attempt to send requests made by the user will be handled by an forward proxy. This forward proxy in the client's stead, will examine the request. It will first determine if the client has been authorized to accept requests from this specific forward proxy. It will then either deny requests or redirect them to the server that originated it. It's not able directly connect directly to internet. It is only able to access the information the forward proxy enables it to access.

A common use for forward proxy is the need for greater security or privacy when using the internet. Forward proxy connects to web as a user and during this way, it assigns an alternative IP address to the client's IP address.

Based on the way it has been configured in accordance with the configuration, forward proxy may offer a range of features that allow users to:

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  Do not click on ads that track you.
  
  
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  Circumvent surveillance.
  
  
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  You can spot limitations based on your location.
  
  

Forward proxies can also be used in systems to give central security and access via permissions, for instance in the workplace. All internet traffic can pass via an open forward proxy, administrators can grant access only to specific users to the internet, which is blocked by the typical firewall. Instead of having firewalls at the client layer, this can be utilized by a variety of computers that have different settings and users. A firewall may be located in this forward proxy layer.

Be aware that forward proxy servers must be set up manually to allow their use, however reverse proxy servers will not be noticed by users. Depending on whether your IP address a client is sent to the origin server through forward proxy Privacy and anonymity may be granted or hidden.

There are numerous alternatives to think about when it comes to forward proxies.

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  Apache is a well-known open-source web server, which offers forward proxy features.
  
  
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  Nginx: Another well-known open-source web server with forward proxy functionality.
  
  
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  Squid: A free and Open Source Forward Proxy that utilizes the HTTP protocol. It's not part of the whole web server. We have a step-by-step guide for setting up Squid proxy to allow secure connections on Ubuntu 20.04.
  
  
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  Dante Forward proxy that uses the SOCKS protocol rather than HTTP which makes it better suited for cases like peer-to-peer traffic. It is also possible to look into how to set up the Dante proxy that will allow private connections on Ubuntu 20.04
  
  

Understanding Reverse Proxies

Reverse proxy functions as an intermediary to a web server, handling incoming requests from clients in its place. This server can serve as a single server or multiple servers. It could also contain an application server such as Gunicorn. It is possible to receive the request of a customer via the internet in general. Most of the time the request will be directed directly to the web server hosting the information the customer is seeking. A reverse proxy works as an intermediary to isolate your server from communications with the internet's public.

From the point of viewpoint, or an individual's view, interacting with reverse proxy isn't distinct from the interaction with the server by itself. It's functionally identical to the web server, and the client is unable discern the difference. The client can request the resource, and is then provided with it, without any additional configuration needed by the user.

Reverse proxies grant features like:

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  Centralized security on webservers.
  
  
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  Controlling traffic coming in based on rules you can make.
  
  
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  The caching functionality was added to the application.
  
  

While centralized security is a benefit of both forward and reverse proxy, reverse proxies provide this function to only the layer of web servers, but not to the layer of clients. instead of having firewalls installed at the web servers, which could include multiple servers that have different configurations, the bulk of firewall security is located at the reverse proxy layer. Additionally, getting rid of the necessity of interfacing with firewalls and responding to requests from clients who do not have web servers lets them focus on meeting the requirements of their clients.

In the case of multiple servers hosting through a reverse proxy, the reverse proxy also determines which requests go on which server. There could be multiple web servers providing the exact same service, but providing different types of resources, or a combination of both. They can use the HTTP protocol in the same way as an ordinary web server, but they can also be equipped with protocols for application servers like FastCGI. You can set up reverse proxy servers to redirect users to specific servers depending on the resource requested or to adhere to certain rules for traffic load.

Reverse proxy solutions also benefit from their positioning on the web servers with the caching feature. Large static files can be arranged using caching rules to avoid hitting web servers with every request. Certain solutions allow the server to serve static files directly without having to connect to a web server in any way. In addition, reverse proxy has the ability to manage compression of these files.

The well-known Nginx web server is also used as a well-known reverse proxy service. Although it is real that Apache web server does have reverse proxy feature, it's an alternative option. Apache and not the default option. Nginx was initially designed and focused on the reverse proxy feature.

Differentiating Forward Proxy from reverse Proxy Use Cases

Since "forward" as well as "reverse" are both associated with a sense of directionality and false comparisons to "incoming" as well as "outgoing" traffic. These terms can be confusing since each type of proxy handles both requests and replies. A better approach to distinguish between forward and reverse proxy services is to consider the needs of the app you're building.

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

Forward proxy software is advantageous when displayed in front of clients for personal use or in a work setting. They are a representation of the traffic of your client when you interact with the internet.

A case-based approach to differentiation rather than focusing exclusively on the most common names will ensure that you don't become confused.

Conclusion

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

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