An proxy can also be referred to by the name of a proxy. It is a program that acts in the role of intermediaries between a client and server via the internet. Without the proxy, a user would be able to send a request to anything directly to the server and servers would serve any requested resources directly to the client. This is a simple method to grasp and use however, the addition of proxy servers can offer advantages including increased performance, privacy and security, among others. In addition to providing a layer of security proxy servers act as a guardian for the internet between clients and servers.




There is a general consensus that the system of server hardware coupled with installed proxy software is commonly known as proxy servers. This article will focus on proxies traditionally defined as software, and specifically with respect to web servers. We will present a summary of the two primary types of proxies that are a forward proxy and a reverse proxy. Each type has a different usage, which can be confusing because of the same namestamp.




This article will give you an idea of the what proxies and their subtypes, and their value for the most common setups. After reading this article, you'll be able to know the scenarios where you may benefit from a proxy, and determine the best option between reverse proxy and forward proxy depending on the scenario.



Understanding Forward Proxies



Forward proxy also referred to as open proxy, sometimes referred to as open proxy serves as an agent for a user who wants to transmit a request through the internet to a source server. In this scenario, every request made by the client will be handled by the forward proxy. A forward proxy that is in place of the client will review the request. It first will determine if the client is legally authorized to accept requests from this specific forward proxy. It will then either deny the request or forward it to the server from which it originated. The client is not allowed an internet connection directly; it will only be capable of accessing the information that forward proxy grants its access.




One of the most frequent applications for forward proxy servers is increased privacy or security on the internet. A forward proxy is able to access the internet instead of a client's individual account, and may use a different IP address as opposed to the IP address used by the user.




Depending on how it's configured, based on the way it's set up forward proxy could provide a range of features and allow you to:




Avoid tracking ads.


Circumvent surveillance.


Determine restrictions based on geolocation.




Forward proxies are also employed in systems that provide central security as well as permission-based access to the internet, for instance at a workplace. In the event that all internet traffic is routed through a common forward proxy layer an administrator is able to allow only specific clients access to the internet. The web is filtered by an common firewall. Instead of putting firewalls in place for the client layer, which could comprise a variety of machines with various settings and types of users, the firewall could be placed at on the front proxy layer.




Remember that forward proxies must be manually configured for use, while reverse proxy servers could be disregarded from the clients. Depending on the kind of IP address the client's connection to the server which originated it via the forward proxy security and privacy can be made transparent.




There are many possibilities to consider when deciding on forward proxy options:




Apache is an well-known open-source web server which provides forward proxy capability.


Nginx is a popular open-source webserver, which comes with forward proxy capabilities.


Squid: An open forward proxy open source that uses the HTTP protocol. This option doesn't include the entire web server. You can refer to our article about the best method to install Squid proxy to enable private connections in Ubuntu 20.04.


Dante is an forward proxy that utilizes the SOCKS protocol instead of HTTP which makes it more appropriate for situations such as peer-to-peer connections. It is also possible to learn how to set up a Dante proxy to allow connection to private networks in Ubuntu 20.04



Understanding Reverse Proxies



Reverse proxy is a web server that handles requests from customers on behalf of the server. The server could function as a single server or multiple servers. In addition, it could include an application servers, such as Gunicorn. In all of these scenarios, a request would come via the web in general. In most cases, the request is sent directly to the web server, along with the resources the client in need of. A reverse proxy serves as an intermediary and separates your web server from communication with the web's public.




From a consumer's point of the client's point of reverse proxy use isn't different from connecting to an internet server direct. It's functionally the same but the client can't discern the distinction. The client requests the resource, and it is then granted access without any additional configuration required on the part of the client.




Reverse proxies offer various features, including:




A centralized layer of security to guard the server.


Directing incoming traffic based on rules that you can establish.


A new feature for caching is now available.




Central security is an advantage of both reverse and forward proxy services, reverse proxies provide this benefit only to the server layer, not the client layer. Instead of focusing on maintaining firewalls on the server level which could include multiple servers and various configurations, the majority of firewall security is concentrated on the reverse proxy layer. Additionally, removing the burden of communicating with firewalls and interacting with requests from clients not connected to web servers lets them concentrate solely on delivering the requirements of their clients.




If there are multiple servers hosting through a reverse proxy the reverse proxy is responsible for routing requests to the servers. Multiple servers may be providing the exact same service, or serving various kinds of resources, or a combination of both. They may utilize an HTTP protocol for functioning as a standard web server, however they could also incorporate applications server protocols like FastCGI. You can set up reverse proxy servers to direct clients to specific servers based on the request for source, and to adhere to certain guidelines for traffic load.




Reverse proxies also can make use of their position before web servers by providing the ability to cache. Large static files can be set using caching rules to prevent from reaching web servers with every time you request. There are solutions offering the possibility of serving static content directly without having to connect with the webserver in any way. In addition, reverse proxy is able to manage compressing these files.




The renowned Nginx web server has become a wildly popular reverse proxy option. Although Apache web server does have reverse proxy capabilities, Apache web server is able to use reverse proxy capabilities, it is an additional feature that is available to Apache however Nginx was designed originally to and focuses on the reverse proxy function.



Differentiating Forward Proxy and Reverse Proxy Examples



Because "forward" and "reverse" are both associated with an impression of directionality and false comparisons with "incoming" as well as "outgoing" traffic. They could be confusing because both kinds of proxies handle requests and respond. The best way to distinguish between reverse and forward proxy servers would be to analyze the requirements of the application that you are building.




Reverse proxy is a crucial element in the creation of a solution to serve websites on the internet. They serve as servers during any interaction through the Internet.




Forward proxy can be helpful for displaying customers for personal use or in a work environment. They represent the client's information whenever you interact on the internet.




A distinction based on usage cases instead of focusing on similar naming conventions will make it easier to avoid confusion.



Conclusion



This article clarified the meaning of a proxy with two types, the forward and the reverse proxy. Practical applications and an examination of the beneficial attributes were utilized to distinguish forward proxies from reverse proxies. If you're interested in exploring the benefits in proxy server, follow our tutorial on how you can configure Nginx as a web server and reverse proxy within Apache in Ubuntu 20.04 Server. Ubuntu 20.04 Server.



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