The term "proxy" refers to a proxy, also called a proxy server, is a program which acts as an intermediary for client and server via the internet. Without the proxy, a user would send a request for resources directly to a server and it would deliver the resource directly for the client. Although this method is easy to grasp and implement however, adding proxy servers can bring advantages including improved performance as well as privacy, security and more. In addition to providing pass-through, the proxy serves as a security guardian of the internet between clients and servers.




In general, the combined system of server hardware coupled with the software for proxy installation is frequently called a proxy server. This article will discuss proxy servers that are typically described as software as well as in relation to web servers. We will discuss of the two main types of proxies, one being a forward proxy and the other a reverse proxy. reverse proxy. Each kind has its own specific application and is often confused due to the resemblance of namesake convention.




This article will provide you with an idea of the what proxies and subtypes are and their importance for the common setups. If you read the article carefully, you'll to recognize situations where the use of proxy servers is advantageous, and then choose the best choice between reverse proxy and forward proxy based on the situation.



Understanding Forward Proxies



Forward proxy also known as the open proxy acts as the representative of a user who would like to send an internet request to an the server that originated it. In this situation any attempts to send requests made by the client's end will instead be sent directly to forward proxy. The forward proxy, instead of the client will look into the request. First, it will verify if the client is authorized to accept requests from this particular forward proxy. It will then reject any request, or send it to the origin server. The client does not have an internet connection directly; it can only reach what the forward proxy allows it to connect to.




The primary reason for people for using forward proxy servers is the increased privacy or anonymity online. Forward proxy's access to the internet as clients and in this way it may use an IP address that is distinct from the original IP of the user.




Depending on the way it's configured, forward proxy will grant a number of features in addition to the ability to:




Beware of ad-tracker.


Circumvent surveillance.


Find restrictions based on your location.




Forward proxies also are utilized in systems that provide central security and access based on permissions, such as at work. If all internet traffic passes through a common forward proxy Administrators are in a position to grant only specific clients access to the internet using a common firewall. Instead of putting firewalls in place for the client layer, which may include multiple computers that have different settings and environments and users the firewall is placed in a forward proxy layer.




It is important to remember that forward proxy settings need to be manually setup to allow the use of these proxy servers in order to be used and reverse proxy settings are not able to be detected by the user. Based on the IP address of the user is transmitted to the server that originated it via the forward proxy privacy and security may be granted or kept in the dark.




There are many options to consider for forward proxy alternatives:




Apache A well-known open source web server that has forward proxy features.


Nginx: Another renowned open-source server used for web hosting that has forward proxy functions.


Squid: A no-cost forward proxy that utilizes an HTTP protocol. It's not the full web server system. You can refer to our article on the best method of configuring Squid proxy for connection to private networks in Ubuntu 20.04.


Dante Forward proxy that makes use of the SOCKS protocol instead of HTTP and HTTP, making it better suited for scenarios such as peer-to-peer communication. It is also possible to learn how to set up Dante proxy for connection to private networks in Ubuntu 20.04



Understanding Reverse Proxies



Reverse proxy serves as an intermediary for web servers, and handles requests from clients on behalf of. Web servers can function as a one server or multiple servers. It could also function as an app server such as Gunicorn. In any event, an application request is made by a user on the internet at large. Most of the time, the request will directly go to the server that hosts what the client is searching for. A reverse proxy serves as an intermediary in order to block your server from interaction with the internet's open.




From a consumer's point the consumer's perspective, working with reverse proxy isn't different from communicating with the web server directly. It's functionally the same but the client cannot tell the difference. The client requests an item and gets it with no additional configuration needed from the user.




Reverse proxy providers provide features like:




The server for the web is secure centrally.


Sending traffic to be directed according to rules you set.


The caching functionality was added to the application.




While central security is a benefit of both reverse and forward proxy, reverse proxy applications apply this feature only to the web server layer but not the client layer. Instead of maintaining security firewalls in Web server layers that may include multiple servers with different configurations, the bulk of firewall security is directed at the reverse proxy layer. Additionally, removing the responsibility of connecting to a firewall and interacting with requests from clients off web servers enables them to concentrate on serving the resources.




If there are multiple servers existing with a reverse-proxy, the reverse proxy is also responsible for controlling which requests go at which server. There may be several web servers that are running from the same host, each offering different types of resources or a mix of the two. These servers may use the HTTP protocol similar to a conventional web server. They could also incorporate application server protocols like FastCGI. You can also set up reverse proxy settings to redirect the clients towards specific servers based on the service requested, or to observe certain rules regarding traffic load.




Reverse proxies also can take advantage of their placement on top of web servers with the help of caching. The large static files can be configured with caching rules in order to avoid hitting web servers with every request. Some solutions even allowing users to upload static files in a direct manner without linking to the web server in any way. Additionally, reverse proxy can manage the compression of these assets.




The popular Nginx web server has become a wildly popular reverse proxy solution. However, it is a reverse proxy solution, the Apache web server is also available with the reverse proxy function as an additional function which is accessible for Apache however Nginx was initially designed for and focused on reverse proxy functions.



Distinguishing Forward Proxy from Reverse Proxy Use Situations



Since "forward" along with "reverse" are associated with an impression of directionality, and also misleading comparisons with "incoming" in addition to "outgoing" traffic These labels can be confusing because both types of proxies are able to respond to requests and responses. Another method of separating between forward and reverse proxy servers would be to look at the specifications of the software you're creating.




Reverse proxy is an effective tool to use when developing a solution to serve applications that are on the web. They represent your web servers when you interact with the Internet.




Forward proxy is a great tool to use when you are facing clients for personal use or even in a professional setting. They are a representation of your traffic when you are on the internet.




A distinction that is based on the use rather than focusing on the common names can help in getting rid of confusion.



Conclusion



The article described what a proxy is along with two types being the reverse proxy and forward proxy. Practical examples of its use and a discussion of the most effective features were utilized to differentiate forward proxies from reverse. If you're looking to learn how to implement proxies we suggest you go through our guide on how to set up Nginx as an reverse proxy and internet server on Apache on the Ubuntu 20.04 server.



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