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proxy, also referred to as proxy, also known as proxy or proxy server is a server software that acts acting as an intermediary between a client and server over the internet. With no intermediary users would send a request for something directly to a server and servers would then serve the resource directly back to the client. While this is a simple method to comprehend and implement, proxies can provide benefits like improved security, performance, privacy, and much more. A proxy that is a pass-through layer serves as a security barrier on the internet between clients and servers.




Generally speaking generally speaking, the bundle of server hardware and proxy software is also often called a proxy server. However, this article will concentrate on proxy servers that are generally referred to as software, and those used in conjunction with web servers. This article will give a synopsis of the two types that are available, which is the forward proxy and the reverse proxy. Each comes with its own specific application scenario, and it can be misinterpreted due to the same terms.




This article will provide you with an idea of the types of proxy services and what their subtypes are as well in how they work for the most common configurations. In this article, you will be able to recognize the situations where you can benefit from a proxy, and identify the most suitable choice between forward and reverse proxy in any given situation.



Understanding Forward Proxies



The forward proxy often known as the open proxy is an agent of users who want to send a request through the internet to the server that originated it. In this case, it's the case that all requests made by the client should be directed straight to the forward proxy. This forward proxy in the place of the client, will examine the request. At the beginning, it will determine if the client can accept requests via this particular forward proxy. Then, it will either reject requests or redirect it to the server that originated it. The client is not able to have direct connection to the internet but it is able to access the information that the forward proxy allows to access.




The most popular reason for using forward proxy services is to increase privacy or security online. A forward proxy is able to connect to the internet on behalf of clients. In the process, it'll use an alternative IP address to the original IP address that the client uses.




Based on how it has been set up according to how it was initially configured forward proxy may provide you with a variety of features in addition to the capability to:




Avoid tracking ads.


Circumvent surveillance.


You can identify limitations based on your geographical location.




Forward proxies can also be used in systems that provide central security and permission-based access, like in a workplace. If all internet traffic flows by an open forward proxy administrators can grant access only to specific individuals to access the web, which is blocked by a standard firewall. Instead of putting firewalls in place on the client layer that could comprise a variety of computers that have different users and environments, a firewall could be installed on top of an intermediate layer.




Remember that forward proxies have to be manually setup before they can be used in order to be used, while reverse proxies are able to not be detected by the user. Based on the fact that your IP address a user is sent to the server that generated it via the forward proxy, privacy and anonymity can be granted or left transparent.




There are a variety of alternatives to think about for forward proxies:




Apache An open-source, well-known web server that provides forward proxy capabilities.


Nginx: Another well-known open source server for hosting websites with forward proxy capabilities.


Squid: A free forward proxy that uses the HTTP protocol. It's not a complete Web server. Read our tutorial on how to set up Squid proxy so that it allows private connections within Ubuntu 20.04.


Dante Forward proxy that uses the SOCKS protocol instead HTTP to allow it to be more suitable for scenarios like peer-to-peer communication. It is also possible to look at how you can configure Dante proxy to allow private connections in Ubuntu 20.04



Understanding Reverse Proxies



A reverse proxy acts as an intermediary for a web server that handles any requests that come in from clients on behalf of. The web server can be a single or multiple servers. Additionally, it can serve as an application server such as Gunicorn. In all of these scenarios, the request for an application comes from a user on the internet in general. In most cases the request will be sent directly to the web server that hosts the information the user is looking for. However reverse proxy acts as an intermediary to isolate Web servers from direct contact with the internet's open.




From the point of view of the user's viewpoint, interfacing via reverse proxy is anything different than working with a Web server in direct contact. It is functionally similar to the web server, and the user is unable to discern the difference. The client is able to make a request for the resource and it is then provided with it, without any additional configuration required on the part of the user.




Reverse proxies grant features such as:




Secured centrally to protect Web Server Layer.


Controlling traffic that is incoming according to rules you have set.


A new feature for caching has been added.




Although centralized security is an advantage of both forward and reverse proxy services, reverse proxies provide this function to their web server layer not the client layer. In lieu of the maintenance of firewalls at the layer of web servers which may contain multiple servers with different configurations, most of firewall security is focused on the reverse proxy layer. Additionally, the elimination of the obligation to interface with a firewall and connecting with requests from customers via web servers allows them to concentrate on satisfying the requirements of their customers.




If there are multiple servers operating through a reverse proxy the reverse proxy may be also responsible for the direction of which requests are routed through which server. There could be multiple web servers hosting similar resources however each of them offering a different kind of resource or a mix of both. These servers may be running their own HTTP protocol to serve as a standard web server, however they could also incorporate protocols for applications such as FastCGI. You can configure a reverse proxy to redirect visitors to specific server based on the type of resource they are looking for, or follow certain guidelines regarding traffic load.




Reverse proxies are also able to utilize their position before web servers, by providing the capacity of caching. Large static assets can be able to be configured using caching rules to prevent the web server from being hit on every request. There are solutions offering the option of providing static files directly without connecting directly to the website server. Additionally, the reverse proxy is able to manage compression of these files.




The renowned Nginx webserver is also a very well-known reverse proxy choice. While Apache can also be regarded as a reverse proxy option however, the Apache web server is also equipped with a reverse proxy features, it is a different characteristic of Apache but Nginx was initially designed and geared towards the reverse proxy function.



The difference between Forward Proxy and Reverse Proxy Use Situations



Since "forward" and "reverse" have connotations of directionality, they also create inaccurate comparisons to "incoming" as well as "outgoing" traffic. They could be confusing since both kinds of proxies are able to handle requests as well as responses. The best method to distinguish between the forward and reverse proxies would be by analyzing the requirements of the application that you are building.




A reverse proxy could be beneficial when creating an application that connects web applications to the internet. They serve as your servers when you interact using the internet.




Forward proxy is helpful when put in front of the user for private use, or in a work setting. They serve as the proxy for your client whenever you interact on the internet.




Differentiating by case of use rather than focusing solely on similar naming conventions will make sure that you don't get confused.



Conclusion



This article explains the definition of a proxy along with two types of proxy, namely the forward proxy and the reverse proxy. Practical applications and an examination of the benefits were utilized to distinguish between forward and reverse proxies. If you're looking to learn more about the implementation of proxy servers, then you must check out our tutorial on how to set up Nginx as a web server as well as reverse proxy within Apache on an Ubuntu 20.04 server.



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