The term "proxy" is a reference to the fact that a proxy or proxy server. A proxy server is an application that serves as an intermediary between a client and server on the internet. Without the use of proxy servers, users could submit a request for the server directly and the server would provide direct access to that resource. Although this approach is simple to understand and implement with proxy servers, it could provide advantages in terms of improved performance, privacy, security, and more. In addition, a pass-through, a proxy acts as a security guardian for the internet, separating clients from servers.




The combined combination of server hardware as well as proxy software is commonly known as proxy servers. This article will focus on proxies that are traditionally described as software as in the context of web servers. This article will give details of two main kinds: forward proxy and reverse proxy. reverse proxy. Each type has its own usage situation, and is frequently confused due to the similar namesake convention.




This article will provide the knowledge of what subtypes and proxies can do and how they do in the common configurations. After reading this article, you'll be able identify scenarios where the use of proxies is advantageous, and then choose the best option between forward proxy and reverse proxy in any given situation.



Understanding Forward Proxies



Forward proxy also referred to by the name of open proxy. An open proxy is a proxy for the user trying to send an internet request to a source server. In this case the entire effort to send requests made by the client is routed through the forward proxy. The forward proxy, acting on behalf of the client will examine the request. It will first determine if clients are authorized to submit requests via this particular forward proxy. It then decides whether to deny requests or redirect it to the server that originally made the request. The client does not have an internet connection directly. It is able to access only what forward proxy allows it to access.




The primary reason for people to utilize forward proxy is to increase security or privacy when surfing the web. Forward proxy connects to internet instead of the client, and in this process, it uses an IP address that is different from the IP address of the client.




Based on the way it was configured, the forward proxy can provide a variety of functions depending on how it is configured, which permits you to:




Beware of ad-tracker.


Circumvent surveillance.


Find restrictions based on the location you are in.




Forward proxies can also be employed in systems that offer central security and access based on user permissions, for instance, in workplaces. If all traffic on the internet flows through an open forward proxy the administrator can restrict access only to a select group of clients to the internet, which is then filtered by a standard firewall. Instead of creating firewalls for the client layer, which could comprise multiple computers that have different settings and users the firewall could be installed at the layer that forwards proxy data.




Take note that forward proxies require manual configuration for use, and reverse proxies can be ignored from the clients. Based on the type of IP address of the user, it is sent to the server which originated it by the forward proxy, privacy and anonymity could be granted or hidden.




There are numerous options to consider in the case of forward proxy choices:




Apache is an well-known open-source web server that provides forward proxy functions.


Nginx: Another well-known open-source web server that comes with forward proxy capabilities.


Squid is an open-source forward proxy that utilizes an HTTP protocol. It doesn't come with the entire webserver system. We've got a guide on how you can set up Squid proxy to allow private connections in Ubuntu 20.04.


Dante Forward proxy that utilizes the SOCKS protocol instead of HTTP which makes it more to handle situations like peer-to-peer connections. You can also discover how to configure Dante proxy to allow private connections in Ubuntu 20.04



Understanding Reverse Proxies



Reverse proxy is the agent of a web server which handles requests from users for. The web server can be a single server or multiple servers. It can also function in the role of an application server such as Gunicorn. In all cases, the request will be sent through the internet generally. In the majority of cases requests will then be transmitted straight to the webserver hosting the information that the user is seeking. A reverse proxy serves as an intermediary, detaching this webserver from direct connections with the internet's open.




From the viewpoint of a user the experience of using reverse proxy is not distinct from connecting to the webserver in direct contact. It's basically the same, but the client cannot recognize the difference. A client submits an order for an item and receives it without any further configuration required for the customer.




Reverse proxy providers provide features like:




Security centralized for web servers.


Direction of the traffic that is entering is based on rules you can establish.


The caching function is now available to users.




Although central security is a benefit of both reverse and forward proxy servers, reverse proxies offer this benefit only to the server layer, not to the layer that clients use. Instead of maintaining firewalls on the web server layer which may comprise several servers with various configurations, the majority in firewall protection is concentrated at the layer of reverse proxy. In addition, the ease of dealing with firewalls and responding to requests from clients who do not have web servers allows them to focus on meeting the requirements of their clients.




If there are multiple servers running within a reverse proxy the reverse proxy is also accountable for directing which requests are directed to which servers. There could be multiple web servers that provide the same service, but offering different kinds of resources or a combination of both. They can utilize an HTTP protocol to function as a standard web server, but they can also be equipped with protocols for application servers like FastCGI. You can configure a reverse proxy to redirect users to specific servers based on the requested resource, or adhere to certain guidelines regarding the volume of traffic.




Reverse proxies also can benefit from their positioning above web servers by offering the capability to store data. Large static assets can be created with caching rules to avoid from hitting web servers with each request. Some applications allow you to deliver static files without needing to connect to a website server at all. In addition, reverse proxy is able to compress these files.




The well-known Nginx web server is also used as an extremely popular reverse proxy solution. Although Apache can also be regarded as a reverse proxy option however, Apache is a reverse proxy service. Apache web server also has reverse proxy capabilities as an added option for Apache while Nginx was initially developed for and focused on the reverse proxy feature.



Distinguishing the use of forward and reverse proxy Examples



Since "forward" as well as "reverse" are associated with a sense of directionality, and false comparisons are made to "incoming" and "outgoing" traffic can be confusing because both kinds of proxy servers handle both responses and requests. An alternative approach to distinguish between forward and reverse proxy is to examine the specifications of the application that you're constructing.




A reverse proxy can be beneficial in the creation of a solution to provide web-based applications over the internet. They serve as your web servers whenever you use the internet.




Forward proxy is useful when placed before clients for personal use, or in a work setting. Forward proxy is a representation of the traffic of your client whenever you connect to the internet.




The use case-based differentiation instead of using the most common naming conventions can help in avoiding confusion.



Conclusion



In this article, we clarified the meaning of a proxy with the two types of proxy: the forward proxy as well as the reverse one. Examples of how to use them and a discussion of the most useful features were utilized to differentiate between forward and reverse proxies. If you're interested in exploring the benefits of proxy servers, learn how to set up Nginx as an internet server and reverse proxy for Apache using the Ubuntu 20.04 server.



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