The phrase "proxy" is a reference to a proxy or proxy server. It is an application which acts as a mediator between client and server via the internet. Without the aid of a proxy, a user could make a request for the resource directly to a server and the server will provide an answer directly for the requester. While this is a simple method to understand and apply using proxy servers, it could provide advantages in terms of improved performance and privacy, security and more. As an additional layer of pass-through a proxy serves as a security safeguard for the internet between servers and clients.




It is generally accepted that the mix of hardware for servers and proxy software is commonly known as proxy servers. This article will focus on proxies that are traditionally described as software as well as in the context of web servers. The article will offer an explanation of the two types: namely a forward proxy and reverse proxy. reverse proxy. Each kind has its own unique usage situation, and is frequently confused due to the similar namesake convention.




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



Understanding Forward Proxies



Forward proxy, also known as open proxy. An open proxy is an agent used by a user who is trying to send an online request to an source server. In this scenario, the entire process of sending requests initiated by the client will instead be routed by this forward proxy. Forward proxy acting in place of the client will examine the request. It first decides if clients are authorized to send requests through this specific forward proxy. It will then deny requests or redirect them to the original server. The client doesn't have a an internet connection directly. It can access only what forward proxy allows it to access.




The primary reason for people to use forward proxy is the need for more privacy or security on the internet. A forward proxy links to internet instead of the client and, in this process, it uses an IP address that is distinct from the IP address used by the user.




Based on the way it is set up the forward proxy will provide various functions based on the configuration and permits you to:




Beware of ad-tracker.


Circumvent surveillance.


Find restrictions based on your area.




Forward proxies may also be employed in systems that offer central security and access that is based on permissions, for instance, in workplaces. If all internet traffic flows through an open forward proxy the administrator can limit access to only certain clients to the internet. This is then filtered by a standard firewall. Instead of establishing firewalls at this layer of clients that may include multiple machines that have different settings and users the firewall could be placed at the layer that forwards proxy traffic.




Be aware that forward proxy servers need to be manually configured to be used, while reverse proxies can be ignored from the clients. Depending on the type of IP address the user's IP address, the server from which it originated by forward proxy privacy and anonymity could be granted or hidden.




There are numerous options to consider when it comes to forward proxy options:




Apache is an well-known open-source web server that offers forward proxy capabilities.


Nginx: Another well-known open-source web server with the ability to forward-proxy.


Squid is an open-source forward proxy that uses an HTTP protocol. It isn't part of the entire web server system. There is a video tutorial on how to use Squid proxy to enable private connections on Ubuntu 20.04.


Dante Forward proxy that utilizes the SOCKS protocol instead of HTTP which makes it better suitable for situations such as peer-to-peer traffic. You can also learn how to configure Dante proxy to permit private connections on Ubuntu 20.04



Understanding Reverse Proxies



A reverse proxy functions as the agent of a web server that manages requests from clients on behalf of. The web server could comprise a single server, or a number of servers. It may also act in the role of an application server for instance Gunicorn. In all cases, the request will be made through the internet generally. In the majority of cases, your request is transmitted direct to a server that hosts the resources that the user is seeking. A reverse proxy serves as an intermediary, separating the webserver from direct interaction with the open internet.




From the viewpoint of a user, the experience of using reverse proxy isn't any different than interacting with your website server directly. It's essentially the same but the client can't recognize the difference. The client sends an order for an item, and then receives it without any extra configuration by the client.




Reverse proxy providers provide features like:




Security centralized on webservers.


Direction of the traffic coming in is determined by rules you can establish.


The caching feature has been added to the app.




While central security is an advantage of both reverse and forward proxy servers, reverse proxy services provide this benefit only to the server layer, and not to the client layer. Instead of maintaining firewalls on the web servers layer which may comprise several servers with different configurations, the bulk protection of the firewall is concentrated on the reverse proxy layer. In addition, the ease of interacting with firewalls and interacting with requests from clients who do not have web servers lets them focus on meeting the requirements of their customers.




When there's multiple servers running in a reverse proxy, the reverse proxy also is responsible for the direction of which requests are directed towards which servers. There could be several web servers providing the exact same service, but each offering different kinds of resources or a combination of both. They may use an HTTP protocol to serve as a standard web server, but they can also be equipped with applications server protocols such as FastCGI. It is possible to configure reverse proxy servers that redirects users to certain servers according to the requested resource, or adhere to specific guidelines for the amount of traffic.




Reverse proxies can also benefit from their position over web servers, by providing the ability to store information. Large static assets can be set up with caching rules to avoid hitting web servers with every request. Some solutions allowing the delivery of static files directly, without having to connect to the website server at all. In addition reverse proxy has the capability to compress these files.




The popular Nginx web server is also used as a well-known reverse proxy option. While Apache can also be regarded as a reverse proxy solution, it is not a reverse proxy solution. Apache web server also has reverse proxy feature as an additional option to Apache while Nginx was initially designed for and focuses exclusively on its reverse proxy function.



Differentiating the use of forward and reverse proxy Examples



Because "forward" and "reverse" are often associated with a sense of directionality, and false comparisons are made to "incoming" and "outgoing" traffic can be confusing since both types of proxies deal with both responses and requests. The best way to differentiate between reverse and forward proxy is to look at the specifications of the application you're developing.




Reverse proxy is helpful in the design of a solution to provide web-based services over the internet. They are your web servers when you interact on the internet.




Forward proxy can be useful when placed in front of customers for personal use, or in a work setting. Forward proxy is a representation of your client's traffic whenever you connect to the internet.




The use case-based distinction rather than using commonly used naming conventions can assist in avoidance of confusion.



Conclusion



In this article, we clarified the definition of a proxy by comparing the two primary types that are forward and the reverse proxy. Examples of practical use as well as a discussion of most beneficial features were used to differentiate between forward and reverse proxy. If you're interested to learn more about the use for proxy servers learn how to configure Nginx as an internet proxy and reverse proxy to Apache using the Ubuntu 20.04 server.



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