An proxy also referred to proxy server software that functions as a mediator between a client and a server on the internet. Without the use of a proxy, an individual can send a request for something directly through a server, and the server will deliver the resource directly back to the client. While this is a simple method to grasp and implement, the addition of proxy servers can bring advantages in terms of increased performance, privacy, security, and more. In addition to adding a layer of security proxy servers also act as a security guardian of the internet between servers and clients.

There is a general consensus that the set of server hardware and proxy software are also known as proxy servers. This article will focus on the proxies that are typically categorized as software, and in the case of web servers. We will provide a brief overview of the two main types of proxies, which include a forward proxy and reverse proxy. reverse proxy. Each type has its own use that can cause confusion due to a similar name convention.

This article will give you an idea of the what proxies are and what their subtypes are, as well as how they work in the common configurations. In the article you'll learn to determine the situations where it's beneficial to utilize a proxy and make the right choice between forward and reverse proxy for any scenario.

Understanding Forward Proxies

In another way a forward proxy, also referred to as or an open proxy acts as a representative of a customer who wishes to send an internet request to an source server. In this situation, any request from the client is instead directed directly via the forward proxy. This forward proxy in place of the client, will look into the request. The first step is to determine if the user is authorized receive requests from this particular forward proxy. Then, it decides if it wants to refuse a request or forward it to the original server. The client isn't able to have direct access to the internet. It only has access to what the forward proxy grants it access to.

The most popular reason to utilize forward proxy servers is to gain greater privacy or security when surfing the internet. Forward proxy allows you to access the internet in place of a client, and in this manner it could employ an alternative IP address to the original IP address used by the client.

Based on the way it was previously configured forward proxy servers are able to offer a wide range of options and allow you to:

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  Beware of ad-tracker.
  
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  Circumvent surveillance.
  
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  You will be able to identify any restrictions based upon your geographic location.
  
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Forward proxies are also employed in systems that offer centralized security and permission based access, such as at work. When all traffic on the internet passes via an open forward proxy layer, administrators can limit access to those clients who are that are filtered through a common firewall. Instead of having firewalls for the client layer that could comprise a variety of computers with different environments and users, the firewall could be put within the forward proxy layer.

Note that the forward proxy setting must be manually set up to function in reverse proxies, whereas forward proxy settings are not recognized by clients. Based on whether the IP address of a user is passed to the original server via forward proxy privacy and anonymity may be granted or not.

There are a variety of possibilities to consider when it comes to forward proxy options:

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  Apache: A popular open-source web server with forward proxy capabilities.
  
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  Nginx: Another popular open-source webserver with forward proxy features.
  
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  Squid: A free forward proxy that utilizes the HTTP protocol. This doesn't offer an entire web server solution. Take a look at our step-bystep guide to create Squid proxy to permit private connections within Ubuntu 20.04.
  
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  Dante forward proxy that runs using the SOCKS protocol rather than HTTP which makes it better appropriate for scenarios such as peer-to-topeer connections. You can also look into how you can install a Dante proxy to connect privately in Ubuntu 20.04
  
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Understanding Reverse Proxies

A reverse proxy acts as a representative of a web server that handles incoming requests from clients in its place. The web server could comprise one server or several servers. Additionally, it can be a server for applications such as Gunicorn. In any of these scenarios, an application request is made through the internet in general. In most cases the request will be sent directly to the server that hosts the data the user is asking for. A reverse proxy acts as an intermediary, protecting Web server from any direct contact with the web's public.

From a consumer's point viewpoint, or a user's viewpoint, interfacing via a reverse proxy identical to working with an internet server direct. It's exactly the same thing, however the user is unable to be able to discern the differences. The client requests a resource and then receives it without any further configuration needed from the client.

Reverse proxies offer features like:

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  Secured centrally to protect Web Server Layer.
  
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  Controlling traffic coming inbound according to rules that you can set up.
  
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  The caching functionality has been added to the app.
  
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While central security is a benefit of both forward and reverse proxy servers, reverse proxies provide this benefit only to the server layer, it is not available to the client layer. Instead of managing firewalls on the web server layer that could contain multiple servers with different configurations, the bulk of firewall security can be targeted at the reverse proxy layer. Additionally, removing the responsibility to interact with firewalls as well as dealing with clients' requests without the need for web servers enables them to focus on meeting the requirements of their clients.

In the event that there's multiple servers hosted using a reverse-proxy, the reverse proxy is responsible to direct which requests are routed to the server. There could be multiple web servers offering identical content providing different types of resource or a mixture of both. These servers may be running the HTTP protocol similar to a standard web server however, they may also use additional protocols for application servers like FastCGI. You can also set up a reverse proxy to redirect the clients towards specific servers based upon the requested resource or to follow specific rules regarding traffic load.

Reverse proxies also can make use of their position prior to web servers by providing the ability to cache. The large static files can be configured using caching rules to prevent the web server from being hit with each request. There are solutions that permit you to serve static assets directly without connecting to the web server once. Furthermore reverse proxy is able to control compression of these files.

The well-known Nginx web server can also function as an extremely popular reverse proxy option. While Apache can also be a reverse proxy solution however, the Apache web server is also able to function with reverse proxy function as an additional feature of Apache while Nginx was designed initially to focus on its reverse proxy feature.

Differentiating Forward Proxy and reverse Proxy Use Examples

Since "forward" as well as "reverse" are associated with directionality, and false comparisons to "incoming" or "outgoing" traffic the labels can be confusing as both types of proxies deal with requests and responses. A better approach to differentiate between forward and reverse proxy is to examine the requirements of the program you're building.

Reverse proxy is beneficial when creating a solution to provide web-based services over the internet. They act as your web server when you interact on the web.

Forward proxy is useful when placed in front of customers for personal use, or in a corporate environment. They represent your clients when you connect to the internet.

A case-based distinction instead of focusing solely on commonly used naming conventions can help in avoiding confusion.

Conclusion

This article defined the meaning of a proxy, which includes two types: the forward proxy and the reverse proxy. Practical applications and a review of the beneficial features were used to distinguish between forward and reverse proxies. If you're interested in knowing more about how to set up proxies you can check out our guide on how to configure Nginx as a reverse and web server proxy with Apache using an Ubuntu 20.04 server.

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