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The term "proxy" is a reference to the fact that a proxy or proxy server. It is an application that acts as an intermediary between a server and client on the internet. Without the proxy, a client would make a request for a source direct to a server and it would serve the resource directly back to the user. It is easy to comprehend and implement, adding proxies provides advantages through improved security, performance, privacy as well as many other benefits. As a pass-through layer, proxies serve as a security barrier on the internet between servers and clients.




It is generally accepted that the collection of hardware used by servers and proxy software installed is often described as proxy servers. However, this article will concentrate on proxy servers which are typically described as software, as well as those that are used in conjunction with web servers. This article will give details of the two main types, namely the forward proxy and reverse proxy. reverse proxy. Each type has its own specific usage, which can be confusing due to the overlapping terminology.




This article will give you an idea of the proxy types and their subtypes are and also their importance in typical setups. If you read this article, you'll be able to discern the scenarios in which an effective proxy is beneficial, and determine the best option for you between reverse proxy and forward proxy for any situation.



Understanding Forward Proxies



In other words forward proxy, also referred to as or an open proxy is an agent of the user trying to make an online request to a source server. In this scenario, every attempt to send requests by the client will rather be directed via an forward proxy. In this scenario the forward proxy acting in the client's stead, will look into the request. In the beginning, it will decide whether the client is authorized to send requests via this particular forward proxy. Then, it will either deny requests or redirect them to the origin server. The client is not able to have an internet connection directly; it has access only to what forward proxy allows the client to access.




The most popular reason to use forward proxies is more privacy or protection online. Forward proxy accesses the internet for an individual client and in this way, it may use an IP address distinct from the IP address used by the user.




Based on the way it's setup, a forward proxy can provide a variety of capabilities, including the capability of:




Beware of ad-tracker.


Circumvent surveillance.


You can determine limitations based on your location.




Forward proxies also are employed in systems to offer central security, as well as access based on permissions, such as at work. If all internet traffic flows through an open forward proxy, the administrator may allow only a handful of clients connection to internet which is filtered by an common firewall. Instead of putting firewalls in the client layer, which could be used by multiple computers that have different configurations, users and environments the firewall can be added to this forward proxy layer.




Be aware that forward proxy servers need to be manually configured before they can be used while reverse proxy servers could be ignored by clients. Depending on whether the IP address of the client is sent to the origin server through the forward proxy, privacy and anonymity could be granted or kept secret.




There are many options to take into consideration for forward proxies.




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


Nginx: Another renowned open-source web server that has forward proxy capability.


Squid is an open-source forward proxy that uses the HTTP protocol. It doesn't provide the full Web server platform. You can check out our guide on the best method to install Squid proxy to connect private networks in Ubuntu 20.04.


Dante forward proxy that runs on the SOCKS protocol instead of HTTP this makes it better suitable for situations such as peer-to-peer connections. You could also look into how to set up Dante proxy to allow connection to private networks in Ubuntu 20.04



Understanding Reverse Proxies



A reverse proxy functions as an agent for a web server. It manages requests received from clients on behalf of the server. The web server may function as a one server or a number of servers. Additionally, it can comprise an application server, such as Gunicorn. In any of these situations, the request may come from a user on the internet at large. The request will typically be sent directly to the server on the internet that has the information the user is seeking. Contrarily, a reverse proxy is a intermediary that isolates the server from direct interaction with the open internet.




From the point of view of the client, interacting via reverse proxy doesn't differ from interacting with an internet server direct. It's exactly the same, but the client doesn't see the distinction. The client makes a request for a resource and then receives it, without any further configuration required for the customer.




Reverse proxy providers provide features like:




Centralized security for web servers.


Incoming traffic is directed by rules you set up.


Additional functions for caching.




While central security is an advantage of both reverse and forward proxy servers, reverse proxies offer this benefit to the layer of the webserver, and not the client layer. Instead of focusing on the maintenance of firewalls at the server level which could comprise several servers that have different configurations, the majority of firewall security is focused at the reverse proxy layer. Furthermore, taking the burden of interacting with firewalls and coordinating requests from clients off web servers allows firewalls to focus on supplying services.




In the event of multiple servers operating behind a reverse proxy the reverse proxy may also be responsible for directing which requests go towards which servers. There could be multiple web servers operating on the same server, each providing different kinds of services or a combination of the two. These servers utilize the HTTP protocol to serve as a standard web server. They can also be equipped with application server protocols like FastCGI. You can set up a reverse proxy to route clients to specific servers in accordance with the resource being requested or to follow certain guidelines regarding the load of traffic.




Reverse proxies are also able to take advantage of their positioning prior to web servers using caching capabilities. Large static assets can be configured with caching policy to prevent hitting web servers with each request, with some solutions allowing you to serve static content directly without having to connect to a servers in any manner. In addition, the reverse proxy can be capable of handling compression of these assets.




The popular Nginx web server is also used as a powerful reverse proxy solution. Even though Apache is also an alternative to reverse proxy, the Apache webserver also includes reverse proxy capabilities, and is a different option to Apache and Nginx was designed initially for and concentrates specifically on reverse proxy capabilities.



Differentiating Forward Proxy and Reverse Proxy Use Examples



Because "forward" or "reverse" are both associated with an impression of directionality and false comparisons with "incoming" or "outgoing" traffic the labels can be confusing because both types of proxies can handle requests as well as respond. The best method to differentiate between reverse and forward proxy is to take into account the requirements of the app that you're developing.




A reverse proxy can be beneficial when you're developing an option to host web applications on the internet. They serve as your web servers in any interactions through the Internet.




A forward proxy is useful when presented to customers for your own usage, or even in a professional setting. They act as a representative of your customers for any interaction on the internet.




A case-based distinction instead of focusing on similar naming conventions will assist you in avoidance of confusion.



Conclusion



This article explains what is a "proxy" is with the two main types being the forward proxy and reverse proxy. Practical scenarios to use them as well as an examination of the useful characteristics were used to define different types of proxies that are reverse and forward. If you're interested exploring how to implement proxies you can look up our guide on how to configure Nginx as reverse and web server proxy on Apache on an Ubuntu 20.04 Server.



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