A proxy is can also be referred to as the software that serves as an intermediary between client and server via the internet. Without proxy servers, a user could send a request to servers directly, and servers would serve direct to users. Although this may be a straightforward process to grasp and use proxy servers can result in benefits like enhanced performance, privacy, security, and many more. As a pass-through layer proxy servers are a way to secure the internet between clients and servers.




Generally speaking, the bundled package of server hardware with installed proxy software is commonly called proxy servers. This article will concentrate on proxy servers that are usually regarded as software, and as when referring to web servers. The article will offer details of the two types of proxy servers, which include a forward proxy and a reverse proxy. Each type has a distinct usage scenario, which is often misunderstood due to the identical namesake convention.




This article will provide you with an idea of what proxy services and their subtypes are, and how they are beneficial for the common setups. If you've read the article carefully, you'll to recognize situations where it is beneficial to use the proxy service and determine the right choice between forward proxy and reverse proxy for any scenario.



Understanding Forward Proxies



The forward proxy sometimes known by the name of the open proxy acts as the agent of the client, trying to send an online request to the server which made it. In this case, all attempts to send requests made by the user will instead be routed direct via the forward proxy. In this situation, the forward proxy on behalf of the client will scrutinize the request. It first will determine if the client can make requests using this specific forward proxy. It will then either reject requests or redirect them to the original server. The client is not able to have directly access to internet. It is only able to access what the forward proxy allows it to connect to.




The primary reason people use forward proxies is to increase privacy or anonymity on the internet. A forward proxy uses the internet instead of an individual client and, in doing so, it may make use of an alternative IP address that is different from the original IP address used by the client.




Depending on how it's been configured, a forward proxy can provide a variety of functions and allow you to:




Stay clear of tracking ads.


Circumvent surveillance.


Establish restrictions based upon the location.




Forward proxies can also be used in systems that provide centralized security and access that is based upon permissions, like in a workplace. If all traffic on the internet flows through a common forward proxy layer, the administrator can grant only a small number of clients access to the internet through an common firewall. Instead of having firewalls set up on the client layer, which could involve a number of computers that have different settings and users it is possible to put the firewall configured on an intermediary layer.




Note that forward proxies need to be set up manually in order to permit the use of these proxies, whereas reverse proxies can be omitted by clients. Depending on whether the IP address of the client is passed to the original server through the forward proxy, privacy and security can be granted or kept in the dark.




There are many alternatives to look into for forward proxies.




Apache is an well-known open-source web server, which provides forward proxy capabilities.


Nginx is another widely-used open-source webserver, which includes forward proxy functions.


Squid: A free and free forward proxy which uses an HTTP protocol. This option doesn't include an entire website server program. Learn more from our guide on how you can set up Squid proxy to enable private connections in Ubuntu 20.04.


Dante: A forward proxy that operates the SOCKS protocol instead of HTTP in order to be better suitable for situations such as peer-to-peer connections. It is also possible to learn how to create the Dante proxy that allows private connections in Ubuntu 20.04



Understanding Reverse Proxies



A reverse proxy functions as a representative of a web server, handling any requests that come in from clients on behalf of. This web server may include an individual server or a number of servers. Furthermore, it could be used as an application server, such as Gunicorn. In any of these situations, a request would originate from a user on the web at large. In the majority of cases it is transmitted directly to the server that hosts the information that the client wants. Reverse proxy serves as a middleman to shield Web servers and prevent direct interaction with the internet's public.




From a consumer's point of view from a client's perspective, using reverse proxy is not any different from working with web servers in direct contact. It's functionally the same but clients aren't able tell the distinction. Client makes request for the resource and then it receives it, with no further configuration required for the end user.




Reverse proxies provide features like:




A centralized layer of security to protect the server.


Controlling traffic coming inbound on rules that you can set up.


New functionality added for caching.




Although central security is a benefit for both forward and reverse proxy servers, reverse proxies offer this feature to that layer of the webserver rather than the client layer. Instead of coordinating firewalls at the server level which may contain multiple servers with various configurations, the majority of firewall security is placed on the reverse proxy layer. Also, the removal of the responsibility of interfacing with firewalls as well as interfacing with client requests off of web servers enables the firewall to focus on providing the resources.




In the event of multiple servers participating connected to a reverse proxy, the reverse proxy also takes care of directing which requests are directed to the server. There may be several web servers providing the same content, providing different types of services or a mixture of both. They could use the HTTP protocol exactly the same way as the traditional web server. However, they could also be equipped with applications server protocols like FastCGI. You can set up reverse proxy servers to route visitors to a particular server based on the service requested or to comply with certain guidelines for traffic load.




Reverse proxies may also benefit from their positioning before web servers by providing the capability to store data. Large static assets can be set up using caching rules to prevent needing to connect with web servers for every request, with some solutions allowing you to directly serve static assets without touching the server once. Additionally the reverse proxy can handle the compression on these resources.




The popular Nginx web server also functions as a reliable reverse proxy service. Although Apache can also be a reverse proxy solution however, it is a reverse proxy solution. Apache web server also comes outfitted with a reverse proxy option as an added option for Apache unlike Nginx was initially developed for and is focused on reverse proxy capabilities.



Distinguishing Forward Proxy from Reverse Proxy Use Situations



Because "forward" and "reverse" come with connotations of directionality, as well as misleading comparisons to "incoming" and "outgoing" traffic, these labels can be confusing because both types of proxies manage the process of responding to requests. The best method to differentiate between forward and reverse proxies is to examine the requirements of the app you're working on.




Reverse proxy can be a valuable tool when you are creating a solution for serving applications on the web via the internet. Reverse proxy servers represent your website whenever you interact on the web.




A forward proxy can be helpful when it is placed before clients for personal use or in a professional setting. They serve as a representation of your client's web traffic during any interaction on the internet.




The practice of segregating by use case instead of focussing on similar names can help in avoiding confusion.



Conclusion



This article explains the meaning of a proxy that has two kinds: the forward proxy and the reverse proxy. Practical application scenarios as well as an examination of the beneficial attributes were used to identify forward proxies as well as reverse proxies. If you're interested in exploring the use of proxy servers then you should learn how to set up Nginx as an internet server and reverse proxy for Apache on an Ubuntu 20.04 Server.



If you adored this short article and you would certainly like to receive more info pertaining to Proxy Sites kindly browse through our page.