It is a proxy, also called a proxy server. It is a software which acts as an intermediary between a client and server on the internet. With no proxy in place, a user could make a request for an item directly to a server, and the server would then provide the requested resource directly to the user. While this approach is straightforward to understand and implement with proxy services, it may provide advantages in terms of more performance, privacy, security, and much more. In addition, a pass-through proxy is a security guardian for the internet between clients and servers.




In general, the set of hardware used by servers and installed proxy software is commonly called proxy servers. This article will concentrate on proxy servers which are usually described as software and also when referring to web servers. This article will provide an extensive description of two primary types: a forward proxy and a reverse proxy. reverse proxy. Each kind has its own specific usage instance, but they're often misunderstood due to the similar namesake convention.




This article will provide details about the types of proxies and what their subtypes are and how they function in the most common configurations. In this article you will be able identify situations in which you can gain from using a proxy, and select the right solution between forward proxy and reverse proxy in any circumstance.



Understanding Forward Proxies



The forward proxy also known by its name of an open proxy serves as a representative for a client who wants to make a request via the internet to an origin server. In this scenario it is the case that all requests made by the user would prefer to be directed via an forward proxy. A forward proxy acting in on behalf of the user, will scrutinize the request. It is the first thing to determine whether the client is permitted to transmit requests through this particular forward proxy. It will then deny requests or redirect it back to the server that originally sent it. The client does not directly connect to the Internet. It only has access to the internet that the forward proxy allows it to connect to.




The most popular uses for forward proxies is to gain increased privacy or anonymity on internet. A forward proxy uses the internet as a client, and in this way, it can utilize an alternate IP address in addition to the original IP address.




Based on the way it has been configured and the configuration forward proxy could provide you with a range of options. It will allow you to:




Do not click on ads that track you.


Circumvent surveillance.


You will be able to identify any limitations based on your geographic area.




Forward proxies are also utilized in systems that offer central security and access via permissions, like at work. When all internet traffic goes through a common forward proxy, an administrator can allow only a handful of clients connection to the web which is then filtered by a standard firewall. Instead of keeping firewalls in place to protect the client layer, which could include multiple computers that have different configurations and clients, the firewall could be put within the layer which forwards proxy traffic.




Take note that forward proxies need to be manually setup for use while reverse proxies might not be detected by the client. Depending on the type of IP address that a customer is relayed to the origin server through forward proxy, privacy and security can be granted, or left unnoticed.




There are many possibilities to explore when it comes to forward proxy choices:




Apache An open-source, well-known web server that provides forward proxy features.


Nginx is another popular open-source web server with forward proxy features.


Squid is an open source forward proxy that uses an HTTP protocol. This doesn't offer an entire internet server. We recommend that you follow our step-by-step guide to set up Squid proxy for private connections on Ubuntu 20.04.


Dante Forward Proxy that uses the SOCKS protocol instead of HTTP which makes it more suitable for applications such as peer-to-peer. It is also possible to learn how to install an Dante proxy for private connections on Ubuntu 20.04



Understanding Reverse Proxies



Reverse proxy serves as a proxy for a web server that handles the incoming requests of clients on behalf of. This web server may be a single server, or multiple servers. Additionally, it can serve as an application server such as Gunicorn. In both cases, the request is received from a user via the web at large. In most cases the request will be sent directly to the server with the information the client is in need of. Instead, a reverse proxy acts as an intermediary and separates it from direct interactions with the open internet.




From the viewpoint of the client from a client's perspective, using reverse proxy is not any different than interacting with a Web server direct. It's the same thing, and the client is unable to tell the distinction. The client requests the resource, and then gets it with no additional configuration required on the part of the client.




Reverse proxy providers provide features like:




The web server is secured centrally.


The sending of traffic in accordance with rules you decide to define.


Additional functionality for caching.




Central security is an advantage of both reverse and forward proxy service, reverse proxies give this benefit only to Web server layers but not to the layer of clients. instead of maintaining firewalls on the layer of web servers which may include multiple servers with different configurations, the bulk of firewall security is centered on that layer called reverse proxy. Additionally, getting rid of the responsibility of communicating with firewalls and coordinating requests from clients away from web servers allows them to concentrate on delivering the needs of their clients.




If there are multiple servers existing behind a reverse proxy the reverse proxy also is responsible for directing which requests pass via which server. There could be multiple web servers hosting the same resources, supplying various kinds of resources or a mixture of both. They can utilize the HTTP protocol similar to an ordinary web server but they could also include application server protocols like FastCGI. It is possible to configure a reverse proxy that redirects clients to particular servers based on the requested resource or to abide by specific rules regarding traffic load.




Reverse proxies can also benefit by their position prior to web servers, providing caching functionality. Large static files can be arranged by caching rules, avoiding needing to connect with web servers every time you request, with some solutions allowing users to serve static files directly without contacting the web server for any reason. Furthermore, the reverse proxy can handle compression of these assets.




The well-known Nginx web server also functions as a very popular reverse proxy service. Although Apache has a reverse proxy option, the Apache web server is also equipped with an reverse proxy, which adds a feature to Apache However, Nginx was originally designed to and is focused on the reverse proxy feature.



Differentiating Forward Proxy from Reverse Proxy Use Examples



Since "forward" or "reverse" are both associated with an impression of directionality and can lead to misleading comparisons with "incoming" as well as "outgoing" traffic These labels could be confusing because both types of proxy process requests and responses. A better approach to differentiate between reverse and forward proxies is to examine the requirements of the application that you are building.




Reverse proxy can be a valuable tool to develop an approach to offer web-based services via the internet. They serve as your web servers every time you use the internet.




Forward proxy apps are useful for displaying clients for personal use, or in a corporate setting. They serve as the proxy for your client for all communications on the internet.




Separating by use case rather than using commonly used naming conventions can make it easier for people to stay clear of confusion.



Conclusion



This article will explain the definition of a proxy along with the two types, namely the forward proxy and the reverse proxy. Practical applications and a discussion of the most beneficial features were used to differentiate between forward proxies and reverse proxies. If you'd like to discover the possibilities of proxies then take a look at our tutorial on how to configure Nginx as an internet server and reverse proxy for Apache running an Ubuntu 20.04 server.



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