proxy, also known as a proxy or proxy server a server software that sits as a mediator between client and server on the internet. With no intermediary a user would send a request for an item straight to the server and servers would deliver the resource directly back to the client. Although this approach is simple to comprehend and implement, proxies can provide benefits such as improved speed, privacy, security, and much more. As a pass-through layer proxy acts as a gatekeeper of the internet between clients and servers.




Generally speaking it is the bundled set of server hardware and proxy software is often called a proxy server. However, this article will concentrate on proxy servers which are usually referred to as software, as well as those used in conjunction with web servers. We will provide a brief overview of the two primary kinds of proxy servers, which are a forward proxy and a reverse proxy. Each type has its own unique use case, and can be misinterpreted due to the identical terms.




This article will give you an idea of the different types of proxy services and the subtypes are as well in how they work in the common configurations. Through this article, you will be able to recognize the scenarios where you could benefit from a proxy, and determine the most appropriate alternative between reverse and forward proxy options in any given scenario.



Understanding Forward Proxies



Forward proxy also known as the open proxy is an agent used by a user who wishes to make a request via the internet to the server which originated it. In this situation, it's the scenario that all requests sent by the client would rather be sent directly at the forward proxy. This forward proxy acting in position of the customer will examine the request. In the beginning, it will determine whether the client is able to accept requests through this specific forward proxy. Then, it will either reject requests or redirect it to the source server. The client doesn't have a direct access to the internet but it is able to access what the forward proxy gives it access to.




The most popular reason to utilize forward proxy servers is to improve security or privacy online. A forward proxy can be used to browse the internet in place of clients. In the process, it uses an alternative IP address to the IP address that was originally that the client uses.




Based on the way it was set up according to how it was initially configured forward proxy can grant you various features in addition to the capability to:




Beware of ads that track you.


Circumvent surveillance.


You can determine limitations based on your geographical area.




Forward proxies can also be used in systems that offer central security as well as access to users based on their permissions, for instance in a workplace. In the event that all internet traffic is routed via an open forward proxy administrators can allow access only to a few users to the internet. The web is blocked by a standard firewall. Instead of having firewalls installed on the client layer that may comprise several machines that have different user and environments, a firewall could be set up on top of an front proxy layer.




Be aware that forward proxies need to be manually setup before they are able to be used to use them, while reverse proxy servers are not able to be noticed by the user. Based on the fact that an IP address for a user is sent to the server that generated it via the forward proxy privacy and anonymity may be granted or left transparent.




There are several alternatives to think about for forward proxies




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


Nginx: Another well-known open source server for hosting websites with forward proxy capability.


Squid is an open-source forward proxy which uses the HTTP protocol. It's not the complete web-based server. Take a look at our guide on how to set up Squid proxy to allow private connections within Ubuntu 20.04.


Dante Forward proxy that uses the SOCKS protocol rather than HTTP to ensure it is more suitable for use scenarios like peer-to-peer communication. You may also want to look at how you can create a Dante proxy to allow private connections on Ubuntu 20.04



Understanding Reverse Proxies



A reverse proxy functions as a representative of the web server which takes care of any requests that come in from clients on behalf. Web servers can represent one or more servers. Additionally, it can be an application server like Gunicorn. In all these instances, an application request comes by a user of the internet in general. Most of the time the request will go directly to the website server that hosts the data the client is seeking. In contrast reverse proxy acts as an intermediary in order to shield Web server from any direct interaction with the internet's open.




From a perspective of the person's perspective, working with reverse proxy is not anything different than working with a Web server in direct communication. It works the same as the web server, and the user is unable to discern the distinction. The client is able to make a request for the resource and it is then given the resource without any additional configuration needed by the user.




Reverse proxy providers provide features such as:




Secured centrally to protect Web Server Layer.


The direction of traffic coming in according to rules you have set.


The caching functionality was added to the application.




While centralized security is an advantage of both reverse and forward proxy, reverse proxies provide this function to only the layer of web servers, and not to the client layer. Instead of focusing on the maintenance of firewalls in the web server layer which may contain multiple servers with different configurations the majority of the firewall security is targeted at the reverse proxy layer. Also, the removal of the obligation to interface with a firewall and connecting with requests from customers from web servers enables them to focus solely on satisfying the requirements of their clients.




If there are more than one servers running through a reverse proxy, the reverse proxy could be also responsible for the direction in which requests are directed through which server. There may be several web servers that are serving similar resources but each one offering a different type of resources or a combination of the two. These servers may be running an HTTP protocol to function as a standard web server, however they could also include applications server protocols like FastCGI. You can create reverse proxy in order redirecting visitors to a particular server based on the type of resource they're searching for, or follow certain guidelines regarding traffic load.




Reverse proxies can also utilize their position prior to web servers, by providing the capacity of caching. Large static assets can be able to be configured using rules for caching to avoid hitting web servers on every request. There are solutions offering the possibility of providing static files directly without connecting with the server on any manner. Additionally, the reverse proxy is able to manage compression of these assets.




The renowned Nginx webserver is also a very well-known reverse proxy choice. While Apache can also be regarded as a reverse proxy option it is not the only one. Apache web server also comes equipped with reverse proxy feature, which is a different feature in Apache However, Nginx was designed originally for and focused on the reverse proxy function.



The difference in Forward Proxy and Reverse Proxy Use Examples



Since "forward" and "reverse" have connotations of directionality, they also create misleading comparisons with "incoming" as well as "outgoing" traffic and could be confusing since both kinds of proxies can manage requests and responses. Better yet, the best method to differentiate between those proxies that are forward or reverse is by analyzing the needs of the application you're creating.




A reverse proxy could be beneficial when creating an approach to connect web-based applications to the internet. They act as your servers when you are on the internet.




Forward proxy can be helpful when put before the client for your personal use or even in a working environment. They act as your client's proxy whenever you interact on the internet.




Distinguishing by use case instead of focusing on the same naming conventions will ensure that you aren't confused.



Conclusion



This article clarified the definition of a proxy along with two types, namely the forward proxy and reverse proxy. Practical applications as well as an exploration of useful features were utilized to distinguish between forward and reverse proxies. If you're looking to learn more about the use of proxies, you should go through our guide on how to configure Nginx as web server as well as reverse proxy on Apache on one Ubuntu 20.04 server.



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