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"proxy" is a term used to describe a server "proxy" refers to the idea of a proxy frequently referred to as proxy servers are software that acts in the role of intermediary between a server and a client on the internet. Without proxy, a user could make a request for an online server, and the server would serve direct to the requester. While this approach is straightforward to grasp and implement, adding proxies offers advantages such as more performance, privacy and security, and so on. As a layer of pass-through, the proxy serves as a shield for the internet between clients and servers.




In general, the combination of server hardware that is paired with the software used to install proxy is usually referred to as proxy servers. This article will concentrate on proxy servers which are generally considered to be software and specifically, in relation with web server. We will present a summary of the two main types of proxy servers: forward proxy and reverse proxy. forward proxy and reverse proxy. reverse proxy. Each type comes with its own application scenario, which is often misunderstood due to the overlapping terminology.




This article will provide you with an idea of how proxies work, what their subtypes and ways they can be useful in a range of configurations. If you read this article you'll be able to recognize the circumstances in which the use of proxies is beneficial, and then determine the most appropriate choice between forward proxy and reverse proxy for any particular situation.



Understanding Forward Proxies



A forward proxy, also known as an open proxy serves as the representative of the client who is trying to transmit a request through the internet to a source server. In this scenario, every request made by the user will instead be handled by the forward proxy. This forward proxy in place of the client will review the request. It will then determine whether or not the client is able to send requests via this particular forward proxy. Then, it'll orally reject a request and forward it to the source server. The client is not able to connect directly to internet. It can only connect to the internet that forward proxy allows for it to reach.




The most common reason to use forward proxies is to improve privacy or security while using the internet. A forward proxy can be used to access the internet, instead of the client. In this manner, it is using an alternative IP address to the IP address that was originally used by the client.




Depending on how it's set up depending on how it is configured forward proxy can provide a variety of functions that allow users to:




Beware of ad-tracker.


Circumvent surveillance.


You can determine restrictions based upon your geographical location.




Forward proxies are also utilized to secure systems that are centralized and have access is based on permissions, such as at work. If all internet traffic goes through a common forward proxy layer, an administrator can restrict access to just a small number of users to the internet that is then filtered through the common firewall. Instead of setting up security firewalls on the layer that is used by clients which could be used by a number of computers that have different settings and types of users, it is possible to set up a firewall located at the layer that forwards proxy traffic.




It is important to note that forward proxies need to be configured manually to be utilized, whereas reverse proxies can be hidden from the view of clients. Based on whether or not your IP address a user is relayed back to the server that originated it through the forward proxy, privacy and anonymity are granted or denied.




There are many alternatives to look into for forward proxies.




Apache An open-source, well-known web server that comes with forward proxy capability.


Nginx: Another popular open-source webserver which comes with forward proxy capabilities.


Squid is a free forward proxy that works with the HTTP protocol. It's not included with the entire web server. Check out our instructions on how to configure Squid proxy to permit private connections on Ubuntu 20.04.


Dante Forward proxy that utilizes the SOCKS protocol instead of HTTP which makes it more suitable for use instances like peer-to-peer traffic. You might also want to check out how to configure Dante proxy to allow private connections on Ubuntu 20.04



Understanding Reverse Proxies



A reverse proxy acts in the capacity of an intermediary for server on the internet, which processes requests from customers on its behalf. This server can represent a single, or multiple servers. It could also be an application server, such as Gunicorn. In either case the request will be made through the internet generally. The request is typically directed directly to the web server which hosts the resources that the client requires of. In contrast, a reverse proxy acts as an intermediary, and separates the web server from direct contact with the public internet.




From the viewpoint of the individual client's point of view the process of utilizing reverse proxy is the same than working with the server on its own. It's exactly the same however the client can't see the difference. Client makes a request for the resource and then receives it, without any additional configuration needed for the customer.




Reverse proxies provide features like:




The server for the web is secure centrally.


Traffic coming into your site is routed according to the rules you establish.


A new feature for caching is now available.




While centralized security is an advantage of both forward and reverse proxy servers, reverse proxies offer this feature to only the server layer but not the client layer. In lieu of maintaining firewalls at the server level which could contain multiple servers with different configurations, the majority of firewall security is centered in the reverse proxy layer. Additionally, removing the burden of interacting with firewalls and interacting to requests from clients away from web servers allows firewalls to focus on meeting the needs of their customers.




If there are multiple servers located within a reverse proxy this reverse proxy will be also responsible for how requests are routed at which server. Many web servers may be providing the exact same service, but offering different kinds of resources, or a mix of both. These servers may use their HTTP protocol to serve as an ordinary web server however they can also use application server protocols such as FastCGI. You can also set up reverse proxy settings to send users to specific servers depending on the requested resource or to abide by certain rules for traffic load.




Reverse proxies also gain by their positioning prior to web servers by offering the ability to cache. Large static assets can be set by caching rules to avoid hitting web servers with every request. There are options that allow users to serve static assets without connecting with the server on any manner. Additionally, reverse proxy can manage compressing these assets.




The well-known Nginx web server can also function as a powerful reverse proxy solution. While Apache can also be a reverse proxy service it is not the only one. Apache web server is equipped with a reverse proxy functionality that is an additional feature that is available for Apache however Nginx was originally designed to specifically focus on reverse proxy features.



The difference between Forward Proxy and Reverse Proxy Use Situations



Since "forward" and "reverse" have connotations of directionality, and false analogies to "incoming" or "outgoing" traffic The labels can be confusing as both types of proxies deal with both requests as well as responses. An alternative method to distinguish between forward and reverse proxy is to analyze the specifications of the application you're developing.




A reverse proxy is useful when you are developing a method to connect web applications to the internet. They serve as your web servers whenever you use the internet.




Forward proxy can be useful when used to present your customers' information to use for personal purposes or in an office setting. They act as your client's proxy when you interact with the internet.




Distinguishing by use case instead of solely focusing on common naming conventions can help you avoid confusion.



Conclusion



This article describes what a proxy is with two kinds: forward proxy and the reverse proxy. Examples of how to use it and a review of the advantageous features were used to differentiate forward proxies and reverse proxies. If you're interested to learn more about proxy servers, read our guide on how you can configure Nginx as a reverse proxy using Apache on an Ubuntu 20.04 server.



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