A proxy, also known as a proxy is also known as the proxy server, is software which functions as mediator between a client and server over the internet. Without a proxy, a client would make a request resources directly to a server, and it would deliver direct to users who requested the resource. Although this is a simple process to understand and implement using proxy services, it may bring benefits in the form of improved performance, privacy, security, and much more. As an additional layer of protection proxy, it acts as a gatekeeper for the internet between servers and users.

In general, the set of server hardware that is installed with proxy software is generally known as a proxy server. In this article, we will focus on proxy servers, which are generally classified as software and within the context of web servers. We will provide a description of the two major kinds of proxies: the forward proxy and the reverse proxy. Each kind has its own application, and is frequently confused due to a similar the namesake convention.

This article will provide you with an idea of the what proxy services and their subtypes are and their importance in the common configurations. By reading the article you'll understand how to identify the circumstances in which an effective proxy could be useful, and choose the correct option between reverse and forward proxy, based on the circumstances.

Understanding Forward Proxies

A forward proxy, sometimes called an open proxy acts as an intermediary between the client who is trying to send a request via the internet to a source server. In this case every attempt to send requests made by the user will be directed directly to forward-proxy. A forward proxy, acting in the client's stead, will scrutinize the request. First, it will decide if the client's allowed access to requests made by this particular forward proxy. It will then reject any request, or send it to the original server. The client is not able to have direct access to the internet. It is able to access only the web pages that forward proxy gives its access.

The most popular uses for forward proxies is to improve privacy and security when surfing the internet. Forward proxy makes use of the internet as a client, and in the process, it uses an alternative IP address for the client's IP address.

Based on the way it is configured based on the configuration forward proxy could provide various features based upon the configuration that allow you to:

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  Avoid tracking ads.
  
  
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  Circumvent surveillance.
  
  
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  You will be able to identify any restrictions based upon your geographical place of residence.
  
  

Forward proxies are also used in systems that provide central security and access based on permissions, such as in an office. The entire internet can be passed through a forward proxy that is open. administrators can limit access to specific users to the internet, which is protected by an common firewall. As opposed to having firewalls installed on the client layer, which may include multiple computers that have different configurations and users there is the option to install an firewall that is located in the forward proxy layer.

Take note the forward proxy setting need to be manually set up to use however reverse proxies will be ignored by the client. Depending on whether an IP address belonging to the user is transmitted to the server where it originated via the forward proxy, privacy and security could be granted or kept in the dark.

There are a variety of options to consider for forward proxy options:

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  Apache is an well-known open-source web server that provides forward proxy functions.
  
  
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  Nginx: Another well-known open-source server used for web hosting with forward proxy capabilities.
  
  
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  Squid: An open-source forward proxy which uses the HTTP protocol. It's not the complete web server. Take a look at our tutorial on how to install Squid proxy for private connections in Ubuntu 20.04.
  
  
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  Dante is a forward proxy that makes use of the SOCKS protocol instead of HTTP to make it better suitable for peer-to-peer traffic. You might also want to examine how you can configure Dante proxy to allow private connections in Ubuntu 20.04
  
  

Understanding Reverse Proxies

A reverse proxy acts as the web server which handles incoming requests from customers on its behalf. The web server may represent a single or a number of servers. It may additionally be an app server such as Gunicorn. In all of these scenarios, an application request is made by a user on the internet. The majority of the time requests are sent directly to the web server, which will provide the information the client is requesting. However, a reverse proxy acts as an intermediary that isolates your server from interaction with the open internet.

From the perspective of the user's viewpoint the procedure of using reverse proxy isn't different from using a Web server to communicate in direct contact. It's the same thing, and the client cannot discern the difference. The client makes a request for the resource, which is followed by its receipt with no extra configuration required by the end-user.

Reverse proxies offer options like:

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  A central layer of security that protects the server.
  
  
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  Incoming traffic is directed on rules you determine.
  
  
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  New feature added to caching.
  
  

While centralized security is a benefit of both reverse and forward proxy, reverse proxies do this for only the server layer but not the client layer. instead of being focused on maintenance of firewalls at the web server layer which can contain a variety of servers and various configurations, most of the firewall security is aimed towards the reverse proxy layer. Also, the removal of the responsibility of interfacing with firewalls and interacting with clients distant from web servers enables them to concentrate on delivering the requirements of their customers.

In the event of multiple servers existing through reverse proxy, the reverse proxy is also responsible for directing which requests will go via which server. There could be multiple web servers that provide the same content, and each offering different kinds of services, or a mix of both. These servers may be using the HTTP protocol that is the standard web server, but they can also include other protocols used by application servers like FastCGI. You can also set up reverse proxy settings to direct users to a particular server based on the requested resource or to adhere to specific guidelines for the amount of traffic.

Reverse proxies can also take advantage of their position over web servers, by providing the ability to cache information. Massive static resources can be set up with caching policies to avoid hitting web servers on every request. Some solutions providing the option to serve static content directly without contacting the web server in any way. Additionally, the reverse proxy can handle compressing these assets.

The well-known Nginx web server also functions as a popular reverse proxy option. However, a similar feature within the Apache web server, it does include reverse proxy capabilities as an additional feature available to Apache while Nginx was designed originally for and is focused on the reverse proxy feature.

Distinguishing Forward and Reverse Proxy Use Cases

Since "forward" in addition to "reverse" are associated with directionality, and false comparisons with "incoming" and "outgoing" traffic, these labels can be confusing because both kinds of proxy servers process requests and responses. The best method to distinguish between forward and reverse proxy is to study the requirements of the app you're creating.

Reverse proxy is useful when designing an application that can serve web applications via the internet. They act as your web servers whenever you connect to the internet.

Forward proxy can be beneficial when they are placed before customers for the purpose of your own use or even in a business setting. They are a representation of your customer's traffic through any interaction via the internet.

The use of case-based differentiation instead of focusing solely on commonly used naming conventions can help in avoidance of confusion.

Conclusion

The article clarified the meaning of aproxy is, and compared it to the two most common types that are forward and the reverse proxy. Practical applications as well as a review of the attributes that are beneficial were used to distinguish forward proxies and reverse proxies. If you're interested to learn more about how proxies are implemented You can read our guide on how to configure Nginx as reverse proxy and webserver proxy using Apache on an Ubuntu 20.04 server.

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