A proxy or proxy server is software that acts as an intermediary between a client and server on the internet. Without a proxy, a client will send a request to the resource directly to the server, and then the server will serve direct to the client. While this is a simple method to grasp and use but the addition of proxies can provide advantages in the form of greater performance, privacy, security, among other things. As an additional layer of being able to pass through, proxies function as a safeguard to the internet between servers and clients.

The bundled package of server hardware with the software for proxy installation is often referred to as proxy servers. But, this article will concentrate on proxy servers which are generally described as software as well as those that are used in conjunction with web servers. We will give a synopsis of the two major types of proxies, those that are a forward proxy and a reverse proxy. Each has their own use which may be confusing due to the same terminology.

This article will give you an idea of the types of proxies and subtypes they are, and their value in a variety of configurations. After reading the article you will know how to identify the scenarios where proxies are advantageous, and decide on the best option for forward or reverse proxy, based on the circumstance.

Understanding Forward Proxies

Forward proxy, also referred to as the open proxy acts as a representative for a client who attempts to send an online request to an source server. In this case, the whole attempt to send requests from the client will be controlled by the forward proxy. A forward-proxy, acting in the place of the client, will review the request. The first step is to verify if the client has been granted permission to send requests via this particular forward proxy. It will then deny a application and send it back to its original server. The client is not able to have direct access to the internet. It is able to access only what the forward proxy permits it to access.

One of the most common uses for forward proxy is increased privacy or security on the internet. The forward proxy can connect to the internet in place of a client. during this process it is using an alternative IP address to the client's initial IP address.

Based on the way it was configured according to the configuration forward proxy can offer a variety of features dependent on the way it's configured, which allows users to:

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  Avoid ad tracking.
  
  
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  Circumvent surveillance.
  
  
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  Determine the restrictions that are based on the location you are in.
  
  

Forward proxies are also utilized in systems of centralized security and permission dependent access, such as, in workplaces. When all internet traffic is routed through an common forward proxy layer, the administrator can limit access to only a small user group to the internet filtered by a common firewall. Instead of putting firewalls in place for the client layer that could comprise a range of devices with diverse environments and users, it is possible to set up a firewall at the forward proxy layer.

It is important to remember the fact that forward proxy servers have to be manually configured for be utilized, whereas reverse proxy servers can remain unnoticed by clients. Depending on the type of IP address of the client is passed on to the server that created it through the forward proxy, privacy and security can be granted or left in the dark.

There are many options to be considered for forward proxies:

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  Apache is a well-known open-source web server offering forward proxy capability.
  
  
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  Nginx: Another well-known open source web server with forward proxy capabilities.
  
  
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  Squid is an open-source forward proxy which uses the HTTP protocol. It doesn't provide a complete Web server app. We have instructions on how to set up Squid proxy to permit private connections on Ubuntu 20.04.
  
  
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  Dante Forward Proxy that utilizes the SOCKS protocol rather than HTTP, making it better suited to use in instances like peer-to-peer communication. It is also possible to learn how to setup the Dante proxy for private connections in Ubuntu 20.04
  
  

Understanding Reverse Proxies

A reverse proxy is an agent for a web server, which handles the incoming requests of clients on its behalf. The web server may consist of a single server, or several servers. It could also include an application server such as Gunicorn. In either scenario the request is made by an internet user generally. Most of the time your request is sent directly to the web server which has all the resources the client is needs. Contrarily reverse proxy acts as an intermediary, and separates Web servers from direct contact with the open internet.

From the consumer's point of perspective, using reverse proxy isn't any different from interacting with an internet server direct. It's the same thing but the user is unable to be able to discern the difference. The client makes a request for this resource and receives it without extra configuration that must be completed by the client.

Reverse proxies can provide features such as:

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  A central layer of security to guard the server.
  
  
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  Controlling traffic that is inbound on rules that you set up.
  
  
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  A new feature to cache is now available.
  
  

While central security is an advantage of both forward and reverse proxy, reverse proxies do this feature only to the server layer, but not the layer that clients use. Instead of establishing firewalls on Web server layers which can contain many servers and different configurations, the bulk of firewall security is targeted at the reverse proxy layer. Furthermore, taking the burden of communicating with firewalls and communicating with clients that are not web servers allows the firewall to concentrate on addressing the needs of their customers.

In the case of multiple servers running within a reverse proxy it also determines which requests are sent to which servers. A number of web servers could be operating within the exact same system, providing various kinds of services or a mix of both. These servers utilize the HTTP protocol just like a conventional web server. They can also be equipped with other protocols for application servers like FastCGI. It is possible to configure a reverse proxy to direct the clients towards specific servers according to the kind of resource they're looking for, or to follow certain rules regarding traffic load.

Reverse proxies can also be able to gain advantages from their positioning before web servers, by providing caching functionality. Large static assets can to be configured with caching rules so that they do not have to call web servers for every request. Certain software solutions allow you to deliver static files directly without having to connect to the web server for even one time. Additionally reverse proxy solutions can manage compression of these assets.

The renowned Nginx web server also functions as a reliable reverse proxy option. It is true that the Apache webserver is equipped with a reverse proxy, it is a different option to Apache however Nginx was designed originally for and is focused on reverse proxy functionality.

Differentiating Forward Proxy and Reverse Proxy Examples

Since "forward" as well as "reverse" have connotations of directionality, they can lead to inaccurate comparisons with "incoming" as well as "outgoing" traffic. They can be confusing since both types of proxies process requests and response. An alternative approach to distinguish between reverse and forward proxy is to take into account the requirements of the app that you're developing.

A reverse proxy is useful in the case of creating a solution for offering web-based solutions on the internet. They serve as your servers for any interaction with the Internet.

Forward proxy applications are advantageous when placed in front of the client for personal use as well as in an office context. They represent your customers whenever you use the internet.

The use case-based differentiation instead of focusing on standard naming conventions will assist you in avoiding confusion.

Conclusion

This article explains what a proxy is with two kinds: forward proxy and reverse proxy. Practical applications as well as an exploration of the benefits were used to differentiate between reverse and forward proxies. If you're interested in learning more about the ways to implement proxies then you should learn how to configure Nginx as a reverse proxy on Apache using one Ubuntu 20.04 server.

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