"proxy" is a term used to describe a server "proxy" refers to the fact that a proxy or proxy server is a software that sits in the middle between client and server on the internet. Without the proxy, the client could make a request for a service directly to the server and it would then serve the resource directly back for the client. This is not difficult to understand and implement, the addition of proxies offers advantages in the form of increased security, performance, privacy and more. As a layer of pass-through, proxy services serve as a security barrier on the internet, separating servers and clients.

In general, the set of server hardware along with the software that is installed to make proxy connections is commonly referred to as proxy servers. However, this article will focus on proxy servers which are generally described as software, as well as ones that work in conjunction with web servers. The article will provide an explanation of the two main types of proxy servers, specifically the forward proxy and reverse proxy. reverse proxy. Each kind has its own terminology that can cause confusion due to the overlapping terminology.

This article will provide you with an understanding of proxy types and their subtypes are and also their value in the typical configurations. If you read this article, you will be able to discern the scenarios in which an effective proxy can be advantageous, and decide on the most suitable choice between forward proxy and reverse proxy for any situation.

Understanding Forward Proxies

In other words forward proxy also called open proxy open proxy is an agent for an individual user trying to send the request online an origin server. In this case, any attempt to send requests made by the client will rather be directed by an forward proxy. In this scenario, the forward proxy acting on behalf of the client, will look into the request. In the beginning, it will decide whether clients are authorized send requests to this particular forward proxy. Then, it can either reject requests or redirect them to their origin server. The client does not have direct connection to the internet It is only able to access what forward proxy allows it to connect to.

The most popular reason to use forward proxies is for more privacy or security online. A forward proxy uses the internet on behalf of an individual client and when it does this, it may make use of an IP address different from the original IP address used by the user.

Based on the way it's configured the forward proxy may perform a variety of functions as well as the capability of:

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  Beware of ads-trackers.
  
  
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  Circumvent surveillance.
  
  
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  You can identify restrictions based on where you live.
  
  

Forward proxies are also employed in systems to offer central security, as well as access based on permissions, such as at work. If all internet traffic flows through an open forward proxy, the administrator may allow only a handful of clients access to the internet, which is filtered by an common firewall. Instead of maintaining firewalls for clients, that could be used by multiple computers with various configurations and users A firewall could be added to this forward proxy layer.

Remember that forward proxy servers need to be manually set up before they are able to be used while reverse proxies could be disregarded by clients. Based on the fact that your IP address has been sent to the origin server by the forward proxy privacy and anonymity may be granted or kept in the dark.

There are many options to take into consideration for forward proxies.

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  Apache The Apache is a popular open-source web server, which provides forward proxy capabilities.
  
  
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  Nginx: Another popular open-source web server that has forward proxy capability.
  
  
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  Squid is an open-source forward proxy using an HTTP protocol. This doesn't offer the complete Web server platform. You can check out our article on the best way to install Squid proxy to connect private networks for Ubuntu 20.04. Ubuntu 20.04.
  
  
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  Dante forward proxy which runs on the SOCKS protocol, instead of HTTP this makes it better to handle situations like peer-to-peer connections. You could also look into how to set up Dante proxy for connection to private networks in Ubuntu 20.04
  
  

Understanding Reverse Proxies

A reverse proxy functions to act as an agent of a web server and manages requests received by customers on its behalf. The web server may function as a one server or as a series of servers. Additionally, it can comprise an application server, such as Gunicorn. In either of these scenarios the request may originate from a user on the internet in general. The request will typically be sent directly to the server on the internet which holds the information that the user is seeking. In contrast, a reverse proxy is a intermediary that isolates the web server from direct communication with the open internet.

From the viewpoint of the client, interacting using reverse proxy isn't any different from interacting directly with an internet server. It's the same, however the client doesn't see the difference. The client makes a request for a resource and then receives it without extra configuration required by the client.

Reverse proxy providers provide features like:

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  Security centralized on webservers.
  
  
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  The direction of traffic coming in is based upon rules that you can set up.
  
  
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  Additional functions for caching.
  
  

Although central security is an advantage of both reverse and forward proxies, reverse proxies provide this feature to that layer of the webserver, and not the client layer. Instead of focusing on sustaining firewalls on the server level which may include multiple servers that have different configurations, the majority of firewall security is directed at the reverse proxy layer. Additionally, removing the responsibility of communicating with firewalls as well as communicating requests by clients away from web servers allows the firewall to concentrate on providing the required resources.

If there are multiple servers that are running in a reverse proxy the reverse proxy may also be responsible for directing which requests go towards which servers. There could be multiple web servers running on the same server, each serving different kinds of services or a mixture of the two. These servers use the HTTP protocol to serve as a standard web server. However, they can be equipped with applications server protocols like FastCGI. It is possible to set up reverse proxy that directs clients to specific servers in accordance with the requested resource, or to adhere to certain guidelines regarding the traffic load.

Reverse proxies are also able to benefit from their position before web servers through caching functions. Large static assets can be set up with caching policies to avoid hitting web servers every request. Certain options that let you serve static content directly without having to connect to a servers in any manner. In addition, the reverse proxy is capable of compressing these assets.

The well-known Nginx web server also functions as an effective reverse proxy service. Although Apache is a reverse proxy service however, the Apache web server also has reverse proxy functionality, it can be a second option for Apache and Nginx was originally designed to and specifically focuses on reverse proxy capabilities.

Differentiating Forward Proxy from Reverse Proxy Use Situations

Because "forward" as well as "reverse" are associated with a sense of directionality, and false comparisons to "incoming" and "outgoing" traffic, the labels can be confusing since both types of proxy are able to handle both requests and responses. In addition, the most effective method to distinguish between the reverse as well as forward proxy services is to think about the requirements of the app you're creating.

A reverse proxy could be helpful when you are developing an option to host websites on the internet. They act as your web server in all interactions on the Internet.

Forward proxy can be useful when used in front of customers for your personal use or in a business setting. They act as a representative of your customers in any interactions on the internet.

Utilizing case-based differentiation instead of focusing on the similar naming conventions can assist you in avoiding confusion.

Conclusion

This article describes what a "proxy" is, with two types that are the forward proxy and reverse proxy. Practical scenarios for use as well as an examination of the advantageous features were used to distinguish the two types of proxies both reverse and forward. If you're interested exploring how to set up proxies, check out our guide on how to configure Nginx as reverse and web server proxy for Apache on an Ubuntu 20.04 server.

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