proxy is also referred to as a proxy is often referred to for its role as a proxy server, a software that acts as a mediator between client and server on the internet. Without the use of proxy, a user can send a request for a source directly through the server and the server would provide direct access to that resource. While this is a simple method to understand and use, however, the addition proxy servers could provide advantages in terms of better performance, privacy and security, and much more. Apart from adding a layer of protection, a proxy acts as a gatekeeper for the internet between clients and servers.

In general, the combined bundle of server hardware with installed proxy software is also often referred as proxy servers. For this post, we will examine proxies commonly categorized as software, and also in the context of web servers. The article will give a detailed breakdown of the two primary types of proxies, which are an forward proxy and a reverse proxy. Each one has its own use scenario that is often misunderstood due to the overlapping name convention.

This article will give you some understanding about what proxies and subtypes are as well as the ways they are useful in a variety of configurations. In this article, you'll be able identify situations in which it is beneficial to use a proxy and then make the best choice between forward and reverse proxy in any given circumstance.

Understanding Forward Proxies

A forward proxy, also known in the form of the open proxy serves as an agent for a user trying to make a request via the internet to an source server. In this scenario every attempt to send requests made by the user will be handled by the forward proxy. The forward proxy, in the place of the client is able to examine the request. It will first determine if the client is authorized to accept requests from this particular forward proxy. It will then either deny requests or redirect them to the original server. It's not able to directly connect to the internet. It can only access what forward proxy allows it to access.

A common use for forward proxy is to provide more privacy or security while online. Forward proxy connects to internet as a client and through this manner, it connects an alternate IP address for the IP address of your client.

Depending on how it has been configured in accordance with the method it was set up forward proxy can offer a range of features that allow users to:

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  Avoid tracking ads.
  
  
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  Circumvent surveillance.
  
  
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  You can determine limitations based on your geographic location.
  
  

Forward proxies can also be used in systems to provide central security as well as access permissions, such as in a workplace. Internet traffic can be routed through an open forward proxy, administrators can grant access only to specific individuals to access the web. This is then filtered by the standard firewall. Instead of establishing firewalls on the client layer, this can be utilized by a variety of computers that have different environments and types of users, a firewall could be located within this forward proxy layer.

Be aware that forward proxy servers must be set up manually to allow them to be used however reverse proxies won't be noticed by users. Based on the fact that your IP address a user is transmitted to the source server through the forward proxy Privacy and anonymity may be granted or kept in the dark.

There are numerous possibilities to think about when considering forward proxy services.

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  Apache The Apache is a popular open-source web server, which offers forward proxy features.
  
  
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  Nginx is another well-known open-source web server that comes with forward proxy functionality.
  
  
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  Squid: An Open Source Forward Proxy that utilizes an HTTP protocol. It doesn't come with the whole web server. This is a step-by-step tutorial to setup Squid proxy to allow private connections in Ubuntu 20.04.
  
  
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  Dante Forward proxy that uses the SOCKS protocol instead of HTTP which makes it better suited for cases like peer-to-peer traffic. It is also possible to look into how to set up a Dante proxy that will allow private connections on Ubuntu 20.04
  
  

Understanding Reverse Proxies

Reverse proxy is an intermediary for a web server that handles any requests that come in from clients its place. The server could function as a single server or multiple servers. It could also include an application servers, like Gunicorn. It is possible to receive a request from a customer through the internet at large. In the majority of cases, the request would be directed directly to the web server that hosts the information the customer is seeking. A reverse proxy works as an intermediary in order to block your web server from communication with the internet's users.

From the point of viewpoint, or from a user's perspective, interacting via reverse proxy isn't any different from interacting with the server in its own. It's functionally the same as an internet server. The client cannot tell the distinction. The client can request the resource, and is then provided with it, with no additional configuration needed by the user.

Reverse proxies grant features like:

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  Security centralized to web server.
  
  
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  Controlling traffic coming in by using rules that you design.
  
  
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  The caching functionality was added to the application.
  
  

While centralized security is a benefit of both reverse and forward proxy systems, reverse proxies do this for the web server layer but not to the layer of clients. instead of having firewalls installed at the web servers which might include multiple servers that have different configurations, the majority of firewall security is concentrated at the reverse proxy layer. Furthermore, removing the obligation of interfacing with a firewall and interfacing with requests from clients without web servers lets them focus on meeting the requirements of their clients.

In the case of multiple servers being hosted through reverse proxy the reverse proxy is responsible for directing which requests are routed on which server. There could be multiple web servers offering the identical service, however each having different resources, or perhaps a mix of both. They can utilize the HTTP protocol in the same way as traditional web servers, but they can also be equipped with protocols for application servers like FastCGI. You can set up a reverse proxy to direct customers to specific server based on the resource requested, or to observe certain rules for traffic load.

Reverse proxy systems can also profit from their placement on top of web servers through caching functionality. Large static files can be arranged by caching rules to prevent hitting web servers with each request. Some applications allow you to serve static content directly, without needing to connect to a web server at all. Additionally, reverse proxy has the ability to handle compression of these assets.

The popular Nginx web server also functions as a well-known reverse proxy service. While it's real that Apache web server comes with reverse proxy function, it's a different option. Apache as opposed to Nginx was originally designed to and focused on reverse proxy functionality.

Distinguishing Forward Proxy from Reverse Proxy Use - Situations

Because "forward" and "reverse" are both associated with an impression of directionality, they can lead to inaccurate comparisons with "incoming" and "outgoing" traffic. These labels can confuse because both kinds of proxies handle the flow of requests as well as responses. An alternative approach to distinguish between reverse and forward proxy services is to consider the needs of the app you're building.

Reverse proxy is an important feature when building an application that can deliver web-based applications to the internet. They serve as your web servers during any interaction with the internet.

Forward proxy software is advantageous when displayed in front of clients for personal use, or in a workplace. They can be used to represent the traffic of your client when you use the internet.

The use case-based distinction instead of focusing only on common naming conventions can ensure that you don't become confused.

Conclusion

This article defined what a "proxy" is, with the two main kinds of them being reverse and forward proxy. Practical applications as well as a summary of beneficial features were used to distinguish forward proxies from reverse proxy. If you're interested exploring how to set up proxies, check out our guide on how to set up Nginx as a web server and reverse proxy to Apache on an Ubuntu 20.04 server.

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