proxy, also known as a proxy or proxy server is a server software that acts acting as an intermediary between a client and server via the internet. With no intermediary a user would make a request for an item direct to a server, and servers would serve the resource directly back to the user. Although this method is easy to comprehend and implement, proxies can provide benefits such as improved security, performance, privacy and more. A proxy that is a pass-through layer is a gatekeeper for the internet between servers and users.

In general it is the bundled set of server hardware that includes proxy software is described as a proxy server. But, this article will concentrate on proxy servers that are generally referred to as software, and ones that work in conjunction with web servers. This article will give a synopsis of the two main types of proxy servers, which are forward and reverse proxy. forward proxy and reverse proxy. reverse proxy. Each comes with its own specific usage scenario, which can be misinterpreted due to the similar terminology.

This article will give you an idea of the what proxy services and their subtypes are as well as how they are useful for the most common configurations. In this article, you will be able to recognize the scenarios where you could benefit from proxy services and identify the most suitable choice between forward and reverse proxy in any given situation.

Understanding Forward Proxies

Forward proxy often referred to as the open proxy is an agent used by users who want to send a request through the internet to an the server that made the request. In this case, it's the scenario that all requests sent by the client would rather be routed straight at the forward proxy. This forward proxy in the position of the customer, will review the request. At the beginning, it will determine if the client can accept requests from this specific forward proxy. It then decides whether to decide whether to reject requests or redirect them to the source server. The client does not have direct access to the internet It can only access what the forward proxy allows the client access.

The most common reason to use forward proxies is to increase privacy or anonymity on the internet. A forward proxy can be used to connect to the internet on behalf of clients. In the process, it uses a different IP address than the original IP address utilized by the client.

Based on the way it has been configured according to the way it was configured forward proxy can grant you various features in addition to the capability to:

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  Beware of ads that track you.
  
  
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  Circumvent surveillance.
  
  
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  You will be able to identify any restrictions based upon your geographic location.
  
  

Forward proxies are also employed in systems that provide central security and permission-based access, like at a workplace. If all internet traffic flows via an open forward proxy, an administrator can allow access only to a few people to connect on the internet. This is then filtered by a typical firewall. Instead of putting firewalls in place for the client layer which may comprise several devices that are different in terms of user and environmental settings, a firewall may be set up at an intermediate layer.

Be aware that forward proxies need to be manually set up before they are able to be used for use, while reverse proxy servers are not able to be seen by users. Based on the fact that the IP address of a user is transmitted to the server that originated it via the forward proxy Privacy and anonymity could be granted or kept in the dark.

There are many options to take into consideration for forward proxies

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  Apache An open-source, well-known web server offering forward proxy capabilities.
  
  
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  Nginx: Another well-known open source server for hosting websites with forward proxy capability.
  
  
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  Squid is an open-source forward proxy that uses the HTTP protocol. It's not the complete web server service. Take a look at our tutorial on how to configure Squid proxy for private connection within Ubuntu 20.04.
  
  
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  Dante Forward proxy that uses the SOCKS protocol instead of HTTP to ensure it is more suitable for scenarios such as peer-to-peer traffic. It is also possible to look at how you can set up Dante proxy for private connections in Ubuntu 20.04
  
  

Understanding Reverse Proxies

A reverse proxy acts as an intermediary for a web server, which handles incoming requests from clients on behalf. Web servers can represent one or more servers. In addition, it could serve as an application server such as Gunicorn. In all of these scenarios, an application request is made by a user who is on the internet. In most cases, the request will go directly to the server that hosts the data the user is looking for. Contrarily reverse proxy serves as an intermediary in order to shield Web server from any direct interaction with the internet's open.

From a perspective of the user's viewpoint, interfacing via reverse proxy is the same as working with Web server in direct communication. It functions similar to the web server, and the user is unable to discern the distinction. The client is able to make a request for the resource and it is then provided with the resource without any additional configuration required on the part of the client.

Reverse proxy providers provide the following features:

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  Secured centrally to protect Web Server Layer.
  
  
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  The direction of traffic coming in based on rules you set.
  
  
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  A new feature for caching has been added.
  
  

While centralized security is a benefit of both reverse and forward proxy servers, reverse-proxies provide this for the web server layer not the client layer. instead of the maintenance of firewalls in the layer of web servers that can include multiple servers that are configured differently, most of the firewall security is aimed at the reverse proxy layer. Additionally, the elimination of the responsibility of interfacing with firewalls and communicating with requests from clients off of web servers enables them to concentrate on satisfying the requirements of their customers.

If there are multiple servers running through a reverse proxy, the reverse proxy can also be responsible for the direction of the requests that are directed to which server. There could be multiple web servers hosting similar resources however each of them offering a different kind of services or a mixture of both. These servers can be using the HTTP protocol to serve as a standard web server, but they also incorporate protocols for applications such as FastCGI. There is the possibility to configure a reverse proxy redirecting visitors to a particular server based on the type of resource they're searching for, or to follow specific rules for traffic load.

Reverse proxies also can make use of their position before web servers by delivering the ability to cache. Large static assets can be capable of being configured with caching rules that prevent them from the web server from being hit on every request. There are options that offer the option of providing static files directly without connecting to the web server in any way. Furthermore, the reverse proxy can manage compression of these assets.

The well-known Nginx web server is also an extremely popular reverse proxy option. Although Apache can also be regarded as a reverse proxy service, the Apache web server also comes equipped with a reverse proxy function, it is a different characteristic of Apache but Nginx was initially designed and focused on the reverse proxy feature.

The difference in Forward Proxy and Reverse Proxy Use Examples

Because "forward" and "reverse" have connotations of directionality as well as false comparisons with "incoming" and "outgoing" traffic and can cause confusion since both types of proxy are able to respond to requests as well as responses. The best method to differentiate between reverse and forward proxies is by analyzing the requirements of the application that you are building.

A reverse proxy can be useful when designing an approach to connect web applications to the internet. They act as your servers whenever you connect to the internet.

Forward proxy are useful when it is put in front of the client for your private use, or even in a working environment. They are your client's proxy when you use the internet.

The ability to differentiate by the use of instead of focusing on the same names will ensure that you aren't confused.

Conclusion

This article defined what a proxy is along with two kinds, specifically the forward proxy as well as the reverse proxy. Practical applications and an exploration of useful features were utilized to distinguish between forward and reverse proxies. If you're looking to learn more about the use of proxy servers, then you must read our tutorial on how to configure Nginx as web server as well as reverse proxy in Apache on an Ubuntu 20.04 server.

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