An proxy is also known as the proxy server, is a software that functions as mediator between client and server over the internet. Without a proxy, a client will send a request directly to the server and it would deliver that resource to its user directly. While this process is simple to comprehend and implement using proxy servers, it could offer benefits in terms of enhanced performance, privacy, security, and more. In addition to providing a layer of protection proxy, it acts as a gatekeeper for the internet, separating servers and clients.

In general, the bundle of server hardware that is installed with proxy software is often called proxy servers. In this article, we will focus on proxy servers that are typically described as software, and also when it comes to web servers. We will provide a description of the two major kinds of proxy servers: a forward proxy as well as a reverse proxy. Each has its own application, and is frequently confused due to the similar naming convention.

This article will provide you with an idea of the types of proxy services and what their subtypes are, and their importance in standard setups. Through this post, you'll understand how to identify the circumstances in which an effective proxy could be useful and pick the right solution in between forward and reverse proxy, based on the circumstances.

Understanding Forward Proxies

A forward proxy also known as an open proxy acts as an intermediary for the client who is trying to send a request via the internet to a source server. In this instance, any request sent by the client will instead be routed directly through forward-proxy. A forward proxy acting in the client's stead, will review the request. It will first determine if the client is allowed be able to accept requests through this particular forward proxy. It will then deny any request, or send it to the original server. The client does not have directly access to internet. It has access to only the web pages that forward proxy gives the client access.

A very popular uses for forward proxies is to gain greater privacy or security when using the internet. Forward proxy utilizes the internet as the client, and in the process, it uses an alternate IP address in addition to the original IP address of the client.

Based on the way it was configured, based on the configuration, forward proxy may offer various features based on the way it's configured and allows users to:

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  Beware of ads that track you.
  
  
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  Circumvent surveillance.
  
  
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  You can identify restrictions based upon your geographical area.
  
  

Forward proxies are also utilized in systems that offer 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, an administrator is able to limit access to specific users to the internet, which is protected by a common firewall. In lieu of having firewalls installed for the client layer which may include multiple computers that have different configurations and users you can install an firewall that is located in the layer that forwards proxy traffic.

Take note that forward proxy settings need to be set manually for use, but reverse proxies are likely to be ignored by the client. Based on the fact that the IP address of a user is sent to the server from where it came from by the forward proxy, privacy and anonymity can be granted or hidden.

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

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  Apache is an well-known open-source web server, which provides forward proxy capabilities.
  
  
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  Nginx: Another popular open-source server for web hosting that has forward proxy features.
  
  
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  Squid: A free forward proxy which uses an HTTP protocol. It's not the entire web server. Check out our tutorial on how to install Squid proxy to connect privately in Ubuntu 20.04.
  
  
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  Dante is an forward proxy which makes use of the SOCKS protocol instead of HTTP to make it more suitable for peer-to-peer communication. You might also want to know how to set up Dante proxy to allow secure connections within Ubuntu 20.04
  
  

Understanding Reverse Proxies

A reverse proxy is the web server that handles all requests received from customers on behalf of. 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, the request for an application is received by a user on the internet. The majority of the time, the request would be directed directly to the web server along with the information that the client wants. In contrast, a reverse proxy acts as an intermediary and isolates your server from interaction with the open internet.

From the viewpoint of the individual client's point of view the procedure of using reverse proxy is similar to using a Web server to communicate in direct communication. It's exactly the same however the client can't tell the difference. Client requests the resource, which is followed by receiving it with no extra configuration required by the end user.

Reverse proxy providers offer features such as:

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  A centralized layer of security to guard the server.
  
  
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  Incoming traffic is directed based on rules you define.
  
  
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  New functionality added for caching.
  
  

Although centralized security is a benefit of both reverse and forward proxy, reverse proxies apply this function to the web server layer, but not to the client layer. In lieu of focussing on the upkeep of firewalls on the layer of web servers which may contain many servers and different configurations, most of the firewall security is targeted on the reverse proxy level. Additionally, removing the responsibility of interacting with firewalls as well as communicating with clients distant from web servers permits them to concentrate on delivering the requirements of their customers.

If there are multiple servers running through reverse proxy, the reverse proxy also is responsible for directing what requests go to which servers. There may be several web servers that provide the same content, each providing different services or a mixture of both. These servers can be using the HTTP protocol that is a standard web server, however they could include other protocols used by application servers, such as FastCGI. You can also configure reverse proxy servers to redirect users to a particular server based on the resource requested or to comply with specific guidelines for the amount of traffic.

Reverse proxies also take advantage of their location on top of web servers by giving them the ability to store information. Massive static resources can be configured with caching policies to avoid the web server from being hit with every request. Some solutions providing the option to directly serve static assets without connecting to Web servers in any form. In addition, the reverse proxy can handle compressing these assets.

The popular Nginx web server can also function as a popular reverse proxy solution. While there is an equivalent feature available that is available in Apache web server does have a reverse proxy features as an added feature available to Apache while Nginx was initially designed to and is specifically designed for reverse proxy functions.

Differentiating Forward Proxy from Reverse Proxy Use Cases

Because "forward" along with "reverse" are associated with directionality and misleading comparisons with "incoming" and "outgoing" traffic These labels could be confusing because both kinds of proxy systems process requests as well as responses. The best method to distinguish between forward and reverse proxy is to study the specifications of the application you're developing.

A reverse proxy could be useful when designing a solution for serving web applications online. They represent your web servers when you interact with the internet.

Forward proxy is beneficial when they are placed in front of customers for the purpose of your own use, or even in a corporate setting. They represent the traffic of your clients through any interaction with the internet.

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

Conclusion

This article clarified what a proxy is with the two main types: the forward proxy and reverse proxy. Practical applications and a discussion of the attributes that are beneficial were used to determine forward proxies and reverse proxy. If you're interested in learning more about implementation of proxies then you should check out our tutorial on how you can configure Nginx as a reverse proxy and web server proxy on Apache on an Ubuntu 20.04 Server.

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