"proxy" refers to a proxy server "proxy" refers to the fact that a proxy or proxy server is an application that acts in the middle between client and server on the internet. Without a proxy, a user would send a request for any service straight to the server and it would then serve the resource directly for the client. This is not difficult to comprehend and implement, using proxies can provide benefits that include improved efficiency, privacy, security, and much more. As a pass-through layer, proxies are a way to secure the internet between clients and servers.




In general, the set of server hardware and proxy software installed is often referred to as proxy servers. However, this article will concentrate on proxy servers that are usually described as software as well as the ones used together with web servers. The article will offer details of two types, namely forward proxy and reverse proxy. forward proxy and reverse proxy. reverse proxy. Each type has its own usage that could be confusing due to the overlapping terminology.




This article will provide you with an idea of the what proxies as well as their subtypes are, as well as their importance in typical setups. After reading this article, you'll be able to identify situations where a reliable proxy could be beneficial, and determine the most suitable choice between reverse proxy and forward proxy, in any scenario.



Understanding Forward Proxies



In other words forward proxy also referred to as open proxy open proxy is an agent of a user who is trying to make requests online to a source server. In this case, any attempt to send requests by the client will rather be directed by the forward proxy. In this scenario the forward proxy acting on behalf of the client will review the request. In the beginning it will decide if it is allowed to send requests to this particular forward proxy. It will then either refuse requests or redirect them to their source server. The client does not have an internet connection directly and has access only to what the forward proxy permits the client to access.




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




Based on the way it's set up depending on the way it's set up, forward proxy could perform a variety of functions as well as the capability to:




Beware of ad-tracker.


Circumvent surveillance.


You will be able to identify any restrictions based upon your location.




Forward proxies are also employed in systems to offer central security as well as permission-based access, for example at work. When all traffic on the internet flows through a common forward proxy layer, administrators can restrict only a small number of users access to the internet, which is then filtered by a common firewall. Instead of establishing firewalls for this layer that can be used by multiple computer with various configurations and users the firewall can be put in this forward proxy layer.




Remember the fact that forward proxy servers have to be manually setup before they can be used while reverse proxies could be ignored by clients. Based on the fact that the IP address of the client has been transferred to the server that is being used through the forward proxy, privacy and anonymity could be granted or kept secret.




There are a variety of options to take into consideration when it comes to forward proxy options.




Apache The Apache is a well-known open source web server that provides forward proxy features.


Nginx: Another renowned open-source web server with forward proxy capability.


Squid is an open-source forward proxy using the HTTP protocol. Squid doesn't have the full Web server platform. You can check out our guide on the most efficient way to install Squid proxy for private connections in Ubuntu 20.04.


Dante forward proxy, which uses on the SOCKS protocol instead of HTTP this makes it better suited for scenarios such as peer-to-peer communication. You can also research how to set up Dante proxy for connection to private networks in Ubuntu 20.04



Understanding Reverse Proxies



A reverse proxy serves as an agent for a server that handles requests made by customers on its behalf. This web server can serve as a single server or as a series of servers. In addition, it could comprise an application server, such as Gunicorn. In either of these scenarios a request could originate from a user on the internet in general. Typically, the request will be directed directly to the server on the internet that has the information the client is asking for. Contrarily, a reverse proxy acts as an intermediary that isolates the web server from direct contact with the internet's open.




From the point of view of the user, working with reverse proxy isn't different from interacting via direct connection to an internet server. It's exactly the same, but the client doesn't see the distinction. The client requests an item and receives it, with no further configuration required for the customer.




Reverse proxy providers provide features like:




Security centralized to web server.


The direction of traffic coming in is according to rules that you set up.


Additional features to cache data.




While central security is an advantage of both reverse and forward proxies, reverse proxies provide this feature only to the layer that is on the webserver and not to the client layer. instead of maintaining firewalls at the server level which may include multiple servers that have various configurations, the bulk of firewall security is concentrated on the reverse proxy layer. Additionally, removing the burden of dealing with firewalls and coordinating requests from clients away from web servers enables the firewall to focus on providing resources.




If there are multiple servers running in a reverse proxy, the reverse proxy can also be responsible for directing what requests are directed to which servers. There could be multiple web servers running on the same server, each providing different types of resources or a mixture of the two. These servers utilize their HTTP protocol to function as a standard web server. However, they can be equipped with other protocols for application servers such as FastCGI. It is possible to set up reverse proxy servers to direct clients to specific servers in accordance with the resource being requested, or to adhere to certain guidelines regarding the traffic load.




Reverse proxies are also able to make use of their location prior to web servers using caching functions. Large static assets can be set up using caching rules to avoid hitting web servers with each request. Certain options that let you serve static content directly, without having to connect to the web server in any way. Additionally, the reverse proxy is capable of handling compression of these assets.




The well-known Nginx web server can also function as a reliable reverse proxy service. While Apache is an alternative to reverse proxy however, this Apache webserver also has reverse proxy functions, which is an additional option for Apache however Nginx was designed initially for and specifically focuses on reverse proxy capabilities.



Distinguishing Forward and Reverse Proxy Use Situations



Since "forward" as well as "reverse" are associated with a sense of directionality, and false comparisons with "incoming" and "outgoing" traffic, the labels could be confusing, as both types of proxies are able to handle both requests and responses. Better yet, the best method to differentiate between both forward and reverse proxy services is to consider the needs of the application that you are developing.




A reverse proxy could be beneficial when you're developing an option to host web applications on the internet. They serve as your web servers for any interaction on the Internet.




A forward proxy is helpful when presented to customers for your personal use, or even in a professional setting. They are your client's representative for any interaction on the internet.




Utilizing case-based differentiation instead of focusing on the similar naming conventions will assist you in making sure that there is no confusion.



Conclusion



This article will explain what a "proxy" is, with two major types of proxies being the forward proxy and reverse proxy. Practical scenarios for use and an exploration of advantageous features were utilized to differentiate between two kinds of proxy: forward and reverse. If you're interested exploring how to implement proxies you can read our tutorial on how to set up Nginx as a web server and reverse proxy on Apache on an Ubuntu 20.04 server.



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