It is a proxy which is also known as a proxy server. It is a software that serves in the role of a intermediary between client and server on the internet. Without the use of a proxy, clients would be able to send a request any resource directly to the server and the server would deliver the resource directly to the user. While this is a simple method to comprehend and implement the addition of proxies could bring advantages in the form of improved performance as well as privacy, security and many more. As a layer of pass-through, a proxy is a security guardian of the internet between servers and clients.




The general consensus is this: the mix of servers hardware and software used to set up proxy installations is usually referred to as proxy servers. This article will be focusing on proxy servers that are typically classified as software, and also within the context of web servers. We will discuss of the two principal kinds that are forward proxy and reverse proxy. reverse proxy. Every one has its unique usage situation, and is often misunderstood because of the similar terminology.




This article will give you some knowledge about the types of proxies and what their subtypes are, and how they work in common configurations. After reading this article, it will be able to determine the circumstances in which you can benefit from a proxy and then decide which is the best choice between reverse and forward proxy options for every circumstance.



Understanding Forward Proxies



The forward proxy also known by the name of an open proxy serves as the representative of a user who would like to make a request through the internet to an source server. In this case the entire attempt to send requests by the user will be sent to the forward-proxy. This forward proxy acting on behalf of the client will review the request. The first process is to determine if the client is able to accept requests via this specific forward proxy. It then decides whether to deny a request or forward it to the original server. The client is not allowed direct access to the internet. It can access only what forward proxy permits for it to be connected to.




A common use of forward proxy servers is to obtain more privacy or security online. A forward proxy is able to access the internet in place of a client and, in this way it could make use of an IP address that is different from that of the client's initial IP address.




Based on the way it has been configured, the forward proxy will offer different functions, based on the configuration, which allows you to:




Avoid tracking ads.


Circumvent surveillance.


Find restrictions based on your location.




Forward proxies are also utilized for security systems which are centralised and have permission-based access, such as in the workplace. The entire internet can be passed through an open forward proxy, an administrator can grant only a handful of clients online access through an ordinary firewall. Instead of establishing firewalls for the client layer which may comprise a variety of devices with various configurations and users, a firewall could be set up in the intermediate layer of forward proxy.




It is vital to note that forward proxies must be manually set up to use however reverse proxies will be ignored by the clients. Depending on whether the IP address of a user is sent to the server that originated it from the forward proxy privacy and anonymity could be granted or unnoticed.




There are numerous possibilities to look into forward proxy options




Apache is a well-known open-source webserver that offers forward proxy features.


Nginx is a different well-known open-source web server that has forward proxy capabilities.


Squid is an open-source forward proxy which uses the HTTP protocol. It does not come with an entire website server program. You can check out our guide on how to install Squid proxy for private connections in Ubuntu 20.04.


Dante Forward Proxy that utilizes the SOCKS protocol instead of HTTP which makes it more suitable for situations such as peer-to-peer traffic. It's also worth taking a look examine how you can setup an Dante proxy to connect privately in Ubuntu 20.04



Understanding Reverse Proxies



Reverse proxy is the web server that handles client requests in its place. The web server can serve as a single server, or a number of servers. It can also serve in the role of an application server such as Gunicorn. In any of these situations, the request is made by a customer via the internet. Typically, the request is sent directly to the web server, which contains the resources the user is requesting. In contrast, a reverse proxy works as an intermediary, shielding it from direct contact with the open internet.




From the viewpoint of the client, interacting using reverse proxy isn't different from interacting with your website server direct. It's functionally identical and the user cannot discern the difference. Clients make requests for resources that is then followed by receiving it with no additional configuration needed from the user.




Reverse proxies offer features like:




Security centralized for web servers.


The sending of traffic according to rules that you decide to determine.


Additional functions to cache data.




Although centralized security is an advantage of both forward and reverse proxy servers. Reverse proxy services provide this benefit to that layer of the internet server, but not to the client layer. Instead of the maintenance of firewalls at the layer of web servers, which can contain multiple servers with various configurations, the bulk of firewall security could be concentrated at the reverse proxy layer. In addition, getting rid of the responsibility of communicating with a firewall and interacting with clients who request information from web servers lets them focus on serving the resources.




If there are multiple servers operating behind a reverse proxy, the reverse proxy determines how requests are routed the server. There could be multiple web servers that provide the same service, all offering different types of resources or a combination of the two. They may utilize the HTTP protocol for a traditional web server, however, they might also include application server protocols such as FastCGI. It is possible to set up a reverse proxy to route clients to specific servers based on the resource requested or to observe specific rules for traffic load.




Reverse proxies also can profit from their placement over web servers, by providing the ability to cache data. Large static assets can be set up using caching rules to prevent hitting web servers with each request, with some solutions allowing you to provide static files directly without connecting to a web server even once. In addition, the reverse proxy can manage compression of these files.




The well-known Nginx website server an extremely well-known reverse proxy solution. While Apache is also a reverse proxy option, the Apache web server also has reverse proxy capabilities as an option that can be added to Apache and Nginx was initially designed and focused on reverse proxy functionality.



Differentiating Forward Proxy and reverse Proxy Use Differentiating Forward Proxy and Reverse Proxy Use



Because "forward" as well as "reverse" come with connotations of directionality, as well as false comparisons to "incoming" and "outgoing" traffic the labels could be confusing since both kinds of proxy deal with requests and responses. Better yet, the best method to distinguish between forward and reverse proxy is to look at the requirements of the app you're working on.




Reverse proxy is a crucial feature when you are developing a solution to serve web applications on the internet. They act as your web server during any interaction via the internet.




Forward proxy can be useful when used in front of clients for personal use, or even in a workplace. They are your client's proxy via any communication with the internet.




Differentiating by use case as opposed to focusing only on standard name conventions will help avoid confusion.



Conclusion



The article explained the meaning of a proxy and the two primary types being the forward proxy and reverse proxy. Practical scenarios for using them and a review of the most effective features were employed to differentiate between forward proxies and reverse proxies. If you're looking to know more about the benefits of proxies then you can check out our guide on how to install Nginx as an reverse proxy and internet server using Apache on Ubuntu 20.04 Server. Ubuntu 20.04 Server.



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