An proxy or proxy server is a software which acts acting as an intermediary for a client and server on the internet. Without a proxy, a client will send a request to the resource directly to the server, and then the server will serve the requested resource directly to the user. This method is simple to understand and use, the addition of proxies can provide advantages, such as greater performance, privacy, security, among other things. In addition to moving through, proxies serve as a safeguard for the internet between servers and clients.

In general, the combined combination of server hardware and the software for proxy installation is often referred to as proxy servers. However, this article will concentrate on the proxy servers that are typically described as software, as and those utilized to complement web servers. This article will provide a brief overview of the two major types of proxies: those that are a one that is forward and the reverse proxy. Each has its own usage which may be confusing due to the same terminology.

This article will provide you with an understanding of how proxies work and what their subtypes are, and their benefits in a range of configurations. After reading this article, you’ll understand how to identify the scenarios where proxies are beneficial, and determine the best option to use a forward or reverse proxy based on the circumstance.

Understanding Forward Proxies

Forward proxy also known as an open proxy is a proxy for a client who is trying to send an online request to a source server. In this case, the whole attempt to send requests from the client will rather be directed by the forward-proxy. The forward proxy, acting in the place of the client, will examine the request. First, it will check if the client been granted permission to send requests using this particular forward proxy. It will then deny a application and send it back to its original server. The client is not able to have direct access for the web. It is able to access only the information that the forward proxy permits it to access.

A common use case of forward proxies is to provide greater security or privacy online. A forward proxy is connected to internet instead of a client, and as a result, it uses an alternate IP address from that of the client’s original IP address.

Based on how it has been set up according to the method of configuration, a forward proxy could offer a range of features dependent on the way it’s configured. This allows users to:

• Avoid ad tracking.
• Circumvent surveillance.
• Identify restrictions based on the location you are in.

Forward proxies are also utilized in systems that rely on central security and permission dependent access, such as, in workplaces. If all traffic on the internet flows through an common forward proxy, an administrator can restrict access for only a select user group to the internet, which is filtered through an common firewall. Instead of keeping firewalls in place for the client layer that may comprise several machines that have different environments and users it is possible to install an firewall that is located in the layer that forwards proxy traffic.

It is crucial to keep in mind that forward proxy servers need to be manually set up to be utilized, whereas reverse proxy servers can remain unnoticed by clients. Depending on the type of IP address of the client, it is sent to the server which created it through the forward proxy’s privacy and security may be granted or kept in the dark.

There are a myriad of choices to think about when it comes to forward proxy options:

• Apache The most well-known open source web server that provides forward proxy capability.
• Nginx is another well-known open-source web server, which has forward proxy features.
• Squid is an open-source forward proxy that uses the HTTP protocol. Squid doesn’t come with a complete Web server app. You can read our instructions on how to set-up Squid proxy to allow private connections with Ubuntu 20.04.
• Dante Forward Proxy that utilizes the SOCKS protocol rather than HTTP and is better for use in situations like peer-to-peer communication. It is also possible to learn how to setup a Dante proxy to allow private connections on Ubuntu 20.04

Understanding Reverse Proxies

A reverse proxy acts as an intermediary for a web server that handles incoming requests by clients on behalf of. Web servers can be a single server or a number of servers. Additionally, it could include an application server, such as Gunicorn. In any case, the request comes from an internet user in general. In the majority of cases requests will get sent directly to the server, which is equipped with all the resources the client needs. However reverse proxy acts as an intermediary and isolates Web servers from direct communication with the internet.

From a consumer’s point of perspective, using reverse proxy is not different than interacting with an online server direct. It’s basically the same but the user is unable to be able to discern the difference. The client asks for the resource, and is then granted without additional configurations that need to be performed by the customer.

Reverse proxies provide features such as:

• A centralized layer of security that protects the server.
• Controlling traffic inbound based on rules that you set up.
• A new feature to cache is now available.

While central security is an advantage of both reverse and forward proxy servers, reverse proxies offer this feature only to the server layer, but not the client layer. Instead of establishing firewalls on Web server layers, which could include multiple servers and various configurations, the bulk of security measures for firewalls are targeted towards the reverse proxy layer. Furthermore, taking the burden of interfacing with firewalls and communicating with requests from clients outside of web servers permits the firewall to concentrate on meeting the requirements of their clients.

In the event of multiple servers operating within reverse proxy, it controls which requests are directed towards which servers. A number of web servers could be working within the exact same system, serving various kinds of services or a mix of the two. They use the HTTP protocol just like a conventional web server. However, they could also be equipped with applications server protocols like FastCGI. It is possible to configure a reverse proxy to direct the clients towards specific servers according to the type of resource they are seeking, or to comply with certain rules for traffic load.

Reverse proxies are also able to gain advantage from their position ahead of web servers by providing caching functionality. Large static assets can to be configured with caching rules, so that you do not need to call web servers every time you request. Some solutions offering an option to deliver static files directly without touching the server once. In addition reverse proxy is able to handle compression of these assets.

The renowned Nginx web server is also used as a powerful reverse proxy option. It is true it is true that Apache webserver is outfitted with a reverse proxy, it can be used in conjunction with Apache but Nginx was initially designed to and is primarily focused on the reverse proxy feature.

Differentiating Forward Proxy and reverse Proxy Use Examples

Since “forward” and “reverse” are associated with the notion of directionality as well as false comparisons to “incoming” and “outgoing” traffic. They can be confusing since both types of proxy services process requests and response. An alternative approach to distinguish between forward and reverse proxy is to take into account the needs of the application that you’re developing.

A reverse proxy is a great option when you’re developing a solution to offer web-based solutions on the internet. They act as your servers when you interact with the Internet.

Forward proxy software is advantageous when placed in front of the user for personal use or in a professional setting. They represent your clients when you interact with the internet.

The use case-based differentiation instead of focusing solely on standard naming conventions will assist in avoiding confusion.

Conclusion

This article explains what a proxy is along with two kinds: forward proxy and the reverse proxy. Practical applications and an exploration of useful features were utilized to distinguish between forward and reverse proxies. If you’re interested to learn more about the use of proxy servers we recommend you learn how to configure Nginx as a web server and reverse proxy using Apache running the Ubuntu 20.04 server.

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