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The term "proxy" refers to a proxy is also known as an application called a proxy that acts to act as a mediator between the server and user on the internet. Without the proxy, a client could submit a request for an online resource directly to a server and the server could serve the resource directly for the client. Although this method is easy to understand and implement but adding proxies offers benefits such as improved performance and security, privacy, and many more. As a pass-through layer, the proxy serves as a gatekeeper of the internet between servers and clients.




In general, the mixture of the server's hardware with proxy software is commonly called proxy servers. This article will concentrate on proxies that are traditionally described as software and when referring to web servers. This article will present a detailed breakdown of two types: forward proxy and reverse proxy. reverse proxy. Each type has its own usage scenario, which is often not understood due to the similar terms.




This article will give you information about what proxy services and their subtypes are, and how they work in a variety of configurations. By reading this article, you will be able to recognize the instances where using proxy services is advantageous, and select the right solution between reverse and forward proxy for any particular scenario.



Understanding Forward Proxies



The forward proxy sometimes called an open proxy acts as a representative for a client who wants to make an internet-based request to an the server that made it. In this scenario the entire attempt to send requests made by the user will be made through the forward proxy. A forward proxy, acting instead of the client will take a look into the request. Then, it will determine whether the client is authorized to transmit requests via this particular forward proxy. It then decides whether to reject any request, or to forward it to the source server. The client is not able to have direct connection directly to internet. It is able to access only the content that forward proxy allows it to access.




One of the most popular uses for forward proxy is to provide greater privacy or security when using the internet. Forward proxy is able to access the internet in place of a client and in this way it may utilize a different IP address than the IP address used by the client.




Depending on how it's been configured and how it's set up, forward proxy may offer you a variety of features based on the configuration and enables you to:




Do not be a victim of ad tracking.


Circumvent surveillance.


Recognize the restrictions based on your location.




Forward proxies are also used to secure systems which are centralized as well as access that is permission-based in workplaces. If all internet traffic flows through an open forward proxy the administrator can grant only a small number of clients access to the internet through the firewall. Instead of setting up security firewalls at the layer of clients which could comprise a range of devices that operate in different environments and types of users A firewall can be positioned at the front proxy level.




It is essential to note that forward proxies must be manually set up for use and reverse proxies may be hidden from the user. Based on the type of IP address of a user is transferred to the origin server via the forward proxy, privacy and anonymity can be granted or denied.




There are a variety of possibilities to think about when it comes to forward proxies.




Apache A well-known open source web server that offers forward proxy functions.


Nginx is another widely-used open-source web server that has forward proxy capabilities.


Squid is a free forward proxy using an HTTP protocol. It doesn't provide the complete web server. You can read our article on how to build a Squid proxy for private connections on Ubuntu 20.04.


Dante is forward proxy which utilizes the SOCKS protocol instead of HTTP and HTTP making it more suitable for applications such as peer-to -peer traffic. It is also possible to learn how to configure Dante proxy to permit private connections with Ubuntu 20.04



Understanding Reverse Proxies



A reverse proxy functions as an agent for a web server, which handles the incoming requests of clients on behalf of. Web servers can comprise servers, or even multiple servers. It could also be an application-server like Gunicorn. In either of these scenarios the request will come via the web at large. Most of the time your request is made directly to the web server with the resources that the user is looking for. A reverse proxy serves as an intermediary and isolates this webserver from direct communication with the internet.




From the viewpoint of a user the experience of using reverse proxy is not different from communicating with an internet server directly. It's basically the same, but the client can't discern the difference. The client asks for an item and receives it, with no extra configuration required by the client.




Reverse proxies provide features like:




Security centralized to web server.


Controlling traffic that is incoming based on rules you set.


New caching functionality has been added.




While central security is an advantage of both reverse and forward proxy servers, reverse proxy servers provide this benefit only to that layer on the webserver, not clients. instead of the maintenance of firewalls on the web server layer, which could contain multiple servers with different configurations, the bulk in firewall protection is targeted to the reverse proxy layer. Furthermore, the removal of the burden of working with a firewall and responding to requests from clients through web servers allows them to concentrate on the requirements of their clients.




In the event of multiple servers using a reverse-proxy the reverse proxy is also responsible for the direction in which requests are directed towards which servers. There could be multiple web servers running on the same server, each providing different types of resources or a combination of the two. They may use the HTTP protocol like a traditional web server, but they may also be able to be equipped with application server protocols like FastCGI. It is possible to set up reverse proxy servers that redirect users to a particular servers based on the services required, or to certain rules regarding the amount of traffic.




Reverse proxies can also benefit from their placement over web servers by providing caching capabilities. Massive static files can be created using caching rules to prevent having to contact web servers each time you request. Certain software solutions let you directly serve static files without having to connect with the webserver at all. Furthermore the reverse proxy is able to handle the compression of these assets.




The renowned Nginx web server functions as a well-known reverse proxy solution. While Apache is also a reverse proxy solution, the Apache web server also has reverse proxy functions, but it's a distinct feature to Apache in contrast to Nginx was designed initially to and is focused on the reverse proxy feature.



Distinguishing Forward and Reverse Proxy Use The Case



Because "forward" and "reverse" are both associated with the notion of directionality, and inaccurate comparisons to "incoming" as well as "outgoing" traffic, the labels could be confusing as the two types of proxies deal with the processing of requests as well as responses. The best method to distinguish between forward and reverse proxy services is to consider the needs of the application you're developing.




A reverse proxy is useful in the development of a solution to provide web-based applications over the internet. They act as your web server during any interaction on the internet.




Forward proxy can be useful when placed before users for personal use, or in a workplace setting. They are a representation of the traffic of your client whenever you interact on the internet.




The practice of segregating by use case, instead of just focusing on the most the most common naming conventions will make sure that you don't get confused.



Conclusion



This article provides the definition of a proxy, focusing on the two primary types, which are the reverse proxy and forward proxy. Practical examples of how to use them and an overview of advantageous features were used to differentiate forward proxies and reverse proxy. If you're interested to learn more about the possibilities of proxies, then you should read our tutorial on how to configure Nginx as a web server and reverse proxy within Apache on an Ubuntu 20.04 server.



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