proxy, also known as proxy, also referred to as proxy or proxy server a server software that sits acting as an intermediary between a client and server on the internet. With no intermediary users would make a request to purchase an item straight to the server, and servers would then serve the item directly to the client. While this is a simple method to grasp and use, adding proxies offers benefits like improved security, performance, privacy and more. A pass-through layer proxy serves as a security barrier on the internet between clients and servers.




Generally speaking it is the bundled set of server hardware that includes proxy software is described as proxy servers. This article will concentrate on proxy servers that are generally referred to as software, as well as those that are used in conjunction with web servers. We will provide a brief overview of the two main types, namely forward and reverse proxy. forward proxy and the reverse proxy. Each type has its own unique use case, and is often misunderstood because of the identical terminology.




This article will provide you with an understanding of different types of proxy services and the subtypes are, as well being able to explain how they can be useful in the typical configurations. In this article, you can identify the situations where you can benefit from a proxy, and identify the most suitable choice between reverse and forward proxy options in any given scenario.



Understanding Forward Proxies



A forward proxy, often referred to as an open proxy is an agent of the user who wants to make a request via the internet to an the server that made the request. In this case, it's the scenario that all requests sent by the client should be sent directly towards the forward proxy. The forward proxy, in position of the customer, will look over the request. At the beginning, it will determine whether the client is able to handle requests via this particular forward proxy. It will then reject requests or redirect it to the source server. The client is not able to have an internet connection directly but it is able to access what the forward proxy allows it access to.




The primary reason for people to utilize forward proxy servers is to gain greater privacy or anonymity on the internet. Forward proxy allows you to browse the internet on behalf of clients, and in the process, it uses an IP address that is different from the IP address that was originally used by the client.




Based on how it was configured according to the way it was configured forward proxy may grant you various features and the capability to:




Avoid tracking ads.


Circumvent surveillance.


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




Forward proxies are also employed in systems to provide central security and access based on permissions, such as in a workplace. In the event that all internet traffic flows through an open forward proxy layer administrators can grant access only to specific people to connect on the internet, which is filtered by a common firewall. Instead of having firewalls installed for the client layer, which could comprise a variety of devices that are different in terms of user and environmental settings, a firewall may be set up at an front proxy layer.




It is important to remember that forward proxy servers have to be manually set up before they can be utilized to use them in a reverse proxy, whereas forward proxy's are able to be seen by users. Based on the fact that an IP address for the user is sent to the server that generated it by the forward proxy, privacy and anonymity can be granted or left transparent.




There are several options to take into consideration when it comes to forward proxy options:




Apache A well-known, open-source web server that provides forward proxy functionality.


Nginx is another well-known open-source server for web hosting that has forward proxy capability.


Squid is an open-source forward proxy which uses the HTTP protocol. It's not an entire web-based server. Take a look at our tutorial on how to set up Squid proxy to allow private connections in Ubuntu 20.04.


Dante Forward proxy that uses the SOCKS protocol instead of HTTP to make it more suited to use scenarios like peer-to-peer communication. You may also want to look at how you can configure Dante proxy to allow private connections on Ubuntu 20.04



Understanding Reverse Proxies



A reverse proxy functions as an agent for a web server that handles the incoming requests of clients on behalf of. The web server could represent one or more servers. Additionally, it can represent an application servers like Gunicorn. In any of these situations an application request comes by a user who is on the internet in general. The majority of the time, the request will go directly to the web server that hosts the information the user is looking for. However reverse proxy acts as an intermediary that helps to protect Web server from any direct contact with the open internet.




From the point of view of the user that is a user's viewpoint, interfacing using reverse proxy is anything different than working with a Web server in direct communication. It functions the same as the web server, and the client is unable tell the difference. The client can make a request for the resource and it is then given it, without any additional configuration by the client.




Reverse proxy proxies provide the following features:




Centrally secured for Web Server Layer.


The direction of traffic coming in according to rules you have set.


Added functionality for caching.




While centralized security is a benefit of both forward and reverse proxy, reverse proxies provide this function to their web server layer and not the client layer. instead of maintaining firewalls within the layer of web servers which may contain multiple servers that have different configurations the majority of the firewall security is aimed on the reverse proxy layer. Also, the removal of the obligation to interface with firewalls and connecting with requests from customers from web servers enables them to focus solely on satisfying the requirements of their clients.




If there are more than one servers operating through a reverse proxy the reverse proxy may also be accountable for directing which requests are routed through which server. There could be multiple web servers that are serving the same resource, however each offering different types of resource or a mix of the two. These servers can be using the HTTP protocol to function as a standard web server, however they could also include applications server protocols like FastCGI. You can configure reverse proxy in order to direct visitors to a specific servers based on the kind of resource they're searching for, or to adhere to certain guidelines regarding traffic load.




Reverse proxies can also benefit from their positioning before web servers by delivering the capacity of caching. Large static assets are able to be configured using caching rules to prevent getting into web servers with every request. There are solutions that provide the possibility of providing static files directly without connecting to the web server in any way. Furthermore, the reverse proxy will manage the compression of these assets.




The renowned Nginx web server is also an extremely well-known reverse proxy choice. Although Apache can also be regarded as a reverse proxy option it is not the only one. Apache web server is equipped with reverse proxy function, it is a distinct option of Apache however Nginx was initially designed and focused on the reverse proxy feature.



The difference between Forward Proxy and Reverse Proxy Use Cases



Since "forward" and "reverse" are both associated with directionality, they also create misleading comparisons with "incoming" or "outgoing" traffic, they can be confusing as both types of proxy are able to handle requests as well as responses. In addition, the most effective method of separating reverse and forward proxies is to examine the requirements of the application you're creating.




A reverse proxy can be helpful when building an approach to connect web-based applications to the internet. They function as servers whenever you connect to the internet.




Forward proxy can be helpful when put in front of the user for personal use, or in a work setting. They serve as the proxy for your client every time you connect to the internet.




The ability to differentiate by the use of in lieu of looking at similar names will ensure that you don't get confused.



Conclusion



This article defined what a proxy is with two kinds, specifically the forward proxy and reverse proxy. Practical applications and an examination of the benefits were utilized to distinguish between forward and reverse proxy. If you're interested in knowing more about how to implement proxy services, be sure to go through our guide on how to configure Nginx as web service and reverse proxy within Apache on an Ubuntu 20.04 server.



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