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An proxy also referred to the proxy server, is software which functions as mediator between a client and server on the internet. Without a proxy, a client will send a request directly to the server and it would serve that resource to its user directly. Although this is a simple process to comprehend and implement with proxies, it can bring benefits in the form of improved performance as well as privacy, security and many more. In addition to providing a layer of security, a proxy acts as a security guard for the internet between servers and users.




In general, the set of server hardware that is installed with proxy software is generally referred to as proxy servers. In this article, we'll focus on proxy servers, which are generally described as software, and within the context of web servers. This article will give a detailed breakdown of the two primary types of proxy servers: a forward proxy as well as a reverse proxy. Each type has a different usage scenario, which is often misunderstood because of a similar naming convention.




This article will give you an idea of the what proxy services and their subtypes are, as well as their value in common setups. Through this article, you'll be able to understand what circumstances where a reliable proxy could be useful, and choose the correct solution in between reverse and forward proxy based on the situation.



Understanding Forward Proxies



A forward proxy, sometimes known as an open proxy, also known as an open acts as an intermediary between clients who are trying to connect via the internet to an source server. In this instance, any request made by the client will be routed directly through forward-proxy. A forward proxy acting in the place of the client will review the request. First, it will determine if the client is allowed to receive requests from this particular forward proxy. It will then deny any request, or redirect it to the server that originally received it. The client does not have connection to any internet. It has access to only the information that forward proxy gives it access to.




The most common reasons for forward proxy is to gain greater privacy or security while using the internet. A forward proxy uses the internet as the client and in this process it can use an alternative IP address to the original IP address of the client.




Based on how it has been configured depending on the way it's configured forward proxy could provide different features depending upon the configuration that allow users to:




Beware of ads that track you.


Circumvent surveillance.


You can identify limitations based on your geographic place of residence.




Forward proxies are also used in systems that provide centralized security as well as permission-based access, like at an office. The entire internet can be passed via an open forward proxy. an administrator is able to restrict access to certain users to the internet, which is protected by a standard firewall. As opposed to having firewalls in place on the client layer, which could include multiple machines with different configurations and users there is the option to set up an firewall that is located in the front proxy layer.




Note to note that settings for forward proxy should be set manually for use, but reverse proxies are likely to be not considered by the client. Based on the fact that the IP address of a user is passed to the server from which it originated by the forward proxy, privacy and security may be granted or hidden.




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




Apache is an well-known open-source web server, which provides forward-looking proxy features.


Nginx: Another popular open-source server used for web hosting with forward proxy capabilities.


Squid: A free forward proxy which uses the HTTP protocol. It's not the complete web server. Read our guide on how to install Squid proxy to connect privately within Ubuntu 20.04.


Dante is an forward proxy which uses the SOCKS protocol instead of HTTP to make it more suited for cases like peer-to-peer connections. You may also want to know how to configure Dante proxy to allow secure connections within Ubuntu 20.04



Understanding Reverse Proxies



A reverse proxy acts as the web server which handles all requests received from customers on behalf of. The web server can represent a single or a number of servers. It may also be an application server, such as Gunicorn. In any of these cases, an application request comes by a user on the internet. Most of the time requests are directed directly to the server with the resources the client is requesting. However, a reverse proxy functions as an intermediary, and separates your server from interaction with the internet's open.




From the perspective of the user's viewpoint, the process of using reverse proxy isn't any different than connecting to a Web server through direct contact. It's the same process however the client can't discern the difference. The client makes a request for an item, and it is then followed by the receipt, without any additional configuration needed for the end user.




Reverse proxies provide functions like:




A centralized layer of security to guard the server.


The direction of traffic coming in is based on the rules you decide to define.


New functionality added for caching.




While central security can be a benefit of both reverse and forward proxy, reverse proxy adds this for the web server layer but not to the client layer. instead of being focused on the upkeep of firewalls on the server level which can contain a variety of servers and various configurations, most of the firewall security is aimed at the reverse proxy layer. Additionally, removing the responsibility of interacting with firewalls and interacting with requests from clients far from web servers enables them to focus on serving the needs of their customers.




In the event of multiple servers existing through a reverse proxy reverse proxy is responsible to direct which requests will go via which server. There could be multiple web servers offering the same content, and each providing different services, or a mix of the two. These servers may be using the HTTP protocol that is the standard web server, however they could contain different protocols for application servers, such as FastCGI. You can also set up a reverse proxy to direct users to a specific server based on the service requested, or to follow specific guidelines on the volume of traffic.




Reverse proxies may benefit from their placement on top of web servers by giving them the ability to cache information. Large static assets can be configured with caching policies to avoid hitting web servers with each request. Certain applications allow users to directly serve static assets without contacting Web servers in any form. In addition reverse proxy solutions can help compress these assets.




The popular Nginx web server is also used as a popular reverse proxy option. While there is a similar feature within the Apache web server, it does include reverse proxy functions as an additional option that is accessible for Apache however Nginx was initially designed to and is specifically designed for reverse proxy functions.



Distinguishing Forward and Reverse Proxy Use Cases



Because "forward" in addition to "reverse" are associated with directionality, as well as misleading comparisons to "incoming" and "outgoing" traffic, these labels can be confusing because both kinds of proxies process requests and responses. In addition, the most effective method of separating between a both reverse and forward proxies is to look at the specifications of the application you're creating.




A reverse proxy can be useful when designing a solution to serve web applications on the internet. They represent your web servers whenever you connect to the internet.




Forward proxy is helpful when displayed in front of customers to facilitate your own usage or in a corporate setting. They represent your client traffic when they interact on the internet.




A case-based distinction instead of focusing on the common naming conventions can aid in avoidance of confusion.



Conclusion



The article clarified the meaning of a proxy is with the two main kinds that are forward and the reverse proxy. Practical applications and a discussion of the attributes that are beneficial were used to identify forward proxies and reverse proxy. If you're looking to know more about the implementation of proxy servers, you can check out our tutorial on how to set up Nginx as a reverse and web server proxy on Apache on an Ubuntu 20.04 server.



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