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proxy, also referred to as a proxy or proxy server, is a server software that acts in the middle between client and server on the internet. With no intermediary a user could send a request for an item directly to a server, and servers would deliver the requested resource directly back to the user. While this is a simple method to comprehend and implement, proxies can provide benefits like improved speed, privacy, security, and much more. A proxy that is a pass-through layer serves as a security barrier on the internet between clients and servers.




In general, the bundled bundle of server hardware that includes proxy software is also often called a proxy server. However, this article will concentrate on proxy servers that are usually 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 primary kinds that are available, which is forward and reverse proxy. forward proxy and a reverse proxy. Each type has its own unique use case, and can be misinterpreted due to the identical terminology.




This article will give you an understanding of what proxy services and their subtypes are, as well as how they are useful for the most typical configurations. Through this article, you can identify the situations in which you can benefit from a proxy, and identify the most suitable option in between reverse and forward proxy in any given situation.



Understanding Forward Proxies



Forward proxy often referred to as open proxy, also known as open proxy is an agent used by a user who wishes to send a request through the internet to the server that made it. In this situation, it's the case that all requests made by the client would rather be sent straight at the forward proxy. This forward proxy acting in place of the client will review the request. At the beginning, it will determine whether the client can accept requests from this specific forward proxy. It then decides whether to reject requests or redirect it to the original server. The client does not have direct connection to the internet; it can only access the information that the forward proxy allows it access to.




The most popular reason for using forward proxy services is to increase security or privacy on the internet. A forward proxy can be used to browse the internet instead of clients, and in the process, it'll use an alternative IP address to the IP address that was originally used by the client.




Based on how it was set up according to how it was initially configured forward proxy can provide you with a variety of features as well as the ability to:




Beware of ads that track you.


Circumvent surveillance.


You can determine restrictions based upon your geographic location.




Forward proxies can also be used in systems to provide central security as well as access to users based on their permissions, for instance in a workplace. In the event that all internet traffic is routed through an open forward proxy layer an administrator is able to restrict access to certain people to connect on the internet. The web is blocked by a standard firewall. Instead of keeping firewalls in place for the client layer which can comprise a range of devices that are different in terms of user and environments, a firewall could be installed in the intermediate layer.




Remember that forward proxies have to be set up manually before they can be used in order to be used in a reverse proxy, whereas forward proxy's are able to be seen by users. Depending on whether an IP address for a user is transmitted to the server which originated it via the forward proxy Privacy and anonymity could be granted or left transparent.




There are a variety of options to take into consideration for forward proxies




Apache An open source, well-known web server offering forward proxy capabilities.


Nginx: 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. Read our guide on how you can set up Squid proxy to allow private connections within Ubuntu 20.04.


Dante Forward proxy that uses the SOCKS protocol instead HTTP to allow it to be more suited to use scenarios like peer-to-peer communication. You may also want to examine how you can create a Dante proxy to allow private connections in Ubuntu 20.04



Understanding Reverse Proxies



A reverse proxy acts as an agent for the web server which takes care of incoming requests from clients on behalf. The web server could represent a single or multiple servers. In addition, it could serve as an application server like Gunicorn. In all of these scenarios, the request for an application comes by a user who is on the internet in general. The majority of the time the request will be sent directly to the web server hosting the information the user is looking for. Contrarily reverse proxy serves as an intermediary to isolate Web servers from direct interaction with the internet's open.




From the point of view of the person's perspective, working with reverse proxy is not the same as working with Web server directly. It is functionally similar to the web server and the user is unable to discern the difference. Clients can request the resource, and receive it, without any additional configuration required by the user.




Reverse proxy providers provide certain features, such as:




Secured centrally to protect Web Server Layer.


Controlling traffic that is incoming according to rules you have set.


Added functionality for caching.




While central security is a benefit of both reverse and forward proxy services, reverse proxies apply this feature to the web server layer not the client layer. Instead of focusing on maintaining firewalls at the web server layer that can include multiple servers that have different configurations, most of the firewall security is targeted on the reverse proxy layer. Furthermore, the detachment of the responsibility to interact with firewalls and communicating with requests from clients via web servers allows them to concentrate on delivering the needs of their clients.




In the event of multiple servers that are running via reverse proxy, the reverse proxy can be also responsible for directing which requests are directed through which server. There could be multiple web servers hosting similar resources each one offering a different type of resources or a combination of the two. These servers can be using their own HTTP protocol to operate as a standard internet server, but they also include applications server protocols like FastCGI. There is the possibility to create reverse proxy in order to redirect visitors to specific server based on the type of resource they're looking for, or to follow certain guidelines regarding traffic load.




Reverse proxies are also able to benefit from their positioning before web servers by delivering the ability to cache. Large static assets can be in a position to be set up using caching rules to prevent hitting web servers on every request. There are solutions offering the option of providing static files in a direct manner without connecting to the web server in any way. Furthermore, the reverse proxy will manage the compressing these assets.




The well-known Nginx web server is also an extremely popular reverse proxy option. Even though Apache has a reverse proxy option however, the Apache web server also comes equipped with a reverse proxy feature, which is an additional characteristic that is part of Apache However, Nginx was initially designed and geared towards the reverse proxy feature.



The distinction is between Forward Proxy and Reverse Proxy Use Cases



Since "forward" as well as "reverse" are both associated with directionality as well as misleading comparisons with "incoming" or "outgoing" traffic. They can be confusing as both types of proxy can handle requests as well as responses. Better yet, the best method to distinguish between the forward and reverse proxies would be to examine the needs of the application you're creating.




A reverse proxy could be useful when designing an approach to connect web-based applications to the internet. They serve as your servers whenever you connect to the internet.




Forward proxy is useful when it is put in front of the user for personal use, or even in a working environment. They serve as the proxy for your client whenever you interact on the internet.




Differentiating by case of use in lieu of looking at the same naming conventions will make sure that you do not get confused.



Conclusion



This article defined what a proxy is along with two kinds, specifically the forward proxy as well as the reverse proxy. Practical applications and an examination of the benefits were utilized to distinguish between forward and reverse proxies. If you're interested in knowing more about the use of proxies, you should read our tutorial on how to set up Nginx as a web server as well as reverse proxy within Apache on one Ubuntu 20.04 server.



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