The Untold Story on Proxy Sites That You Must Read or Be Left Out

A proxy, also known as a proxy also referred to a proxy server is software that acts as a mediator between client and server on the internet. Without proxy, a user will send a request directly to a server and it would deliver direct to users who requested the resource. While this process is simple to comprehend and implement using proxies, it can offer benefits in terms of increased performance, privacy, security, and many more. As an additional layer of security, a proxy acts as a security guard for the internet, separating servers and users.




The general bundle of server hardware that is installed with proxy software is commonly known as proxy servers. In this article, we'll examine proxy servers, which are generally classified as software and in the context of web servers. You will get a breakdown of the two main types of proxy servers: the forward proxy as well as a reverse proxy. Each type has a different use case, often confused due to the similar namesake convention.




This article will give you an understanding of different types of proxy and what their subtypes, as well as their significance in the common configurations. By reading this article, you'll be able to understand how to identify the circumstances where a reliable proxy is beneficial and select the best solution in between forward and reverse proxy based on the situation.



Understanding Forward Proxies



A forward proxy also called an open proxy serves as an intermediary for the client who is trying to transmit a request over the internet to an source server. In this scenario, every attempt to send requests made by the client will instead be routed straight via the forward proxy. A forward proxy in the place of the client will scrutinize the request. The first step is to decide if the client's permitted access to requests made by this specific forward proxy. Then, it will deny any request, or redirect it to the original server. The client does not have directly access to internet. It has access to only what the forward proxy allows it access to.




One of the most popular uses for forward proxies is to increase privacy and security when surfing the internet. A forward proxy uses the internet as a client and in this process, it uses an alternative IP address for the client's original IP address.




Based on how it is configured based on the configuration forward proxy could provide different features depending on how it is configured that allow users to:




Beware of ads that track you.


Circumvent surveillance.


You will be able to identify any limitations based on your geographic location.




Forward proxies are also used in systems that provide central security as well as permission-based access, like at the workplace. All internet traffic can pass via an open forward proxy, administrators are able to restrict access to only certain clients to the internet that is protected by an common firewall. Instead of having firewalls installed for the client layer that may include multiple computers with various configurations and users, it is possible to set up an firewall that is located in the forward proxy layer.




Be aware that forward proxy settings must be manually configured for use however reverse proxies will be ignored by the client. Depending on whether the IP address of the user is sent to the server from where it came from by the forward proxy privacy and anonymity can be granted or kept in the dark.




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




Apache is a well-known open source web server, that offers forward proxy functions.


Nginx: Another well-known open-source server for web hosting with forward proxy capabilities.


Squid: A free forward proxy that utilizes the HTTP protocol. It's not the whole web server. Take a look at our tutorial on how to install Squid proxy to connect privately within Ubuntu 20.04.


Dante is an forward proxy which makes use of the SOCKS protocol instead of HTTP to make it more to handle peer-to-peer connections. It is also possible to examine how you can set up Dante proxy for connection to private networks in Ubuntu 20.04



Understanding Reverse Proxies



A reverse proxy acts as the web server that handles incoming requests from customers on behalf of. The web server can represent a single or multiple servers. It could additionally be an app server, such as Gunicorn. In any of these situations the request for an application is received by a user on the internet. Most of the time requests are sent directly to the web server along with the information that the client wants. However, a reverse proxy functions as an intermediary, and separates your web server from contact with the internet's open.




From the perspective of the client an individual's perspective reverse proxy is a process that reverse proxy isn't different from using a Web server to communicate in direct contact. It's exactly the same, and the client cannot discern the distinction. The client makes a request for a resource, which is then followed by the receipt, without any extra configuration required by the user.




Reverse proxy providers offer options like:




A centralized layer of security to protect the server.


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


New feature added to caching.




While centralized security can be a benefit of both forward and reverse proxy, reverse proxies do this function to the web server layer but not to the client layer. instead of being focused on upkeep of firewalls on the layer of web servers that could contain multiple servers with different configurations, the majority of the firewall security is aimed on the reverse proxy level. Additionally, removing the responsibility of communicating with firewalls and communicating with clients distant from web servers allows them to concentrate on delivering the needs of their customers.




In the event of multiple servers existing through reverse proxy, the reverse proxy also is responsible for directing which requests will go through which server. There may be several web servers offering the same content, each providing different types of services or a combination of the two. These servers can be using the HTTP protocol that is a standard web server, however they could include other protocols used by applications servers such as FastCGI. It is also possible to set up reverse proxy settings to direct users to a specific server based on the service requested or to adhere to specific guidelines for the amount of traffic.




Reverse proxies may also take advantage of their location on top of web servers, by providing the ability to cache data. Massive static resources can be configured using caching rules to prevent the web server from being hit with every request. Certain applications allow users to serve static content directly without having to contact servers on the internet in any manner. In addition, the reverse proxy can help compress these assets.




The well-known Nginx web server is also used as a well-known reverse proxy option. Although there is an equivalent feature available that is available in Apache web server, it has reverse proxy functions as an additional option that is accessible for Apache whereas Nginx was designed originally for and is specifically designed for reverse proxy functions.



Differentiating Forward Proxy and Reverse Proxy Usage Situations



Because "forward" along with "reverse" conveys the notion of directionality, and false comparisons with "incoming" as well as "outgoing" traffic The labels can be confusing as both kinds of proxies process requests and responses. The best method of separating between a both reverse and forward proxies is to study the requirements of the app you're creating.




Reverse proxy is beneficial when you are developing a solution to serve web applications on the internet. They act as your web servers when you interact with the internet.




Forward proxy is beneficial when they are placed before customers for your personal use or in a work setting. They represent your client traffic when they interact with the internet.




The use case-based differentiation instead of focusing solely on commonly used naming conventions can help in avoiding confusion.



Conclusion



The article clarified the meaning of aproxy is and the two primary types: the forward proxy and reverse proxy. Practical applications and a discussion of the attributes that are beneficial were used to identify forward proxies and reverse proxies. If you're interested in learning more about the implementation of proxy servers, you can check out our tutorial on how to configure Nginx as reverse proxy and web server proxy for Apache on an Ubuntu 20.04 Server.



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