It is an proxy or proxy server. It's a software that serves to act as mediator between a client and server over the internet. Without the use of a proxy, clients would be able to send requests for or resource to the server directly, and then the server would deliver the resource directly to the user. While this is a simple method to understand and implement, the addition of proxies can provide advantages in the form of improved performance and privacy, security and many more. As a pass-through layer, a proxy serves as an extra layer of security on the internet between servers and clients.




The general consensus is that the combination of server hardware and the software to install proxy servers is often referred too by the name of proxy servers. However, this article will focus on proxy servers that are typically classified as software and also within the context of web servers. There will be a discussion of the two main types, namely which are a forward proxy and reverse proxy. reverse proxy. They each have their own usage scenario that is frequently confused due to the same terminology.




This article will provide you with some knowledge about the types of proxies and the subtypes of them and how they function in the most common configurations. After having read this article, you'll be able to determine the circumstances in which you can benefit from a proxy and then select the most appropriate forward and reverse proxy for any particular circumstance.



Understanding Forward Proxies



The forward proxy also known as an open proxy is the agent of a customer who wants to forward a request over the internet to an source server. In this case the entire attempt to send requests made by the user is instead transferred to the forward proxy. This forward proxy acting in the client's stead, will examine the request. The first process is to determine if the client is allowed to accept requests through this particular forward proxy. It then decides whether to decline a request and forward it to its origin server. The client is not allowed direct access to the internet. It has access to only what forward proxy allows it to connect to.




A common use of forward proxy is to achieve more privacy or security when surfing the web. Forward proxy can be used to connect to the internet instead of a client and as such, it may make use of a different IP address than the client's original IP address.




Depending on how it's been set up the forward proxy will provide various functions based on how it is configured that lets you:




Beware of ads that track you.


Circumvent surveillance.


Find restrictions based on the location you are in.




Forward proxies can also be used for security systems which are centralised and have permission-based access like in the workplace. Every internet connection can go through an open forward proxy. an administrator could permit just a few users online access using an ordinary firewall. Instead of establishing security firewalls on the server layer, which may comprise a variety of devices with various settings and users A firewall can be placed in the intermediate layer of forward proxy.




It is vital to note that forward proxy servers must be set up manually for use, however reverse proxy servers will be ignored by clients. Depending on whether the IP address of a user is transmitted to the server from which it originated by the forward proxy, privacy and anonymity might be granted, or left unnoticed.




There are many possibilities to look into for forward proxy options:




Apache The Apache is a popular open-source web server that provides forward-looking proxy services.


Nginx is a different well-known open-source web server with forward proxy capabilities.


Squid is an open source forward proxy that makes use of the HTTP protocol. It isn't an complete Web server software. You can check out our instructions on setting up Squid proxy for private connections on Ubuntu 20.04.


Dante Forward Proxy that utilizes the SOCKS protocol instead of HTTP which makes it more suitable for situations such as peer-to-peer connections. It's also worth taking a look examine how you can setup an Dante proxy for private connections in Ubuntu 20.04



Understanding Reverse Proxies



Reverse proxy is the web server which handles requests from clients instead. The web server may serve as a single server or multiple servers. In addition, it could function in the role of an application server such as Gunicorn. In any of these scenarios, the request is made by a customer via the internet. The request is typically directly sent to the server that contains the resources the user needs. In contrast, a reverse proxy acts as an intermediary, separating it from any direct interaction with the open internet.




From the point of view of the client, interacting via reverse proxy isn't different from connecting to the web server directly. It's essentially the same, and the user doesn't see the distinction. Clients make requests for resources and then receiving it with no further configuration by the user.




Reverse proxies can provide features such as:




Centralized security for the web server layer.


Sending traffic to be directed according to the rules you determine.


Additional functions for caching.




While central security is a benefit of both reverse and forward proxy servers. Reverse proxy servers provide this benefit to the web server layer but not to the layer that clients use. Instead of having to maintain firewalls at the web server layer that can include multiple servers with different configurations, the bulk of firewall security may be centered at the reverse proxy layer. In addition, getting rid of the burden of interacting with firewalls and interfacing with requests coming from clients far from web servers lets them concentrate on serving resources.




If multiple servers are running behind a reverse proxy The reverse proxy handles the way requests are routed to which server. There may be several web servers offering the same service, all offering various kinds of resources or a combination of the two. They can utilize the HTTP protocol for a traditional web server, however they could also incorporate protocols for application servers like FastCGI. It is possible to set up reverse proxy that routes users to specific servers based on the resource they request or to adhere to certain rules regarding traffic volume.




Reverse proxies also profit from their positioning over web servers by offering the ability to cache data. Large static assets can be set up by using caching rules to stop from hitting web servers with every request, with some options allowing users to provide static files without having to connect to a web server even once. Additionally, reverse proxy is able to handle the compression of these assets.




The well-known Nginx webserver is a very popular reverse proxy service. While Apache is also a reverse proxy solution but the Apache web server does have reverse proxy capabilities as an option that can be added to Apache and Nginx was designed originally for and focused on reverse proxy functionality.



Differentiating Forward Proxy and Reverse Proxy Use. Differentiating Forward and Reverse Proxy Use



Because "forward" along with "reverse" come with connotations of directionality and false distinctions between "incoming" and "outgoing" traffic These labels are prone to confusion since both kinds of proxy handle responses and requests. Better yet, the best method to differentiate between forward and reverse proxy is to look at the specifications of the application you're creating.




Reverse proxy is an essential element when you're creating a solution for serving web-based applications via the internet. They act as your web server for any interaction on the internet.




A forward proxy is beneficial for use in front of clients for personal use or even in a workplace. They serve as the proxy for your client via any communication with the internet.




The use case-based differentiation rather than focusing solely on the common names makes it easier to avoid confusion.



Conclusion



The article clarified the definition of a proxy, with the two primary types being the reverse proxy and forward proxy. Practical scenarios for use and a discussion of the most beneficial features were used to distinguish forward proxies and reverse proxy. If you're looking to know more about the possibilities of proxies, you can check out our tutorial on how to set up Nginx as an reverse proxy and internet server using Apache on an Ubuntu 20.04 Server.



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