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A proxy, also known as a proxy is also referred to for its role as a proxy. It is software that functions as an intermediary between a client and server via the internet. If there was no proxy in place, the user could send a request for any resource directly to the server, and servers would deliver direct to users who requested the resource. Although this method is easy to comprehend and use the addition of proxy servers could provide advantages including increased performance, privacy and security, etc. As an additional layer of pass-through proxy servers function as a security guard for the internet, separating clients from servers.




The consensus is that the server hardware coupled with installed proxy software is also often referred as proxy servers. However, this article will focus on proxy servers that are typically categorized as software, and more specifically with respect to servers on the internet. We will give a synopsis of the two major types of proxies that are a forward proxy and reverse proxy. reverse proxy. Each kind has a distinct usage, which can be confusing due to the same name convention.




This article will provide you with an idea of different types of proxy and subtypes are, as well as their importance for the most common setups. By reading this article you'll understand the situations when you may benefit from a proxy and determine the best choice between reverse proxy and forward proxy depending on the scenario.



Understanding Forward Proxies



Forward proxy, also known as an open proxy is a proxy for users who wish to send a request via the internet to an source server. In this instance, any request sent by the client will be directed via this forward proxy. A forward proxy in the instead of the user will look into the request. It will first determine whether the client is legally authorized to accept requests from this particular forward proxy. Then, it can either refuse any request, or redirect it to the server from which it originated. The client is not allowed direct access to the internet; it can only be able to access the information that forward proxy grants it access to.




The most popular uses for forward proxies is greater privacy or security on internet. A forward proxy is able to access the internet in lieu of an individual client, and during that process it may use a different IP address, in contrast to the original IP address that is used by the client.




Depending on how it's set up, and how it's configured forward proxy can provide various features that allow you to:




Beware of tracking ads.


Circumvent surveillance.


Determine restrictions based on your location.




Forward proxies can also be used in systems to provide central security and permission based access, like in workplaces. In the event that all internet traffic passes through a common forward proxy layer an administrator is able to permit only certain users access to the internet, which is controlled by a standard firewall. Instead of having firewalls in place for the client layer which may include multiple machines with different configurations and users, a firewall may be placed at on the front proxy layer.




Remember that forward proxies must be set up manually for use while reverse proxies could be disregarded by the client. Based on the kind of IP address the client's connection to the server which originated it through the forward proxy, privacy and security can be granted or made transparent.




There are a myriad of possibilities to consider in determining forward proxy:




Apache is an well-known open-source web server that provides forward proxy capabilities.


Nginx is another popular open-source webserver that includes forward proxy functionality.


Squid: A free and open forward proxy open source that uses the HTTP protocol. It does not contain the whole web server. It is possible to refer to our article on the best way to install Squid proxy to allow private connections on Ubuntu 20.04.


Dante is a forward proxy that uses the SOCKS protocol instead of HTTP which makes it appropriate for situations such as peer-to-peer connections. You can also learn how to setup an Dante proxy for connection to private networks in Ubuntu 20.04



Understanding Reverse Proxies



Reverse proxy is the web server that handles requests from customers on its behalf. The server could function as a single server or as a series of servers. In addition, it could contain an application server like Gunicorn. In all of these scenarios, a request would come via the web at large. Most of the time, the request is sent directly to the server with all the resources the client requires. A reverse proxy functions as an intermediary, segregating your server from communications with the internet's users.




From the point of view from a client's perspective reverse proxy use is not any different than connecting directly to an internet server. It's functionally the same but the client can't discern the distinction. The client requests the resource and then gets it, with no additional configuration needed by the client.




Reverse proxy providers offer options like:




A centralized layer of security that protects the server.


Directing incoming traffic based on rules that you can set up.


A new feature for caching has been added.




Central security is an advantage of both forward and reverse proxy service, reverse proxy providers provide this benefit only to the server layer, it is not available to the client layer. Instead of focusing on the maintenance of firewalls at the server layer that could contain multiple servers and various configurations, the majority of firewall security could be concentrated on the reverse proxy layer. Additionally, removing the burden of interacting with firewalls and interacting with requests from clients that are not on web servers allows them to focus on only the needs of their customers.




In the case of multiple servers hosting through a reverse proxy the reverse proxy handles the routing of requests towards which servers. There could be multiple web servers operating on the same server, serving different types of resources or a mixture of both. They may utilize the HTTP protocol to function as a normal web server, but they could also incorporate applications server protocols like FastCGI. You can create reverse proxy that routes clients to particular servers based on the request for resource, or to adhere to certain guidelines for traffic volume.




Reverse proxies also can benefit from their position before web servers, by providing the ability to cache. Large static files can be set using caching rules to prevent getting to web servers for each time a request is made. There are options that provide an option to serve static content directly without having to interact with a webserver. Furthermore, reverse proxy can handle compressing these assets.




The well-known Nginx web server is a wildly popular reverse proxy option. Although Apache web server does have reverse proxy capabilities, Apache web server has a reverse proxy capabilities as an added feature available to Apache However, Nginx was designed originally to and focuses on the reverse proxy function.



Differentiating Forward Proxy and Reverse Proxy Examples



Since "forward" as well as "reverse" are associated with an impression of directionality and false comparisons with "incoming" as well as "outgoing" traffic can confuse because both types of proxy servers process requests and responses. Instead, a better way to differentiate between reverse and forward proxy servers would be to analyze the requirements of the application you're building.




Reverse proxy is a vital feature in the development of a system to support web-based applications via the internet. They function as your servers whenever you connect to the Internet.




Forward proxy is useful to display customers' information to your personal use or for use in a working environment. The forward proxy is a representation of the information of the customer when you connect to the internet.




A distinction based on use case instead of focusing solely on similar naming conventions will help avoid confusion.



Conclusion



In this article, we clarified the meaning of a proxy with two types, the reverse and forward proxy. Practical applications and an exploration of the beneficial attributes were utilized to distinguish forward proxies from reverse proxies. If you're interested exploring the benefits in proxy server, you can read our guide on how to set up Nginx as an internet server as well as reverse proxy in Apache on Ubuntu 20.04 Server. Ubuntu 20.04 server.



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