An proxy also referred to a proxy server, is software that acts as a mediator between client and server over the internet. Without a proxy, a client will send a request directly to a server and it would serve direct to users who requested the resource. While this procedure is easy to understand and implement using proxies, it can provide benefits in the form of improved performance, privacy, security, and many more. As an additional layer of security proxy, it acts as a gatekeeper for the internet between servers and clients.




In general, the set of server hardware and proxy software is generally known as a proxy server. In this article, we will examine proxy servers, which are generally defined as software, as well as when it comes to web servers. We will provide a description of the two main types of proxy servers: the forward proxy and a reverse proxy. Each has its own usage scenario, which is often misunderstood because of a similar name convention.




This article will give you an understanding of what proxy services and their subtypes, and their importance in standard setups. Through this post, you'll be able to understand what circumstances that a good proxy can be beneficial and select the best alternative between forward and reverse proxy depending on the circumstance.



Understanding Forward Proxies



A forward proxy also called an open proxy, also known as an open serves as an intermediary between the client who is trying to transmit a request over the internet to an source server. In this scenario, every request sent by the client will be sent straight 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 access to requests made by this specific forward proxy. Then, it will deny any request or forward it to the server that originally received it. The client has no connection to any internet. It can access only the web pages that the forward proxy allows its access.




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




Based on how it has been configured depending on the way it's configured, forward proxy may offer a range of features depending on the way it's configured and allows users to:




Avoid tracking ads.


Circumvent surveillance.


You can identify restrictions based upon your geographical area.




Forward proxies are also used in systems that provide centralized security and access based on permissions, such as in a workplace. All internet traffic can pass via an open forward proxy. an administrator is able to limit access to specific clients on the internet that is protected by an common firewall. Instead of having firewalls in place for the client layer that could include multiple machines with various configurations and users, there is the option to install an firewall that is located in the forward proxy layer.




Take note to note that settings for forward proxy need to be set manually for use, but reverse proxies are likely to be ignored from the clients. Depending on whether an IP address belonging to a user is sent to the server from where it originated by the forward proxy, privacy and security may be granted or kept in the dark.




There are a myriad of options to consider for forward proxy options:




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


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


Squid is an open-source forward proxy which uses the HTTP protocol. It's not the complete web server. Read our guide on how you can install Squid proxy to connect privately on Ubuntu 20.04.


Dante is a forward-looking proxy, which uses the SOCKS protocol instead of HTTP to make it better suited for cases like peer-to-peer connections. You may also want to examine how you can configure Dante proxy to allow private connections in Ubuntu 20.04



Understanding Reverse Proxies



A reverse proxy acts as the web server which handles all requests received from customers on its behalf. The web server may be a single, or multiple servers. It could even be an application server such as Gunicorn. In any of these situations an application request is made from a user via the internet. Most of the time requests are sent directly to the web server with the resources the client is requesting. A reverse proxy functions as an intermediary, and separates your website server from communication with the internet's open.




From the point of view of the user's perspective the procedure of using reverse proxy isn't any different than connecting to a Web server through direct contact. It's exactly the same however the client can't discern the difference. The client requests an item, and it is followed by its receipt with no additional configurations required 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 rules you define.


New feature added to caching.




While central security is a benefit of both forward and reverse proxy, reverse proxies apply this function to only the server layer, but not to the client layer. Instead of focusing on upkeep of firewalls on the server level, which can contain a variety of servers with different configurations, the majority of the firewall security is aimed at the reverse proxy layer. Additionally, removing the responsibility of interfacing with firewalls as well as communicating with clients distant from web servers enables them to focus on serving the requirements of their customers.




In the case of multiple servers running through reverse proxy reverse proxy is responsible to direct which requests go via which server. There may be several web servers offering identical content, but providing different services or a mixture of the two. They could be running the HTTP protocol, which is a typical web server, but can include 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 resource requested or to comply with specific guidelines on the volume of traffic.




Reverse proxies may benefit from their placement over web servers, as they have the ability to store information. The large static files can be set up with caching policies to avoid hitting web servers with each request. Some solutions providing the option to serve static files directly without having to contact the web server in any way. Additionally, the reverse proxy can manage compressing these assets.




The popular Nginx web server also functions as a well-known reverse proxy solution. However, similar functionality in the Apache web server does have reverse proxy functions as an additional feature that is available for Apache whereas Nginx was designed originally for and is specifically designed for reverse proxy functions.



Distinguishing Forward and Reverse Proxy Use Situations



Since "forward" in addition to "reverse" are associated with directionality, as well as misleading comparisons to "incoming" as well as "outgoing" traffic, these labels can be confusing since both types of proxy servers process requests and responses. The best method to distinguish between forward and reverse proxy is to study the requirements of the app you're creating.




A reverse proxy can be beneficial when you are developing an application that can serve applications that are online. They act as your web servers whenever you connect to the internet.




Forward proxy are helpful when displayed in front of customers to facilitate the purpose of your own use or even in a work setting. They represent the traffic of your clients when they interact via the internet.




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



Conclusion



The article clarified the meaning of aproxy is with the two main types: the forward proxy and reverse proxy. Practical applications as well as a review of the attributes that are beneficial were used to identify forward proxies and reverse proxy. If you're interested to learn more about implementation of proxies, you can check out our tutorial on how to configure Nginx as a reverse and web server proxy on Apache on one Ubuntu 20.04 server.



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