The word "proxy" is a reference to the term "proxy" which refers to proxy or proxy server which is a server application which acts in the role of an intermediary client and a server on the internet. Without the use of proxy servers, users can send a request direct to the server while the server will then provide the resource directly back to the user. Although this method is easy to understand and use, the addition of proxies can bring benefits like improved performance, privacy, security, and much more. As an additional pass-through layer the proxy acts as a security guardian of the internet between clients and servers.




Generally speaking, the combined equipment of servers coupled with installed proxy software is often referred to as proxy servers. This article will concentrate on the types of proxies that are typically thought to be software, specifically in relation to web servers. This article will give a description of two types, namely one being a forward proxy and the reverse. reverse proxy. Each type has a different usage scenario, which is often misunderstood due to the overlapping terminology.




This article will provide you with the understanding of the types of proxy and what their subtypes are and the way they work in various configurations. Through this article, you'll be able to identify situations in which the use of proxies is advantageous, and choose the correct solution between reverse proxy and forward proxy in any circumstance.



Understanding Forward Proxies



The forward proxy also referred to as an open proxy, is a means of intermediary for clients trying to send a request over the internet to a source server. In this situation the entire process of sending requests by the user is sent through the forward proxy. Forward proxy that acts on behalf of the client, will examine at the request. It will determine if the client can accept requests via this particular forward proxy. It will then reject requests or redirect it to the original server. The client is not able to have direct access to the internet. It is only able to access what forward proxy allows it to access.




A common use case of forward proxies is to gain greater privacy or security on the internet. A forward proxy accesses the internet as a client and it can use an alternative IP address to that of the initial IP address of the client.




Based on how it's been configured in accordance with the configuration forward proxy may provide a variety of functions and permit you to:




Do not click on ads that track you.


Circumvent surveillance.


Find limitations based on your location.




Forward proxies can also be used in systems of centralized security as well as permission-based access, such as in a workplace. If all internet traffic flows via an open forward proxy administrators are able to grant access only to a select group of users to the internet, and this is filtered by an common firewall. Instead of creating firewalls on the layer of clients that can be used by a variety of computer systems with different configurations and environment, the firewall can be added to the proxy layer.




It is crucial to keep in mind that forward proxy servers must be manually configured for use and reverse proxies may not be noticed by the user. Depending on the type of the IP address that a user is transmitted to the server from which it originated by the forward proxy, privacy and anonymity can be granted or denied.




There are several options to think about for forward proxy:




Apache A popular open-source, well-known web server that offers forward proxy features.


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


Squid is an open source forward proxy using the HTTP protocol. It's not the full Web Server System. You can refer to our step-by-step instructions to install Squid proxy to enable private connections on Ubuntu 20.04.


Dante Forward Proxy which uses the SOCKS protocol instead of HTTP which allows it to be more appropriate for scenarios such as peer-to-peer traffic. You might also want to know how to set up an Dante proxy for private connections in Ubuntu 20.04



Understanding Reverse Proxies



A reverse proxy serves as an intermediary to a web server that handles any requests that come in from customers on behalf of the server. The web server could function as a single server or multiple servers. Furthermore, it could be used in the role of an application server such as Gunicorn. In any case it is possible to send a request via the internet at large. Typically the request will be sent directly to the web server, containing the information that the user wants. However, reverse proxy functions as an intermediary, protecting the web server from direct communication to the open internet.




From a user's point of perspective, the experience of working with reverse proxy isn't a lot different than using the server by itself. It's exactly the same thing, however the client isn't able to tell the distinction. The client can request the resource, and is then provided with it, with no further configuration needed by the client.




Reverse proxy providers provide options like:




Secured centrally for Web Server Layer.


Incoming traffic is directed by rules you have set.


The caching feature has been added to the app.




While central security is a benefit of both forward and reverse proxy services, reverse proxy providers this service to the web server layer but not to the client layer. instead of having to maintain firewalls on Web server layers, which could contain multiple servers with different configurations, the bulk of the firewall security could be directed towards reverse proxy layers. Additionally, getting rid of the responsibility of working with firewalls and interacting with requests from customers outside of web servers permits them to concentrate on meeting the requirements of their clients.




If there are multiple servers running in a reverse proxy, the reverse proxy also takes care of directing the flow of requests to each server. There may be many web servers that provide the same service, all offering different kinds of resources, or a mixture of both. These servers can be using the HTTP protocol as a conventional web server. But, they may also be using application server protocols like FastCGI. You can set up reverse proxy settings to send users to a specific server based on the service being requested or to follow certain rules for traffic load.




Reverse proxies are also able to gain advantage from their position prior to web servers by offering the capability to store data. Large static assets can be configured with caching rules to ensure that they avoid the web server from getting hit with every request. Certain software solutions let you provide static files directly without connecting to the web server in any way. In addition the reverse proxy can manage the compression of these assets.




The well-known Nginx web server is also a reliable reverse proxy solution. While you can use Nginx, the Apache web server has reverse proxy capabilities, it is an additional option to Apache and Nginx was originally designed for and is focused specifically on reverse proxy features.



Differentiating Between Forward and Reverse Proxy The Case



Since "forward" as well as "reverse" have connotations of directionality, as well as false comparisons with "incoming" and "outgoing" traffic, these labels could be confusing as both types of proxies are able to handle both requests and responses. A different method of distinguishing between forward and reverse proxy is to study the requirements of the application you're creating.




A reverse proxy can be useful when building an infrastructure to support websites on the internet. They serve as your web servers for all interactions on the internet.




Forward proxy is useful when it is displayed in front of customers for your own use or within an organization. They are a representation of the customer's data every time you use the internet.




The ability to differentiate by the use of case instead of focusing solely on standard names can aid you in avoidance of confusion.



Conclusion



The article clarified the significance of a proxy having two types: the forward proxy and reverse proxy. Practical examples of use along with an examination of useful characteristics were used to determine the two types of proxies which are reverse and forward. If you're interested to learn more about the possibilities of proxies, then we recommend that you go through our tutorial on how to set up Nginx as an internet server and reverse proxy on Apache running on the Ubuntu 20.04 Server.



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