An proxy is also referred to as a proxy server. It is software that functions in the role of intermediaries between client and server on the internet. If there was no proxy in place, the customer would be able to send a request to any resource directly to the server and servers would serve any requested resources directly to the client. While this approach is straightforward to understand and use, however using proxy servers may provide benefits like increased speed, privacy and security, among others. In addition to providing a layer of security, proxies act as a guardian for the internet between servers and clients.

The general consensus is that the system of hardware for servers, paired with proxy software is commonly called proxy servers. However, this article will focus on proxies that are traditionally referred to as software, and specifically with respect to web servers. We will give a synopsis of the two major types of proxies that are a forward proxy and reverse proxy. reverse proxy. Each type has a different use, which could be confusing due to the same namestamp.

This article will provide you with an understanding of types of proxies, their subtypes, and what they can do in common configurations. After reading this article you'll recognize the situations where you may benefit from a proxy, and determine the best option between reverse proxy and forward proxy for any scenario.

Understanding Forward Proxies

Forward proxy, also known as an open proxy serves as an agent for the user who wishes to transmit a request through the internet to an source server. In this instance, any request made by the user will be directed via the forward proxy. A forward proxy in the instead of the user will look into the request. It will first determine whether the client is allowed to accept requests via this specific forward proxy. Then, it can either reject any request, or redirect it to the source server. The client will not be able to have an internet connection directly; it is only allowed access to the information that the forward proxy allows its access.

A very common reasons for forward proxy is increased privacy or security on the internet. Forward proxy connects to the internet in lieu of a client's individual account, and in the process, it may use a different IP address, in contrast to the IP address of the client.

Depending on how it's configured, based on the way it's configured forward proxy can provide various features that allow you to:

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  Do not click on ads that track you.
  
  
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  Circumvent surveillance.
  
  
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  Determine restrictions based on geolocation.
  
  

Forward proxies are also used in systems to provide central security and permit-based access, such as in workplaces. In the event that all internet traffic flows through an open forward proxy layer, an administrator is able to restrict access to only certain clients to the internet. The web is filtered by an common firewall. Instead of having firewalls in place for the client layer that could include multiple machines with different settings and types of users, the firewall can be placed at the front proxy layer.

Remember that forward proxies must be manually set up to use while reverse proxies could be not recognized by the client. Based on the type of IP address of the client, it is transmitted to the server that generated it through the forward proxy, privacy and security may be made more transparent.

There are a myriad of choices to be considered for forward proxy:

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  Apache is a well-known open source web server that provides forward proxy capability.
  
  
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  Nginx is another popular open-source webserver that includes forward proxy capability.
  
  
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  Squid: A free and open source forward proxy that utilizes an HTTP protocol. This option doesn't include the whole web server. It is possible to refer to our article about the best method for installing Squid proxy to allow private connections on Ubuntu 20.04.
  
  
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  Dante is a forward proxy which uses the SOCKS protocol instead of HTTP which makes it more suitable for scenarios such as peer-to-peer communication. You can also learn how to set up a Dante proxy to allow secure connections within Ubuntu 20.04
  
  

Understanding Reverse Proxies

Reverse proxy acts as the web server, which takes care of requests from customers on its behalf. It can be used as a one server, or a number of servers. It could also comprise an application server, such as Gunicorn. In any of these situations the request will be made via the web at large. In the majority of cases the request is made directly to the server with all the resources the client in need of. A reverse proxy functions as an intermediary and separates your server from communications with the internet's users.

From the point of the client's point of reverse proxy use is not different from connecting directly to an internet server. It's basically the same, but clients aren't aware of the distinction. The client asks for the resource, and it receives it without any additional configuration required on the part of the client.

Reverse proxy providers offer various features, including:

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  A centralized layer of security to protect the server.
  
  
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  Controlling traffic inbound based on rules that you set up.
  
  
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  A new feature for caching is now available.
  
  

Although central security is a benefit of both forward and reverse proxy solutions, reverse proxies provide this feature to the server layer, it is not available to the client layer. Instead of focusing on the maintenance of firewalls on the server level which might contain many servers and different configurations, the majority of firewall security is directed at the reverse proxy layer. In addition, eliminating the burden of communicating with firewalls and interacting with requests from clients outside of web servers lets them focus solely on meeting the requirements of their customers.

In the case of multiple servers being hosted through a reverse proxy, the reverse proxy also handles the routing of requests towards which servers. Multiple web servers could be providing the exact same service, or serving different types of resources or a mix of the two. They may utilize their HTTP protocol to function as a standard web server, however they could also incorporate applications server protocols like FastCGI. It is possible to set up a reverse proxy to route clients to specific servers based on the requested resource, or to adhere to certain guidelines for traffic load.

Reverse proxies may also utilize their positioning before web servers by providing caching capabilities. Large static assets can be set using caching rules to prevent getting to web servers for each time a request is made. There are solutions that offer the possibility of serving static content directly without having to communicate with a webserver. Additionally, reverse proxy can manage compressing these files.

The renowned Nginx webserver is known as a very popular reverse proxy option. It is true that it is true that the Apache web server has a reverse proxy capabilities as an added feature for Apache However, Nginx was designed originally to and is focused on the reverse proxy feature.

Distinguishing Forward Proxy from Reverse Proxy Use Examples

Because "forward" as well as "reverse" are associated with a sense of directionality and false comparisons with "incoming" as well as "outgoing" traffic can be confusing since both kinds of proxies process requests and responses. A better approach to differentiate between reverse and forward proxy servers is to analyze the requirements of the application you're building.

Reverse proxy is a vital element in the creation of a system to support web-based applications via the internet. They act as your servers when you interact with the Internet.

Forward proxy is useful for displaying customers for personal use or in a work environment. The forward proxy is a representation of the information of the customer whenever you interact on the internet.

A distinction based on use case rather than focusing only on naming conventions that are similar will help avoid confusion.

Conclusion

The article clarified definition of a proxy. There are two kinds of proxy being the reverse and forward proxy. Practical applications as well as an exploration of the beneficial attributes were utilized to distinguish forward proxies from reverse proxies. If you're interested in exploring the benefits for proxy servers you can follow our tutorial on how you can configure Nginx as web service and reverse proxy in Apache in an Ubuntu 20.04 server.