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A proxy also referred to proxy servers is software that acts as an intermediary between a client and a server on the internet. Without the need for proxy servers, users would send a request to something directly through a server and the server would deliver the resource directly back to the client. Though this approach is simple to understand and implement, the addition of proxy servers can provide advantages in terms of increased performance and privacy, security and more. Alongside offering a security layer proxy servers also act as a security guardian for the internet, separating clients from servers.

The general consensus is that the collection of server hardware and proxy software are also called proxy servers. However, this article will focus on proxies typically classified as software, and in the case of web servers. This article will give a synopsis of the two principal kinds that are forward proxy and reverse proxy. reverse proxy. Each has its own specific usage that can cause confusion due to the same naming convention.

This article will provide you with an idea of the nature of proxies and the subtypes of them, as well as how they work in the normal configurations. By reading in this post, you'll be able to identify the scenarios in which it is beneficial to use a proxy and decide on the appropriate choice between reverse proxy and forward proxy for any scenario.

Understanding Forward Proxies

In the same way, a forward proxy sometimes called an open proxy is a proxy of a client who wants to send an internet request to an origin server. In this scenario every request made by the client will instead be sent straight through the forward proxy. Forward proxy acting on the place of the client will review the request. It will first decide if the user is authorized receive requests from this particular forward proxy. It will then decide if it is authorized to deny a request and send it back to the server that originally received it. The client is unable to have direct access to the internet. It is only able to access the internet that the forward proxy grants it access to.

The primary reason for people to use forward proxies is to increase privacy or security on the internet. Forward proxy allows you to access the internet the place of a client and, in this way it can use an IP address that is different from the original IP address that the client uses.

Based on the way it was configured in the past forward proxy servers are able to offer a wide range of choices and permit you to:

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  Avoid ad tracking.
  
  
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  Circumvent surveillance.
  
  
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  You can identify restrictions based upon your geographic area.
  
  

Forward proxies may also be utilized in systems that offer centralized security and permission based access, such as at work. When all traffic on the internet passes through an open forward proxy, administrators are able to restrict access to certain clients to the internet that are filtered through a common firewall. Instead of having firewalls installed for the client layer that could comprise a variety of computers with different user and operating environments, the firewall can be placed within the forward proxy layer.

It is important to note that settings for forward proxy have to be manually configured for use to use in reverse proxies, whereas forward proxy settings are disregarded by clients. Depending on the type of IP address of a user is passed to the original server through the forward proxy privacy and anonymity may be granted or denied.

There are a variety of possibilities to consider when it comes to forward proxy options:

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  Apache is a well-known open-source webserver that includes forward proxy functions.
  
  
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  Nginx: Another renowned open-source webserver with forward proxy capabilities.
  
  
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  Squid: A no-cost forward proxy that uses the HTTP protocol. It doesn't provide a complete web server solution. Check out our step-by-step guide to set up Squid proxy to allow private connections on Ubuntu 20.04.
  
  
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  Dante forward proxy which runs using the SOCKS protocol, instead of HTTP which makes it better suited to situations such as peer-topeer traffic. You can also look into the procedure for installing a Dante proxy to connect privately in Ubuntu 20.04
  
  

Understanding Reverse Proxies

A reverse proxy functions as a representative of web servers, which handles any requests that come in from clients on its behalf. The web server may include a server or multiple servers. Additionally, it can be a server for applications such as Gunicorn. In any of these situations, an application request comes from a user via the internet in general. Most of the time the request is sent directly to the web server with the information the client wants. Reverse proxy, however, works as an intermediary, protecting Web server from any direct interactions with the web's public.

From a consumer's point of view that is an individual's view, connecting with a reverse proxy is similar to using direct connections to an internet server. It's exactly the same however the user is unable to see the distinction. The client makes a request for the resource, and is then provided with it without any further configuration required from the client.

Reverse proxies provide features such as:

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  Secured centrally to protect Web Server Layer.
  
  
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  Controlling traffic inbound based on rules that you can set up.
  
  
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  The caching functionality was added to the application.
  
  

While central security is a benefit of both forward and reverse proxy servers, reverse proxy providers offer this feature to only the server layer, and only the layer that clients use. Instead of maintaining firewalls at Web server layers that could contain multiple servers with different configurations, the bulk of firewall security can be concentrated on the reverse proxy layer. Additionally, removing the responsibility of interacting with firewalls and also interacting with requests from clients outside of web servers permits them to concentrate on providing the requirements of their clients.

When there is a multitude of servers being hosted using a reverse-proxy, the reverse proxy is responsible to direct which requests are routed to which server. There could be multiple web servers providing identical content providing various types of resources or a mix of both. These servers may be running the HTTP protocol exactly the same way as an ordinary web server however they could also include other protocols for application servers like FastCGI. It is also possible to set up a reverse proxy to redirect clients to specific servers based on the requested resource or to comply with specific rules pertaining to traffic load.

Reverse proxies also can make use of their location prior to web servers by providing caching capabilities. Massive static resources can be configured with caching rules to avoid hitting web servers with every request. There are even solutions that allow users to serve static files immediately without needing to connect to the web server once. Furthermore reverse proxy is able to control compression of these files.

The popular Nginx web server can also function as a very popular reverse proxy solution. Although Apache can also be a reverse proxy service but Apache is a reverse proxy service. Apache web server also comes with a reverse proxy function, it is an additional attribute of Apache however Nginx was initially designed for and focuses on its reverse proxy feature.

Differentiating Forward Proxy and reverse Proxy Use Examples

Because "forward" and "reverse" have connotations of directionality, and false comparisons to "incoming" or "outgoing" traffic, the labels can be confusing as both types of proxies handle responses and requests. A better approach to differentiate between forward and reverse proxy is to study the requirements of the program you're creating.

Reverse proxy is helpful when building a solution to provide web-based applications over the internet. They serve as your web servers whenever you connect to the internet.

Forward proxy can be beneficial when it is placed in front of customers to use for personal reasons or in the corporate setting. They are your client's representative when you connect to the internet.

The use of case-based differentiation instead of focusing on the common naming conventions can aid in avoiding confusion.

Conclusion

This article clarified the definition of a proxy using two kinds: the forward proxy and the reverse proxy. Practical applications as well as a summary of beneficial features were used to distinguish between reverse and forward proxies. If you're interested in knowing more about how to implement proxy servers, you can refer to our tutorial on how to set up Nginx as a reverse and web server proxy with Apache on the Ubuntu 20.04 server.

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