A proxy is also referred to an application called a proxy server that serves as a mediator between a client and server on the internet. Without the need for proxy servers, users could make a request for servers directly and servers would then serve the requested resource directly to the user. Although this may be a straightforward process to grasp and use the addition of proxy servers could provide benefits like improved performance, privacy, security, and more. As an additional layer of pass-through they serve as a security barrier on the internet between clients and servers.

Generally speaking, the bundled package of server hardware with installed proxy software is often called proxy servers. This article will concentrate on proxy servers that are usually regarded as software, and as being used in conjunction with web servers. The article will provide details of the two main types of proxy servers, which include a forward proxy and the reverse proxy. Each type has a different usage scenario, which is often misunderstood because of the resemblance to the namesake convention.

This article will provide an idea of types of proxy services, what their subtypes are, and how they can be helpful for setups that are common. If you read the article carefully, you'll be able to recognize situations where it is beneficial to use a proxy and decide on the right choice between forward and reverse proxy, in any situation.

Understanding Forward Proxies

The forward proxy also referred to as an open proxy acts as the agent of the client, in making an internet request to an the server which made it. In this scenario, all attempts to send requests by the user will be directed straight to the forward proxy. In this case the forward proxy acting on behalf of the client will scrutinize the request. It first will determine if this client is able to make requests via this specific forward proxy. Then, it will either refuse requests or redirect them to the original server. The client isn't allowed direct access to the internet. It is only able to access what the forward proxy allows for it to link to.

The most common reason to use forward proxies is to increase privacy or anonymity on the internet. A forward proxy utilizes the internet to replace an individual client, and in this way it can use an alternative IP address that is different from the original IP address used by the client.

Depending on how it's been setup the forward proxy will offer a variety of features and let you:

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  Stay clear of tracking ads.
  
  
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  Circumvent surveillance.
  
  
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  Determine restrictions based on location.
  
  

Forward proxies may also be employed in systems that offer central security and access based on permissions, such as in workplaces. If all traffic on the internet flows through a common forward proxy layer an administrator can grant only a few clients online access through an ordinary firewall. Instead of maintaining firewalls at the client layer which could involve a number of computers with different settings and users, it is possible to set up the firewall configured an intermediary layer.

Be aware that forward proxy servers need to be set up manually to allow the use of these proxies while reverse proxies may be omitted by clients. Based on the type of IP address of a user is sent to the source server through the forward proxy, privacy and security may be granted or not.

There are several possibilities to think about when it comes to forward proxies.

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  Apache is an well-known open-source web server, that offers forward proxy features.
  
  
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  Nginx is another widely-used open-source webserver which has forward proxy functionality.
  
  
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  Squid is an free forward proxy that uses it's HTTP protocol. The option does not include an entire Web server software. You can read our tutorial on how to install Squid proxy to enable private connections on Ubuntu 20.04.
  
  
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  Dante: a forward proxy that operates on the SOCKS protocol rather than HTTP in order to be more suited for cases such as with peer-to-peer traffic. You might also wish to understand how to set up the Dante proxy that allows private connections in Ubuntu 20.04
  
  

Understanding Reverse Proxies

A reverse proxy acts as an intermediary for a web server that handles incoming requests from clients on its behalf. The web server could comprise an individual server or a number of servers. It could also be used as an application server, for instance, Gunicorn. In all of these scenarios the request will originate from a user on the web at large. Most of the time, this request is sent directly to the server that hosts the information that the user wants. Reverse proxy serves as a middleman to isolate Web servers and prevent direct communication with the internet's public.

From a consumer's point of view from a client's perspective the use of a reverse proxy is no anything different than working with a the Web server directly. It's functionally the same but clients aren't able distinguish between the two. Client makes request for the resource and then it receives it, without any extra configuration required for the end user.

Reverse proxies provide features like:

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  A central layer of security to protect the server.
  
  
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  Controlling traffic that is inbound according to rules you can define.
  
  
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  New functionality added for caching.
  
  

While central security is an advantage of both forward and reverse proxy servers, reverse proxies offer this feature to that layer that is on the webserver, and not to the client layer. instead of maintaining firewalls at the server level which may contain multiple servers with various configurations, the majority of security for firewalls is centered in the reverse proxy layer. Also, the removal of the responsibility to interact with firewalls and interacting with client requests off of web servers allows firewalls to focus on providing the necessary resources.

In the case of multiple servers within a reverse proxy the reverse proxy is responsible for directing the requests to the server. There may be multiple web servers providing the same content, offering different kinds of services or a combination of both. They could use the HTTP protocol exactly the same way as an ordinary web server. However, they can also be equipped with application server protocols such as FastCGI. There is the possibility to configure reverse proxy servers to route visitors to specific server depending on the service being requested or to comply with specific rules regarding traffic load.

Reverse proxies can also benefit from their position ahead of web servers, by offering the capability to store data. Large static assets can be set up using caching rules to prevent having to contact web servers for every request. There are some solutions even allowing you to directly serve static assets without having to contact the web server even once. Furthermore reverse proxy is able to manage the compression on these resources.

The popular Nginx web server can also function as an effective reverse proxy solution. However, Apache is also a reverse proxy option but it is a reverse proxy solution. Apache web server is outfitted with a reverse proxy option as an additional option for Apache in contrast to Nginx was initially designed for and focuses on reverse proxy features.

Distinguishing Forward Proxy from Reverse Proxy Use Cases

Since "forward" as well as "reverse" are associated with the notion of directionality and misleading comparisons to "incoming" and "outgoing" traffic, these labels can be confusing since both types of proxies manage both requests as well as responses. The best way to distinguish between forward and reverse proxy is to study the needs of the app you're working on.

Reverse proxy is an effective tool when you're creating a solution for serving web-based applications over the internet. They act as your web servers when you connect to the internet.

A forward proxy can be helpful when it is displayed in front of customers for your own usage as well as in an official environment. They are a representation of your client's web traffic during any online interaction.

The practice of separating by use case, instead of focussing on similar names will help in making sure that there is no confusion.

Conclusion

This article clarifies the meaning of a proxy with two types being the forward proxy and reverse proxy. Practical application scenarios and an examination of the beneficial attributes were used to identify forward proxies and reverse proxy. If you're interested in exploring implementation of proxies then you should learn how to configure Nginx to act as an Internet server and reverse proxy to Apache using an Ubuntu 20.04 Server.

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