"proxy" refers to a proxy server "proxy" is a reference to the fact that a proxy or proxy server. A proxy server is a software that sits acting as a mediator between client and a server on the internet. Without the proxy, a client would make a request for a service direct to a server and it would then serve the resource directly towards the customer. This is not difficult to understand and implement, adding proxies provides advantages that include improved security, performance, privacy, and much more. As a pass-through layer proxy services act as a gatekeeper on the internet between servers and clients.

In general, the collection of server hardware and installed proxy software is also commonly described as proxy servers. This article will focus on proxy servers that are typically described in terms of software and the ones used in conjunction with web servers. The article will provide details of two types of proxy servers, specifically the forward proxy and reverse proxy. reverse proxy. Each type has its own specific usage that can cause confusion due to the overlapping terminology.

This article will provide an idea of the proxy types and their subtypes are, as well as their importance in typical configurations. After reading this article, you'll be able recognize scenarios in which an effective proxy can be useful, and choose the best option for you between forward and reverse proxy, in any scenario.

Understanding Forward Proxies

Also, a forward proxy sometimes referred to as open proxy open proxy is an agent for an individual user trying to send an online request to an origin server. In this scenario, every attempt to send requests by the client will rather be directed via this forward proxy. In this scenario, the forward proxy acting in the client's stead will review the request. At first it will decide if it is allowed to send requests to this particular forward proxy. Then, it will either reject requests or redirect them to the origin server. The client is not able to have an internet connection directly It is only able to access what the forward proxy permits for it to join.

The primary reason for people for using forward proxy servers is to provide more privacy or security online. A forward proxy connects to the internet on behalf of the individual client. And when it does this it could utilize an IP address distinct from the IP address used by the user.

Depending on how it's been set up, a forward proxy can perform a variety of features and the capability to:

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  Beware of ad-tracker.
  
  
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  Circumvent surveillance.
  
  
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  You can identify limitations based on your location.
  
  

Forward proxies can also be used in systems to provide central security and access based on permissions, such as in the workplace. When all internet traffic goes through a common forward proxy layer, admins may restrict only a small number of users online access, which is filtered by an common firewall. Instead of putting firewalls in this layer that may be used by multiple computers with various configurations and users and environments, a firewall can be added to this forward proxy layer.

Be aware that forward proxy servers have to be manually configured before they can be utilized while reverse proxy servers could be ignored by clients. Depending on whether an IP address from the user is transferred to the server that is being used by the forward proxy, privacy and anonymity may be granted or kept in the dark.

There are a myriad of possibilities to think about for forward proxies.

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  Apache The Apache is a popular open-source web server, that provides forward proxy features.
  
  
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  Nginx: Another popular open-source webserver that comes with forward proxy capabilities.
  
  
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  Squid is an open-source forward proxy utilizing an HTTP protocol. This doesn't offer the complete web-based server. Check out our guide on the best method of installing Squid proxy for private connections for Ubuntu 20.04. Ubuntu 20.04.
  
  
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  Dante forward proxy, which uses the SOCKS protocol instead of HTTP which makes it more to handle situations like peer-to-peer communication. You can also research how to configure Dante proxy to allow secure connections within Ubuntu 20.04
  
  

Understanding Reverse Proxies

Reverse proxy acts to act as an agent of a web server. It manages requests received by clients on its behalf. The web server may function as a single server or as a series of servers. It can also comprise an application server, like Gunicorn. In either case, the request might be made by a user of the internet in general. Typically, the request will be directed directly to the server on the internet which holds the information that the user is seeking. In contrast, a reverse proxy acts as an intermediary, separating the server from direct communication with the open internet.

From the viewpoint of the client, interacting via reverse proxy doesn't differ than interacting with an internet server direct. It's the same, however the client can't discern the difference. The client makes a request for an item and receives it without further configuration required for the customer.

Reverse proxy providers provide features like:

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  Centralized security on webservers.
  
  
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  The direction of traffic coming in is by rules you set up.
  
  
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  Additional functions for caching.
  
  

While central security is an advantage of both forward and reverse proxy servers, reverse proxies offer this benefit to the layer that is on the webserver and not the client layer. Instead of focusing on maintaining firewalls on the server level, that could include several servers with different configurations, the majority of firewall security can be directed at the reverse proxy layer. Additionally, removing the burden of interacting with firewalls and communicating with requests from clients off web servers allows the firewall to focus on supplying services.

If there are multiple servers running through a reverse proxy the reverse proxy could also be responsible for directing which requests are directed to which servers. There could be multiple web servers operating on the same server, each serving various kinds of resources or a mixture of the two. The servers employ their HTTP protocol to function as a standard web server. They can also be equipped with applications server protocols like FastCGI. It is possible to set up reverse proxy that directs clients to specific servers based on the resource requested or to follow certain rules regarding the traffic load.

Reverse proxies are also able to make use of their location before web servers through caching features. Large static assets can be configured with caching policies to avoid hitting web servers every request, with some solutions allowing you to serve static content directly without having to connect to a website server at all. Furthermore the reverse proxy can be capable of compressing these assets.

The well-known Nginx web server also functions as an effective reverse proxy solution. Although Apache is also a reverse proxy solution, it is not the only one. Apache website server additionally includes reverse proxy functions, which is a different option to Apache and Nginx was designed initially for and specifically focuses on reverse proxy capabilities.

Differentiating Forward Proxy and Reverse Proxy Use Cases

Because "forward" and "reverse" are both associated with the notion of directionality and false comparisons to "incoming" or "outgoing" traffic the labels could be confusing, as both types of proxies are able to handle requests as well as respond. The best method of separating both forward and reverse proxy services is to think about the needs of the application you're creating.

A reverse proxy can be beneficial when you're developing an option to host web applications on the internet. They serve as your web servers for any interaction on the Internet.

A forward proxy is helpful when it is used before customers for your personal use or even in a corporate setting. They are your client's representative in all interactions via the internet.

A case-based distinction instead of focusing solely on similar naming conventions can assist you in avoidance of confusion.

Conclusion

This article will explain what is a "proxy" is and the two types that are the forward proxy and reverse proxy. Practical scenarios for use as well as an examination of the advantageous characteristics were used to define the two types of proxy that are reverse and forward. If you're interested exploring how to implement proxies you can read our tutorial on how to set up Nginx as reverse and web server proxy to Apache on one Ubuntu 20.04 server.