Proxy Sites Overview

A proxy is can also be referred to as an application called a proxy server that acts as an intermediary between client and server over the internet. Without the need for proxy servers, a user could submit a request to resources directly to a server and servers would then serve requests directly for the resource requested by the client. It is an easy procedure to understand and utilize, the addition of proxies can provide benefits like improved performance, privacy, security, and more. As an additional layer of pass-through proxy servers are a way to secure the internet between clients and servers.




Generally speaking, the bundled combination of server hardware and installed proxy software is often referred as proxy servers. This article will concentrate on proxy servers that are typically understood as software, and as when referring to web servers. The article will provide an explanation of the two primary kinds of proxy servers, which include a forward proxy and the reverse proxy. Each type has a different use case, often confused due to the similar namesake convention.




This article will give you an understanding of different types of proxy services and what their subtypes are, and the ways they can be beneficial for the common setups. After reading the article carefully, you'll to recognize situations where it is beneficial to use proxy services and make the best option between reverse proxy and forward proxy, in any situation.



Understanding Forward Proxies



The forward proxy sometimes known in the context of or an open proxy acts as the representative of the client in making an internet-based request to the server which made it. In this scenario any attempts to send requests by the user are instead directed directly to the forward proxy. In this situation, the forward proxy on behalf of the client will review the request. It will first decide if the client can make requests via this specific forward proxy. Then, it will either refuse requests or redirect it to the server it originated from. The client isn't capable of having an internet connection directly. It is only able to access what forward proxy allows the client to access.




The primary reason people make use of forward proxy servers is to increase privacy or anonymity on the internet. A forward proxy utilizes the internet instead of an individual client and in this way it can use an alternative IP address to the original IP address used by the client.




Depending on how it's been set up the forward proxy will provide a variety of functions and let you:




Avoid tracking ads.


Circumvent surveillance.


Establish restrictions based upon the place of residence.




Forward proxies are also used in systems that provide centralized security and access that is based on permissions, for instance in workplaces. If all internet traffic flows through a common forward proxy layer an administrator is able to permit only a small number of clients online access using a common firewall. Instead of having firewalls set up on the client layer, which could involve a number of computers with varying settings and users there is a way to have the firewall configured on the proxy layer that is front.




Take note that forward proxies need to be set up manually for them to be used while reverse proxies may be ignored by clients. Based on the type of IP address of a user is transmitted to the origin server via forward proxy privacy and security can be granted or left transparent.




There are a number of alternatives to look into for forward proxies:




Apache is an well-known open-source web server, which provides forward proxy capabilities.


Nginx is another widely-used open-source webserver which has forward proxy functions.


Squid: A free and Open Source Forward Proxy which uses it's HTTP protocol. This option doesn't include the complete web server application. You can read our tutorial on how you can use Squid proxy to enable private connections within Ubuntu 20.04.


Dante: a forward proxy that operates the SOCKS protocol in place of HTTP in order to be better to work in situations like peer-to-peer communication. You may also want to know how to build a Dante proxy to permit private connections to Ubuntu 20.04



Understanding Reverse Proxies



A reverse proxy functions as an intermediary for a web server, handling any requests that come in from clients on behalf of. The web server can comprise one server or several servers. Furthermore, it could serve as an app server, for instance, Gunicorn. In any of these scenarios a request could be made by a user through the internet at large. In the majority of cases it is transmitted directly to the server that hosts the information that the user is requesting. A reverse proxy serves as a middleman to shield Web servers from direct contact with the web's public.




From a consumer's point the client's point of view the use of reverse proxy isn't the same as working with a the Web server directly. It's basically the same, but the client can't tell the distinction. Client requests the resource, and it gets it, with no further configuration required from the user.




Reverse proxies provide features like:




A centralized layer of security to protect the server.


Controlling traffic coming inbound on rules that you can set up.


New functionality added for caching.




While central security is an advantage of both reverse and forward proxy servers, reverse proxy providers offer this feature to that layer of the webserver rather than the client layer. Instead of coordinating firewalls on the server level that may include multiple servers that have different configurations, the bulk of security for firewalls is centered in the reverse proxy layer. Additionally, removing the responsibility of interacting with firewalls as well as interfacing with requests from clients off of web servers enables the firewall to focus on providing the resources.




If there are multiple servers that are in a reverse proxy, the reverse proxy takes care of directing which requests are directed to the server. There could be multiple web servers that provide the same content, offering different kinds of services or a mixture of both. These servers can be using the HTTP protocol similar to the traditional web server. However, they could also be equipped with applications server protocols like FastCGI. You can set up a reverse proxy to send visitors to a particular server based on the service they require or to follow certain guidelines for traffic load.




Reverse proxies can benefit from being placed before web servers by providing the ability to cache data. The large static files can be created with caching rules to avoid needing to connect with web servers for every request. There are some solutions even allowing you to serve static content directly without having to contact the web server for even one time. Additionally the reverse proxy is able to handle compression of these assets.




The renowned Nginx web server also functions as a powerful reverse proxy solution. While Apache can also be a reverse proxy option, the Apache web server also comes outfitted with a reverse proxy function as an added option for Apache as opposed to Nginx was initially designed for and is focused on reverse proxy functions.



Differentiating Forward Proxy from reverse Proxy Use-cases



Due to the fact that "forward" and "reverse" are associated with the notion of directionality as well as inaccurate comparisons with "incoming" as well as "outgoing" traffic, these labels can be confusing since both types of proxies handle both requests as well as responses. The best way to distinguish between forward and reverse proxies is to examine the requirements of the app you're creating.




Reverse proxy can be a valuable tool to use when developing a solution to serve web-based applications via the internet. Reverse proxy servers represent your website when you connect to the web.




A forward proxy is helpful when placed in front of clients for personal use and in professional environment. They are a representation of your client's web traffic during any online interaction.




Separating by use case instead of focusing on the similar names can help in making sure that there is no confusion.



Conclusion



This article will explain the significance of a proxy with two types being the forward proxy and the reverse proxy. Practical scenarios for application and the exploration of attributes that are beneficial were used to determine forward proxies and reverse proxy. If you're interested in exploring the use of proxy servers we recommend you read our guide on how you can configure Nginx to act as an Internet server and reverse proxy to Apache using Ubuntu 20.04 Server. Ubuntu 20.04 Server.



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