• 목록
• 답변
• 글쓰기
• 게시판 리스트 옵션
  • 수정
  • 삭제

proxy, also known as a proxy is also known by the name of a proxy,, a software that acts as a mediator between a server and a client via the internet. Without proxy, a user can send a request for a service directly from the server, and the server would provide the requested resource directly to the user. While this is a simple method to grasp and use but the addition of proxy servers can offer advantages in terms of increased speed, privacy and security, and much more. Apart from adding a layer of protection the proxy also acts as a security guard to the internet, separating clients and servers.




The combined combination of server hardware and an installed software proxy is also often referred as proxy servers. In this article, we will focus on proxies traditionally classified as software, and in the context of web servers. The article will give a detailed breakdown of the two main types of proxies. These are the forward proxy and a reverse proxy. Each has its own usage scenario that is often confused due to the overlap in naming convention.




This article will provide you with some understanding about what proxies and their subtypes are and the ways they can be useful in various configurations. In this article, you'll learn to identify situations in which it is beneficial to use a proxy and make the right option between reverse and forward proxy depending on the circumstance.



Understanding Forward Proxies



An forward proxy sometimes known as an open proxy acts as an agent for a user trying to send a request through the internet to a source server. In this case, every attempt to send a request by the user will be sent through the forward proxy. This forward proxy in the place of the client, will examine the request. It will first determine whether the client has been granted permission to receive requests from this specific forward proxy. Then, it will either refuse requests or redirect them to the source server. It isn't able to direct connection to the internet. It only has access to what forward proxy allows the forward proxy to connect.




A common use for forward proxy is to provide more privacy or security while using the internet. A forward proxy can connect to the web as a user and during this manner, it connects an alternative IP address to your client's IP address.




Depending on how it has been configured based on the way it was configured forward proxy can provide a wide range of options that allow users to:




Do not click on ads that track you.


Circumvent surveillance.


You can identify limitations based on your location.




Forward proxies are also used in systems that give central security and access through permissions, such as at work. Internet traffic can be routed through an open forward proxy, administrators can restrict access to specific people to connect on the internet, which is blocked by the typical firewall. Instead of having firewalls at the client layer, which could be used by multiple computers with different settings and users. A firewall may be located within this forward proxy layer.




It is important to know that forward proxies have to be manually setup for their use, however reverse proxy servers will not be noticed by the user. Depending on whether the IP address of the client is sent to the origin server through the forward proxy Privacy and anonymity could be granted or kept in the dark.




There are many alternatives to think about when considering forward proxy services.




Apache is a well-known open-source web server, which offers forward proxy capabilities.


Nginx: Another well-known open-source web server with forward proxy capabilities.


Squid is an open source forward proxy that makes use of an HTTP protocol. It isn't part of the entire web server. This is a step-by-step tutorial for setting up Squid proxy to allow connection to private networks in Ubuntu 20.04.


Dante Forward proxy that uses the SOCKS protocol rather than HTTP and is ideal for scenarios such as peer-to-peer traffic. You could also examine how you can install an Dante proxy that allows private connections in Ubuntu 20.04



Understanding Reverse Proxies



Reverse proxy acts as an intermediary between a web server, handling incoming requests from clients in its place. It can be used as a single server or multiple servers. Furthermore, it could contain an application server such as Gunicorn. It is possible to receive a request from a customer through the internet at large. Most of the time, the request would be directed directly to the server hosting the information the client wants. A reverse proxy serves as an intermediary in order to block your website server from communicating with the web's public.




From a consumer's point of view that is a user's viewpoint, interfacing with reverse proxy isn't different from interacting with the server on its own. It's functionally the same as the web server, and the user isn't able to tell the distinction. The client can make a request for the resource and it is then given it, without any further configuration from the user.




Reverse proxies grant features like:




Security centralized for web servers.


Directing incoming traffic based on rules you can make.


The caching functionality was added to the application.




While centralized security is an advantage of both forward and reverse proxy systems, reverse proxies provide this service to servers on the internet but not the client layer. instead of having firewalls installed at the layer of web servers, which could include multiple servers that have different configurations, the bulk of firewall security is concentrated at the reverse proxy layer. Furthermore, removing the obligation of interfacing with firewalls and interacting with requests from clients without web servers lets them focus on meeting the requirements of their clients.




In the event of multiple servers hosted by reverse proxy the reverse proxy is responsible for directing which requests are routed to which server. There could be multiple web servers providing the exact identical service, however each offering different kinds of resources, or perhaps a mix of the two. They can utilize the HTTP protocol in the same way as traditional web servers however, they could also be outfitted with application server protocols like FastCGI. You can set up reverse proxy that directs users to specific servers based on the resource they are looking for, or to observe certain rules for traffic load.




Reverse proxy solutions also profit from their placement on the top of web servers by using caching functionality. Large static files can be arranged with caching rules in order to ensure that web servers are not hit every time you request. Certain solutions allow users to serve static content directly without having to connect to the web server at all. Furthermore, the reverse proxy is able to manage compression of these files.




The well-known Nginx web server can also function as a well-known reverse proxy service. Although it is certain that Apache web server has a reverse proxy features but it's a different option. Apache and not the default option. Nginx was originally designed to and focused on the reverse proxy feature.



Differentiating Forward Proxy from Reverse Proxy Use Cases



Since "forward" and "reverse" are both associated with a sense of directionality and inaccurate comparisons with "incoming" and "outgoing" traffic. The labels can confuse because each type of proxy handles requests and responses. An alternative approach to distinguish between forward and reverse proxy is to think about the needs of the application you're creating.




Reverse proxy is an important feature when building an infrastructure to connect web-based applications on the internet. They are your web servers in any interaction with the internet.




Forward proxy applications are beneficial when it is displayed in front of clients for personal use or in a workplace. They can be used to represent the client's activity as you interact on the internet.




The use case-based differentiation instead of focusing solely on common naming conventions will help you not be confused.



Conclusion



This article clarified what a "proxy" is with the two primary types of them being the reverse and forward proxies. Practical applications and a review of beneficial features was utilized to distinguish between forward proxy from reverse proxy. If you're interested exploring how to implement proxies you should follow our tutorial on how to configure Nginx as a webserver and reverse proxy for Apache on an Ubuntu 20.04 server.



If you have any concerns pertaining to where and ways to make use of Proxy Sites (fileforum.com), you can call us at our web-page.