Let me explain what this particular server does.Ī forward proxy provides proxy services to a client or a group of clients. When people talk about a proxy server (often simply known as a "proxy"), more often than not they are referring to a forward proxy. In our case, a proxy server acts on behalf of another machine - either a client or another server. That is, to act on behalf of that other person. Just to make sure we're starting off on the same foot, the main purpose of a proxy service (which is the kind of service either of these two provide) is very similar to what a person aims to achieve when he proxies for another person.
This post should easily spell out the differences between the two. Lately, however, we've realized that some people actually think we're talking about forward proxy servers or that the two are one and the same. We've talked about reverse proxy servers and how they can really be good at protecting the servers in your internal network. In the above scenarios, has the ability to choose. Additionally, abuse complaints about the spam will only shut down the public servers, not the main server.
However, in some scenarios, it is better for on behalf of, which chains as follows. Z = the web site you want to visit, Normally, one would connect directly from.X = your computer, or "client" computer on the internet.A tale of 3 computers (part I)įor an example, I will list three computers connected to the internet.
The proxy event in this case is that the "forward proxy" retrieves data from another web site on behalf of the original requestee. Most discussion of web proxies refers to the type of proxy known as a "forward proxy." In the computer realm, we are talking about one server acting on the behalf of another computer.įor the purposes of accessibility, I will limit my discussion to web proxies - however, the idea of a proxy is not limited to web sites. First of all, the word "proxy" describes someone or something acting on behalf of someone else.