📄️ Overview
A reverse proxy is a type of proxy server that retrieves resources on behalf of a client from one or more servers. These resources are then returned to the client as if they originated from the proxy server itself. Reverse proxies are typically used to balance load among several servers, cache content to improve performance, and provide a single point of access with enhanced security and monitoring capabilities.
📄️ Proxy Protocol
The HAProxy protocol, often referred to as the Proxy Protocol, is a network protocol designed to solve a common challenge faced when running servers behind load balancers or reverse proxies. In a typical setup without this protocol, the server sees only the IP address of the proxy, not the original client. This limitation can be problematic, especially for services that need to know the client's actual IP address for security, logging, or communication purposes. The Proxy Protocol was introduced as a solution to this issue. It allows the proxy to forward the client's original IP address and other relevant details to the server. This way, the server has access to the necessary client information, despite being behind a proxy.
📄️ Traefik
Traefik is a modern, dynamic reverse proxy and load balancer designed to deploy microservices with ease. It integrates seamlessly with major container orchestrators like Docker, Kubernetes, and others, automatically discovering the services and adjusting configurations accordingly. Traefik's dynamic nature, extensive integration capabilities, and robust feature set make it an ideal choice for managing and routing traffic to microservice applications.
📄️ Caddy
Caddy is an open-source, HTTP/2-enabled web server that is renowned for its simplicity, flexibility, and powerful automatic HTTPS features. It is designed to make setting up web servers quick and easy, with an emphasis on security and performance. Caddy is highly configurable, supporting a wide range of use cases, from simple static file serving to complex reverse proxy setups, all while providing automatic TLS certificate management.
📄️ HAProxy
HAProxy is a powerful, open-source software widely recognized for its high performance, reliability, and flexibility as a load balancer and reverse proxy. It is commonly used in environments requiring high availability and scalability, such as web servers, databases, and various application services. HAProxy excels in managing large volumes of traffic, distributing load evenly across multiple servers, and providing advanced features like health checks, SSL termination, and connection persistence.
📄️ NGINX
NGINX is a versatile, high-performance web server that can also function as a reverse proxy, load balancer, and HTTP cache. Known for its stability, rich feature set, and low resource consumption, NGINX is widely used to enhance the performance and reliability of web and application services. Its robust architecture and flexible configuration options make it an excellent choice for managing and routing traffic in a variety of environments.