Which one do I need reverse or forward proxy or both?
reddit / selfhosted

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Ok_Independent_3166 · 2023-11-18 00:27

Good day

I am going abroad soon. I have a raspberry pi server running 24/7.
When I go abroad I want to connect to Internet through raspberry pi.
So it will go from my phone via proxy server (pi) to internet to fetch
requested data and hopefully unblock blocked websites.

I understand reverse proxy allows you to host some static website on
your sever that you can access from internet (example). But I wish to
access internet via proxy to unblock websites/services that might be
blocked in another country when you travel there.

Is it similar to vpn or is it a proxy? Apologies I wish to understand
more and I want to know where I can start looking for resources.

I have few questions too

- do I need reverse proxy or forward proxy?
- I do not have SSH enabled, is it required?
- I currently have "reverse proxy" I believe. This means I am outdoors
and can fetch a website from my home server. I use lightppd for this.
Could I use lightppd to achieve this?
- What is the best way to secure this proxy connection?
- I want to avoid installing 3rd party apps, but I am happy for
inightful posts should these be beneficial

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thekrautboy · 2023-11-18 00:35

No you dont need a reverse proxy.

Using a VPN probably makes the most sense. Research into Wireguard for
example, and Tailscale/Headscale.

All of these are third party apps.

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Ok_Independent_3166 · 2023-11-18 00:45

It feels wireguard / openvpn is more secure than privoxy as an example
due to certificates? What if above vpn services are banned in a
country, wouldn't creating a proxy server be best option?

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thekrautboy · 2023-11-18 00:48

Learn the differences between a VPN and a proxy server.

Maybe a sub like /r/HomeNetworking can help.

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Ok_Independent_3166 · 2023-11-18 01:42

I got it. Just as I thought VPN more secure but easier to detect.
Whereas proxy is the opposite. The plan is to setup both and attempt
to use vpn first, if that fails, it will be time to fallback to proxy
server. It would be great to have 2 different external IPs - one for
vpn and one for proxy in case one gets blocked, you want the other
service to be still accessible

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Do_TheEvolution · 2023-11-18 07:25

>do I need reverse proxy or forward proxy?

forward proxy, look at [this squid
guide](https://github.com/DoTheEvo/selfhosted-apps-
docker/tree/master/squid)

>I do not have SSH enabled, is it required?

nope, its for managment, to make changes

>Could I use lightppd to achieve this?

dunno

>What is the best way to secure this proxy connection?

setup VPN, so that you are not connecting to your forward proxy
through open port to the world, but first through VPN and only then to
the proxy

>I want to avoid installing 3rd party apps, but I am happy for
inightful posts should these be beneficial

Your browser should have proxy settings, so not 3rd party app needed,
though some browser extensions like foxyproxy are nice