Reverse vs. forward proxy can be confusing at first, but here's a simple way to think about it:
Forward proxy = your buddy who grabs stuff from the internet for you (like a VPN).
Reverse proxy = the bouncer at a club who decides who gets in to see the servers.
For a home lab, a reverse proxy (like Nginx or Traefik) is super useful if you're hosting multiple services (Plex, Nextcloud, etc.) and want one entry point with SSL. Forward proxy? Maybe if you're paranoid about hiding your traffic.
Check out Caddy for an easy reverse proxy setup—it auto-handles SSL!
Forward proxy = your buddy who grabs stuff from the internet for you (like a VPN).
Reverse proxy = the bouncer at a club who decides who gets in to see the servers.
For a home lab, a reverse proxy (like Nginx or Traefik) is super useful if you're hosting multiple services (Plex, Nextcloud, etc.) and want one entry point with SSL. Forward proxy? Maybe if you're paranoid about hiding your traffic.
Check out Caddy for an easy reverse proxy setup—it auto-handles SSL!