Question Re: Difference between Reverse Proxy and Relay Server in Technology Q&A

Difference between Reverse Proxy and Relay Server

Former Member — Wed, 04 Nov 2015 20:31:00 GMT

Hello All,

I have been working on configuration of SMP. While configuration I came up with Reverse Proxy and Relay Server.

Please provide me with the difference between the reverse proxy and Relay Server on basis of their usage.

Re: Difference between Reverse Proxy and Relay Server

Jitendra_Kansal — Thu, 05 Nov 2015 19:37:25 GMT

There is already so much info available in this guide

Did you get a chance to look at it?

Regards,

Re: Difference between Reverse Proxy and Relay Server

Former Member — Fri, 06 Nov 2015 19:28:26 GMT

Hello JK,

Thanks for response.

I have looked to lot of blog related to configuration. But I am looking for difference and how to decide which one to be used in which conditions.

Thanks

Re: Difference between Reverse Proxy and Relay Server

Jitendra_Kansal — Fri, 06 Nov 2015 19:46:00 GMT

You had asked a general query so i gave reference of that guide. Why dont you share what is your exact requirement?

CC:

Re: Difference between Reverse Proxy and Relay Server

Former Member — Fri, 06 Nov 2015 20:23:23 GMT

Hello JK,

As both Reverse proxy and Relay Server are used in DMZ area to pass client request to Application Server. So we can prefer any one for example if we want Client to connect to SMP Application server we pass the request using either through a relay server or reverse proxy which is placed in DMZ.

So while designing the architecture which one should I prefer out of the two. My query is that there might be some difference between the two that should separate them apart from their configuration. There should some advantage and disadvantage of both reverse proxy and Relay server.

Re: Difference between Reverse Proxy and Relay Server

Former Member — Fri, 06 Nov 2015 20:31:36 GMT

Alok,

What traffic will you passing to the SMP? As there are different applications that can be hosted by the SMP Server.

Re: Difference between Reverse Proxy and Relay Server

midhun_vp — Sat, 07 Nov 2015 10:28:33 GMT

Hi Alok,

There is no big difference between relay server and reverse proxy. Both are used to satisfy the requirement of extra security and load balancing.

Hence you could choose any of these.

But there are some dependencies with different types of apps SMP 3 supports (Odata based, Sylco and Mobiliser). Not all types of reverse proxies or relay server supports these different types of apps.

Hence you need to choose a reverse proxy or relay server based on the types of applications you are going to use.

You could have a look at this SAP note 1904213 that lists different reverse proxies it supports and it's limitations if any: https://websmp230.sap-ag.de/sap(bD1lbiZjPTAwMQ==)/bc/bsp/sno/ui_entry/entry.htm?param=69765F6D6F64653D3030312669765F7361…

Regards, Midhun

SAP Technology RIG

Re: Difference between Reverse Proxy and Relay Server

Former Member — Sat, 07 Nov 2015 10:38:48 GMT

Thanks Midhun

This answers my questions and thanks to All for your help.