What is A Rotating Proxy Server? – NetNut

Introduction

Like how we see in movies where the cops can track someone when they make a call for some minutes, you can also be tracked online. Therefore, maintaining anonymity while online has become a cause of concern. When you visit a website, it can interact with your Internet Protocol Address (often called IP address) to identify your location. As a result, cybercriminals can leverage this to steal your data, videos, and photos. 

Many websites implement various strategies to prevent their data from being obtained by malicious parties. Therefore, maintaining data privacy online and online security becomes a priority.  

Subsequently, this article will explore the concept of a rotating proxy server, how it works, the types of rotating proxies, and choosing the best proxy provider. 

What is a Rotating Proxy Server?

A rotating proxy server is characterized by assigning different IP addresses to each of your internet connections. The rotating proxy server works on the dynamic IP rotation principle. Subsequently, it has a pool of ever-changing IP addresses that ensures each request is sent with a new IP. Its mode of operation is quite the opposite of static proxies, which assign users a fixed IP address. 

When you need to access a website, it receives a request from your IP address. Since the rotating proxy server works with dynamic IP rotation, it selects an IP address from the proxy pool and assigns it to the request. As a result of the continuous rotation, no IP address is overused, and this significantly reduces the chances of proxy detection. In other words, using a rotating proxy server is like having access to an invisibility cloak that makes it difficult for websites to identify you because your digital footprint is not constant.

Another way to describe the mechanism of action of a rotating proxy server is like having a trunk full of masks. Subsequently, you can visit different locations with different masks. As a result, all the people you meet will think you are different people. This can be properly explained with web scraping, as it involves sending multiple requests. When you use a rotating proxy server, it assigns a new IP address for every address. This is necessary to avoid triggering the anti-scraping measures on these websites that could lead to an IP ban. Therefore, the website sees multiple requests from multiple users and not multiple requests from a single user. As a result, there is a significantly lower chance of IP block, which ensures optimized and uninterrupted web data extraction.

Furthermore, a rotating proxy server becomes a necessity because it can dynamically rotate your IP address to give you a unique digital mask for every request you send. As a result, you are assured of optimized anonymity and online experience.

Rotating Proxy Server: How To Rotate IP Addresses

Before you dive into using a rotating proxy server, you need to understand the methods used to rotate IP addresses. There are several ways to rotate IP addresses from a proxy pool, and they include the following: 

Specific IP rotation

Specific IP rotation is a method that can be used with a rotating proxy server. It is quite similar to manual IP selection, as you can change your IP address when you deem fit. Subsequently, this provides more control over your IP rotation schedule. However, if you fail to rotate the IP address frequently, it can get blocked. 

Random IP rotation

Random IP rotation is a technique that allows you to change the IP address within your proxy pool randomly. This method prevents you from being detected and blocked by a website when you are using a rotating proxy server.

Pre-configured IP rotation

This is a method used to rotate IP addresses at predefined intervals. Subsequently, when using a rotating proxy server, your IP address will change according to your configuration. Therefore, you can enjoy IP rotation that can easily bypass anti-bot algorithms.

Burst IP rotation

When using a rotating proxy server, you can employ this method for high-level activities like web scraping. Subsequently, burst IP rotation ensures you get assigned a new IP address after a predefined number of connections. 

Types of Rotating Proxy Server

Here, we shall examine two types of rotating proxy servers, their pros, limitations, and applications.

Residential rotating proxy server

Residential rotating proxy servers use IP addresses assigned by the Internet Service Providers- ISPs to real residences. Therefore, they are more genuine and so have a high credibility score. Therefore, when you use IP addresses from a rotating proxy pool, websites are less likely to block it. 

Pros of residential rotating proxy server

• High-level anonymity: Residential proxies offer high-level anonymity because the IP addresses blend seamlessly with other authentic users
• Authenticity: One of the biggest advantages of using a residential rotating proxy server is the authenticity of the IP addresses. Since they are associated with actual locations, they are less likely to be flagged by websites.
• Diversity: Residential rotating proxy servers offer a diverse pool of IP addresses. Therefore, you can change your location to access geo-restricted content and services. As a result, they can optimize your scraping, streaming, and gaming experiences.
• Privacy and security: A residential proxy server acts as an additional firewall that restricts cybercriminals’ access to your data. Since they cannot see your actual IP address, your location and other identifying information are masked. Subsequently, this significantly increases online privacy and security.

Limitations of the residential rotating proxy server

• Speed: Remember that residential IPs are associated with physical locations. This can be an advantage as well as a limitation because speed is often affected. Subsequently, data center proxies are preferred if high speed and performance are your priority.
• Cost: Residential rotating proxy servers are often more expensive because they offer authentic IP addresses. 

Applications of Residential Rotating Proxy Server

A residential rotating proxy server has several applications due to the high level of authenticity and anonymity. Since the IP address is dynamically rotated, privacy is optimized because it becomes more challenging to track your online activities. Some of the use cases of residential rotating proxy servers include:

Accessing geo-restricted content

 The residential rotating proxy server allows you to bypass geographical restrictions. Since they provide IP addresses from various residences across the world, you can leverage them to access geo-restricted content. For example, if a movie is only available to viewers in the US, you can use a residential proxy with a US IP to bypass such restrictions.

Web scraping

In recent times, web scraping has become the dominant application of residential rotating proxy servers. Sending multiple requests from your actual IP address can result in a ban or block. However, residential proxies offer the flexibility required to scrape large amounts of data without risking IP blocks. Since many websites have anti-scraping measures, using a rotating proxy server allows one to bypass them by imitating multiple users.

Managing multiple social media accounts

Social media automation is another popular application of residential rotating proxy servers. As a social media manager, your actual IP address is at risk of being blacklisted if you are managing several accounts or running multiple accounts. However, using residential rotating proxies hides your actual IP address and assigns you a new residential IP for each task, which significantly reduces the risk of your accounts being blocked. In addition, using a residential rotating proxy server revolves around geographic flexibility, authenticity, and mimicking other regular users.

Sneaker bots

To ensure your sneaker bots can easily bypass website security and successfully make purchases, you need a residential rotating proxy server. Sneaker bots are often leveraged when you need to quickly buy limited edition shoes before they are sold out.

Datacenter Rotating Proxy Server

The datacenter rotating proxy server generates IP addresses that are associated with datacenters. Unlike residential IPs associated with real residences, datacenter IPs are associated with the organization that owns the datacenter IP pool. Subsequently, datacenter proxies have a low credibility score because websites with advanced anti-proxy measures can detect them.

Pros of Datacenter rotating proxy server

• Speed: One advantage that datacenter IPs have over residential IPs is they are faster. This is because they are not associated with an actual residence. Therefore, if your need for a rotating proxy server demands optimized speed, datacenter IPs are an ideal solution.
• Cost-effective: Since datacenter IPs are a product of virtual private servers, they are less expensive than residential IPs. Therefore, if you have a tight budget and require frequent IP changes, datacenter proxies may be a great option.

Limitations of datacenter rotating proxy server

• Easily detectable by websites with advanced security systems
• It does not correspond to actual physical locations

Applications of Datacenter Rotating Proxy Server

Before we consider the applications of datacenter rotating proxies, bear in mind that they do not offer the kind of anonymity provided by residential rotating proxies. However, datacenter IPs high-performance features make it useful for activities like: 

Web scraping

When you need to quickly extract a large volume of web data, datacenter rotating residential proxies become useful. Due to their high speed and performance, IP rotation is quickly implemented to reduce the risk of being banned due to sending too many requests from a single IP address.

SEO monitoring

SEO monitoring is one of the popular applications of datacenter rotating proxy server. Brands can switch IP addresses to remain at the top of search engine results. They can leverage it to monitor keyword performance and identify competitors’ SEO strategies. In addition, using a rotating proxy server allows brands to monitor performance across various locations.

Ad verification

Marketers can use a datacenter rotating proxy server to monitor their ads. This is necessary to check if the ads are displayed appropriately in various regions. In addition, marketers can leverage datacenter rotating proxy server to determine if ads are reaching the target audience. Ad verification is necessary to ensure that companies get an expected return on investment in advertisements.

Competitor analysis

Companies can leverage datacenter rotating proxy server to collect data on the activities of their competitors. It could range from price monitoring, marketing strategies, and examining public sentiment. Competitor analysis is necessary to identify the latest trends and marketing practices that ensure you stay relevant in the industry.

Legal Status of A Rotating Proxy Server

The use of a rotating proxy server is generally legal. There are no legal implications for individuals or organizations using a rotating proxy server to send requests to websites. However, laws are different in each country and may affect how you use a rotating proxy server. In situations where the country has blocked access to certain websites, using a rotating proxy server may incur some consequences. This is common in countries where internet censorship occurs. Subsequently, the government may have outrightly disallowed citizens from viewing such content, even with the use of proxies. Therefore, the use of a rotating proxy server to access restricted content may be illegal. China, North Korea, and Iran are examples of some countries that frown upon the use of rotating proxies. 

In addition, if you are using a rotating proxy server in ways that violate terms of service, for nefarious activities, or infringe copyrights, then you may encounter the law. Therefore, it is necessary to abide by local laws regarding the use of rotating proxies and respect privacy ethics, and your activities should be within the terms and conditions of the target website.  

While a rotating proxy server can provide online privacy and security, it can also be used unethically for illegal activities. Therefore, if you are not familiar with the laws regarding the use of proxies in your country, ensure you consult a professional to avoid getting into trouble. 

The Best Rotating Proxy Server Provider: NetNut

A rotating proxy server is useful for many activities. While there are various free and paid rotating proxy providers, choosing the right one can be overwhelming. Using a free rotating proxy has some risks including reduced level of anonymity and compromised data security. 

NetNut is an industry-leading proxy provider with an extensive network of over 52 million rotating residential proxies in 200 countries and over 250,000 mobile IPS in over 100 countries. 

Here are some of the reasons to choose NetNut rotating proxies:

Diverse proxy solutions

NetNut focuses on customer satisfaction, so we try to understand your unique proxy needs and offer our expert recommendations. As a result, we have diverse proxy solutions to cater to your preferred use cases. They include:

1. Datacenter rotating proxy server: Datacenter proxies are best for accessing unprotected websites and accessing geo-restricted content across 200 countries. These are one of the fastest types of proxies, so they are ideal when speed and optimal performance are required.
2. Rotating Residential proxy server: Rotating residential proxies often contain a large IP pool. They are best for large-scale web scraping and search engine monitoring. The rotating proxy server offers unlimited concurrency for infinite scalability. You can experience unmatched global coverage with zero challenges of IP blocks and CAPTCHA blocks with the residential rotating proxy server.
3. Mobile rotating proxy server: They are compatible with 3G/4G/5G/LTE mobile networks and suitable for mobile-based websites. Mobile proxies often have the best IP reputation because they are the hardest to block. The most popular use cases include testing mobile apps and accessing social media platforms. 

A rotating proxy server may not be ideal for all situations. Therefore, you can leverage the static residential proxies. Subsequently, you can optimize your online security and privacy with consistent and reliable ISP IP addresses. 

Automated IP rotation

Another reason to consider choosing when seeking a rotating proxy server is automated IP rotation. While there are various methods of rotating your IP address, the automated method is easier, more convenient, and less prone to the risk of overusing an IP address. In addition, NetNut has a large IP proxy pool to ensure you always have a different IP address especially for high-risk activities like web scraping. 

Automated IP rotation ensures optimal anonymity for any online activity. Therefore, regardless of how many times you send a request to a website, it considers you to be a different visitor. NetNut rotating proxy server hides your actual IP address to conceal your digital footprint. 

Speed and Stability

NetNut’s rotating proxy server is among the fastest in the industry. These proxies offer one-hop connectivity, which prevents bottlenecks in traffic flow. In addition, all the traffic is routed via the NetNut network. Therefore, you can carry out your activities without any interruptions that may be experienced when third-party computers are used. Subsequently, this capacity for high performance makes NetNut proxy an excellent choice for various online activities, including gaming, streaming, and web scraping.

Global data access

NetNut proxies ensure global access to data. Since data has become essential for businesses and researchers, global access is essential for comprehensive research and analysis. In addition, access to global data is necessary to obtain machine learning data that is comprehensive to avoid bias. Therefore, using the NetNut rotating proxy server ensures you can access data from various locations across the world, including geo-restricted content.

Smart website unblocker

Many websites are blocked for several purposes. However, you can easily bypass this block with NetNut smart website unblocker. It works with auto-rotating and dynamic fingerprinting to imitate real users so you can access any website. 

Advanced AI-CAPTCHA solver

CAPTCHA is a measure that websites use to identify bots and block their access to content. They can block your web scraping activities, especially if you send too many requests. However, the NetNut rotating proxy server comes with an advanced AI-CAPTCHA solver. Therefore, you can leverage this powerful machine-learning algorithm for easy CAPTCHA bypass. Subsequently, you can enjoy unlimited and uninterrupted web scraping. 

Competitive pricing

Cost is an important factor to consider before choosing a rotating proxy server provider. NetNut offers competitive pricing without compromising on quality, speed and performance. The pricing model is transparent, there are no hidden fees, and you also get a free trial period to determine your compatibility with our services. 

Conclusion

This guide has examined a rotating proxy server, how it works, the types, their advantages, limitations, as well as applications. The primary purpose of businesses using a rotating proxy server is to optimize the process of data collection. In addition, it reduces the chances of IP blocks and offers a pathway to access geo-restricted content. 

Whether you choose a datacenter or residential rotating proxy server depends on your needs. Residential proxies are often more reliable because they are associated with real physical addresses. On the other hand, datacenter IPs originate from a datacenter, and while they offer super performance, they have low authenticity scores.

NetNut, an industry-leading proxy provider offers various proxy solutions. Do you want to enjoy an explosive browsing experience where your anonymity and security are guaranteed? Contact us today to get started!

Frequently Asked Questions

What differentiates a rotating proxy server from static proxy servers?

A rotating proxy server is unique because they automatically switch between different IP addresses for web requests. On the other hand, static proxy servers use fixed IP addresses regardless of the frequency of your request to a target website. Therefore, the rotating proxy server offers dynamic IP rotation, which makes it easier to perform repetitive automated tasks without getting blocked.

What are some ethical considerations regarding the use of a rotating proxy server?

Before you use a rotating proxy server, consider the ethical considerations. Therefore, users need to use a rotating proxy server within ethical boundaries, especially regarding data scraping. 

Ethical considerations involve respecting other people’s rights and ensuring your activities do not harm or inconvenience other users. As a result, avoid activities that can violate an organization’s or individual’s rights. Examples of unethical activities include unauthorized scraping and the use of malicious bots. Adhering to ethical boundaries contributes to a positive online environment that promotes fairness.

What are the types of IP addresses?

Before getting a rotating proxy server, you need to understand that there are different types of IP addresses. There are two broad categories of IP addresses- static and dynamic. The static IP address is also called a sticky IP address or a fixed IP address. When using the sticky IP address, you get a permanent proxy server location that does not change. This can be quite useful when you need other devices within the same space to connect to a website. 

On the other hand, the dynamic IP addresses are not permanent. It can change based on what you need to do or which location you want to access. Your configurations will determine the frequency of rotating dynamic IP addresses. Routers often use the Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) that assigns IP addresses to client devices as required. Subsequently, every time a broadband modem reboots, the ISP assigns a new dynamic IP address from its IP pool.