Apache reserve proxy

Introduction

In addition to being a “basic” web server that delivers both static and dynamic content to end-users, Apache httpd (and the vast majority of other web servers) is also capable of performing the duties of a reverse proxy server, which is also referred to as a “gateway” server. In this capacity, Apache httpd is similar to most other web servers. When httpd gets a request from a client, it proxies the request to one of these backend servers. That server then processes the request, creates the content, and delivers it back to httpd. Finally, httpd generates the actual HTTP response sent to the client.

Background

Apache may be used as a reverse proxy to forward HTTP and HTTPS requests to other computers. This is a frequent procedure that offers primarily two advantages, which are as follows:

Security

Your Apache installation may be placed in a demilitarised zone (DMZ) and made accessible to the public. At the same time, the web servers can be positioned behind it in an inaccessible location.

Reduce load

Requests sent through HTTP or HTTPS may be forwarded to other computers using Apache as a reverse proxy. This is a frequent procedure that provides the following two primary benefits:

What is Reverse Proxy

In computer networks, a reverse proxy is a proxy server retrieves resources on behalf of a client from one or more servers. These resources are returned to the client as if they originated from the proxy server.

Why Reverse Proxy

Popular websites often make use of the technology known as reverse proxying, which acts as a shield for application frameworks that have less robust HTTP capabilities. The presence of an origin server or servers may be hidden, along with the features of those servers, by using a reverse proxy.

Configuring Apache To Proxy Connections

Activating The Modules

Enabling the essential Apache modules that we will be using in this tutorial and others that you may find helpful in the future is the first step before configuring Apache.
First, let’s ensure that all the modules have been installed correctly and are prepared to be activated.

Modifying The Default Configuration

If you have more than one back-end server, Apache’s load balancing capabilities are an excellent method to share the connection across them while acting as a proxy.

Enabling Load-Balancing

Utilizing the load balancing tools provided by Apache is an excellent method for distributing the connection when you are proxying numerous back-end servers, particularly if you have more than one.

Enabling SSL Reverse-Proxy Support

If you manage SSL connections and certificates, you will also be required to activate a secondary virtual host and configure its settings.

Restarting Apache

When you have finished configuring everything to your satisfaction, you will need to restart the cloud server so that the modifications you made take effect. And that wraps things up!

Conclusion

When you have finished configuring everything to your satisfaction, you will need to restart the cloud server so that the modifications you maThe rationales for such an implementation might vary, but the most common ones include safety, high availability, load balancing, and centralized authentication and authorization. There are several reasons why such an architecture could be implemented. In these implementations, the backend infrastructure’s layout, design, and architecture (those servers that handle the requests) must be insulated from and protected from the outside; as far as the client is concerned, the reverse proxy server is the only source of all content.de take effect. And that wraps things up!