How to set up a reverse proxy using Apache

A reverse proxy places Apache in front of one or more backend services, presenting a single public endpoint while keeping internal hosts and ports off the internet. This pattern simplifies routing (multiple apps behind one domain), centralizes logging and access control, and reduces operational churn when backend locations change.

Apache implements reverse proxying through mod_proxy plus a protocol module such as mod_proxy_http. Incoming requests are matched by URL path (or host) and forwarded upstream using ProxyPass, while ProxyPassReverse rewrites redirect headers so browsers stay on the proxy URL instead of being bounced to internal backends.

A reverse proxy must never be left as a forward proxy: keep ProxyRequests set to Off to avoid becoming the internet’s favorite anonymous relay. Path-based proxying depends on correct trailing slashes and matching ProxyPass and ProxyPassReverse prefixes, and some applications need cookie or header adjustments when served under a sub-path. Configuration changes should be syntax-tested before reloading apache2 to avoid downtime.

Steps to configure Apache as a reverse proxy server:

Open a terminal with sudo privileges.
```
$ whoami
user
```

Enable the mod_proxy and mod_proxy_http modules.

$ sudo a2enmod proxy proxy_http
[sudo] password for user:
Enabling module proxy.
Considering dependency proxy for proxy_http:
Module proxy already enabled
Enabling module proxy_http.
To activate the new configuration, you need to run:
  systemctl reload apache2

Debian and Ubuntu provide a2enmod to toggle module symlinks under /etc/apache2.
RHEL-family systems manage module loading via packaged config under /etc/httpd/conf.modules.d instead of a2enmod.

Item	Debian/Ubuntu	openSUSE/SLES	Fedora/CentOS/RHEL
Helper to enable modules	a2enmod	a2enmod	install/enable module packages (no a2enmod)
HTTP proxy module	proxy_http	proxy_http	mod_proxy_http (packaged)
Base proxy module	proxy	proxy	mod_proxy (packaged)

Create or edit the virtual host configuration file.
```
$ sudo vi /etc/apache2/sites-available/your-site.conf
```
Related: Location for Apache VirtualHost configuration

Add the reverse proxy directives to the virtual host file.

<VirtualHost *:80>
        ServerName proxy-server.example.com
 
        ProxyRequests Off
        ProxyPreserveHost On
 
        ProxyPass        "/backend-service-01/"  "http://backend-service-01.local/"
        ProxyPassReverse "/backend-service-01/"  "http://backend-service-01.local/"
 
        ProxyPass        "/backend-service-02/"  "http://backend-service-02.local/"
        ProxyPassReverse "/backend-service-02/"  "http://backend-service-02.local/"
</VirtualHost>

Directive/Option	Description
ProxyRequests Off	Disables forward proxy requests so the host cannot be abused as an open proxy.
ProxyPreserveHost On	Preserves the original Host header so upstream applications can route or generate links based on the public host name.
ProxyPass	Maps an incoming URL prefix to an upstream base URL, so requests to http://proxy-server.example.com/backend-service-01/ are forwarded to http://backend-service-01.local/.
ProxyPassReverse	Rewrites Location, Content-Location, and URI headers in upstream redirect responses so clients stay on the reverse proxy URL instead of being redirected to internal backend names.

Trailing slashes should match on both sides of ProxyPass and ProxyPassReverse to keep sub-path routing predictable.

Enable the new site configuration.
```
$ sudo a2ensite your-site.conf
Enabling site your-site.
To activate the new configuration, you need to run:
  systemctl reload apache2
```
Disabling the default site (000-default.conf) avoids accidental routing through the wrong virtual host when multiple sites listen on port 80.
Test the Apache configuration syntax.
```
$ sudo apache2ctl -t
Syntax OK
```
Related: How to test your Apache configuration
Reload the apache2 service to apply the reverse proxy settings.
```
$ sudo systemctl reload apache2
```
Related: How to manage the Apache web server service
Test backend connectivity from the reverse proxy host.
```
$ curl http://backend-service-01.local/
I am backend-service-01.local
```
Direct backend access from an external client may fail by design when backends are private; run this check on the reverse proxy host (or any host with the same network access).
Test the same backend through the Apache reverse proxy path.
```
$ curl http://proxy-server.example.com/backend-service-01/
I am backend-service-01.local
```
A browser check should show the same content under the proxied path without exposing the backend hostname.

Check the apache2 service status for proxy-related errors.

$ sudo systemctl status apache2
● apache2.service - The Apache HTTP Server
     Loaded: loaded (/lib/systemd/system/apache2.service; enabled; vendor preset: enabled)
     Active: active (running) since Mon 2025-12-08 09:14:22 UTC; 2min 3s ago
       Docs: https://httpd.apache.org/docs/2.4/
   Main PID: 1234 (apache2)
      Tasks: 55 (limit: 19099)
     Memory: 7.3M
        CPU: 92ms
##### snipped #####

Author: Mohd Shakir Zakaria
Mohd Shakir Zakaria is a cloud architect with deep roots in software development and open-source advocacy. Certified in AWS, Red Hat, VMware, ITIL, and Linux, he specializes in designing and managing robust cloud and on-premises infrastructures.

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