Apache can be used as a gateway to backend services by configuring it to act as a reverse proxy server. Requests received by Apache will be passed to and processed by a backend server or service which the response will then be returned to the Apache server before finally being passed back to the requesting client.
This allows an Apache server to listen to a single IP address or a DNS name and serve multiple apps and services. This among other things provide centralised control of the backend services while being more secure by not directly exposing the backend servers which are normally hosted in private networks.
$ sudo a2enmod proxy_http # Ubuntu, Debian and SUSE variants Considering dependency proxy for proxy_http: Enabling module proxy. Enabling module proxy_http.
Options | Debian, Ubuntu | openSUSE and SLES | Fedora Core, CentOS, RHEL | macOS | homebrew | xampp |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
a2enmod support | yes | yes | no | no | no | no |
Modules to install | none | |||||
Module name | n/a | proxy, proxy_http | ||||
Loadmodule directive | n/a | LoadModule proxy_module <module_locations>/mod_proxy.so LoadModule proxy_http_module <module_locations>/mod_proxy_http.so |
<VirtualHost *:80> ProxyRequests Off 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>
$ sudo systemctl restart apache2 # Ubuntu, Debian, openSUSE and SLES $ sudo systemctl restart httpd # CentOS and Red Hat
$ curl http://backend-service-01.local I am backend-service-01.local
The request will fail if the backend service is hosted in a private network under a NAT.
This test could also be done by browsing the URL using a web browser.
$ curl http://proxy-server/backend-service-01 I am backend-service-01.local
Guide compatibility:
Operating System |
---|
Ubuntu 16.04 LTS (Xenial Xerus) |
Ubuntu 16.10 (Yakkety Yak) |
Ubuntu 17.04 (Zesty Zapus) |
Ubuntu 17.10 (Artful Aardvark) |
Ubuntu 18.04 LTS (Bionic Beaver) |
Ubuntu 18.10 (Cosmic Cuttlefish) |
Ubuntu 19.04 (Disco Dingo) |
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