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Apache becomes a reverse proxy when it accepts public requests and forwards them to an application server, then returns the application’s response. For a typical HTTP backend on 127.0.0.1:8080, enable mod_proxy and mod_proxy_http, keep ProxyRequests Off, and pair every ProxyPass mapping with ProxyPassReverse.
LoadModule proxy_module modules/mod_proxy.so
LoadModule proxy_http_module modules/mod_proxy_http.so
ProxyRequests Off
ProxyPass "/" "http://127.0.0.1:8080/"
ProxyPassReverse "/" "http://127.0.0.1:8080/"This guide explains how the directives differ, how to proxy only a subpath, which protocol modules each backend needs, how to handle WebSockets and multiple backends, and how to avoid the configuration mistakes that expose an open proxy or break redirects.
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What Apache reverse proxying does
In reverse-proxy mode, visitors connect to Apache’s public hostname. Apache acts as the gateway and sends each matching request to an internal or external backend. The backend does not have to be exposed directly to the Internet, while Apache provides one public endpoint for routing, authentication, TLS termination, caching, or other front-end controls.
This is different from a forward proxy. A forward proxy sends requests on behalf of clients to arbitrary destinations. A reverse proxy sends requests only to the backend destinations you define. Do not enable ProxyRequests On for this setup. The Apache module reference warns that “Open proxy servers are dangerous both to your network and to the Internet at large.”
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Choose the proxy shape before editing Apache
Decide these four points first. They determine the directives and modules you need.
- Backend protocol: HTTP, FastCGI, AJP, SCGI, uWSGI, WebSocket, or another protocol.
- Path scope: the whole public site or only an application prefix such as
/app/. - Topology: one backend or a balancer group containing several workers.
- Apache version: WebSocket upgrade handling differs between older releases and Apache 2.4.47 and later.
Also identify where your installation keeps virtual-host configuration and how it loads modules. Distribution layouts differ, so place the directives in the active virtual host rather than assuming a single universal file path.
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Enable the modules required by your backend
mod_proxy supplies the proxy framework. It must be combined with a protocol-specific module that knows how to communicate with the backend.
| Backend or topology | Modules to load | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| HTTP application | mod_proxy, mod_proxy_http |
For ordinary HTTP requests and responses. |
| FastCGI application | mod_proxy, mod_proxy_fcgi |
For FastCGI backends. |
| AJP application server | mod_proxy, mod_proxy_ajp |
For AJP connections. |
| SCGI application | mod_proxy, mod_proxy_scgi |
For SCGI backends. |
| uWSGI application | mod_proxy, mod_proxy_uwsgi |
For uWSGI backends. |
| WebSocket endpoint | mod_proxy |
For connection upgrades and WebSocket traffic. |
| Several backend workers | mod_proxy_balancer plus one or more balancer-method modules |
For worker pools and member selection. |
A typical HTTP installation loads these lines. If your package already enables them, do not add duplicate LoadModule entries; verify the module is active instead.
LoadModule proxy_module modules/mod_proxy.so
LoadModule proxy_http_module modules/mod_proxy_http.soConfigure a single HTTP backend
1. Add the mapping to the active virtual host
The smallest useful reverse-proxy configuration maps the public root to an HTTP service listening on the same machine at port 8080:
ProxyRequests Off
ProxyPass "/" "http://127.0.0.1:8080/"
ProxyPassReverse "/" "http://127.0.0.1:8080/"The backend URL is explicit: it includes the scheme, address, and port. Using a fixed backend target prevents a client-controlled value from influencing where Apache connects.
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2. Validate the configuration
Run your platform’s Apache configuration test command before reloading the service. On installations that provide it, the command is commonly:
apachectl configtestCorrect any syntax or module-loading error reported by the test. A successful syntax check does not prove that the application is listening, so verify the backend service separately.
3. Reload Apache and make a request
Reload Apache using the service manager for your operating system, then request the public virtual-host URL. A successful response demonstrates that Apache can accept the request and reach the backend. If the backend is unavailable, Apache will return a gateway or proxy error rather than an application response.
ProxyPass and ProxyPassReverse are not interchangeable
ProxyPass is the request-routing directive. It maps an incoming public path to a backend URL. In the canonical whole-site form, / on the left means that every request under the virtual host is eligible for forwarding.
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| Directive | Direction | What it changes | What it does not do |
|---|---|---|---|
ProxyPass |
Client request to backend | Chooses the backend URL for a matching public path. | It does not rewrite response redirects by itself. |
ProxyPassReverse |
Backend response to client | Rewrites redirect-related response headers. | It does not rewrite absolute links embedded in HTML. |
Use both directives with matching public and backend prefixes whenever the backend can issue redirects. If the application sets cookies for an internal domain or path, use the dedicated ProxyPassReverseCookieDomain and ProxyPassReverseCookiePath directives as appropriate.
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Proxy only an application subpath
If Apache serves the rest of the site locally, narrow the mapping to the application prefix:
ProxyPass "/app/" "http://127.0.0.1:8080/"
ProxyPassReverse "/app/" "http://127.0.0.1:8080/"With this arrangement, a request for /app/report is sent to the backend with the configured path translation, while unrelated paths remain under Apache’s local document root or other virtual-host rules.
Keep slashes and prefixes intentional
Trailing slashes are significant when the public and backend paths are combined. Decide whether the backend expects its application at its root or under a prefix, then write both directives consistently. A mismatch can produce doubled path segments, missing segments, or redirects to an unexpected URL.
Define the backend scheme and hostname explicitly. Avoid constructing a target from request headers or other client-controlled input; an unrestricted target can turn a routing rule into a server-side request vulnerability.
When backend URLs inside HTML need rewriting
ProxyPassReverse operates on response headers. It does not inspect and rewrite absolute URLs embedded in an HTML response body. If the application emits links such as http://internal.example/..., those links can still expose an internal hostname or send the browser outside the public path.
Use an HTML-rewriting solution such as mod_proxy_html when body-level rewriting is genuinely required. Treat that as a separate concern from redirect handling: first correct the proxy path and application base URL, then add body rewriting only for content that cannot be configured to generate public URLs itself.
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Proxy WebSockets correctly
WebSockets begin as an HTTP request and then upgrade to a long-lived bidirectional connection. The Apache version and upgrade configuration determine which proxy behavior is appropriate.
Apache 2.4.47 and later
The current reference documents an explicit upgrade parameter for a WebSocket-capable path:
ProxyPass "/some/ws/capable/path/" "http://example.com/some/ws/capable/path/" upgrade=websocketReplace both paths and the backend hostname with the values used by your application. Load the proxy modules required by the installation and keep the public and backend paths aligned.
Older releases or configurations with upgrade handling disabled
Consult the mod_proxy_wstunnel guidance for older Apache releases and for configurations that do not handle HTTP upgrades through the newer mechanism. The relevant WebSocket tunnel module may be required in those environments. Do not copy a rule intended for one Apache version into another without checking its documented upgrade behavior.
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- Confirm that the request reaches the exact WebSocket path configured in
ProxyPass. - Verify that the backend is listening for WebSocket upgrades rather than ordinary HTTP only.
- Check that the Apache version supports the upgrade form you selected.
- Inspect Apache’s error log and the application log for handshake or timeout failures.
- Check any front-end timeout policy; WebSockets are persistent connections, unlike short HTTP requests.
Use a different protocol module for non-HTTP applications
The ProxyPass concept is shared, but the protocol module must match the backend. For FastCGI, use mod_proxy_fcgi; for AJP, use mod_proxy_ajp; for SCGI, use mod_proxy_scgi; and for uWSGI, use mod_proxy_uwsgi. Loading only mod_proxy is not enough to speak any of those protocols.
Do not select a module based solely on the application’s programming language. Select it based on the wire protocol and the listener exposed by the application server. A service that exposes HTTP needs the HTTP proxy module even if the application itself is written in a language commonly associated with another protocol.
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Proxy several backends with a balancer
For multiple workers, define a balancer, add its members, and map a public path to the balancer group. The balancer module and at least one load-balancing method module are required.
<Proxy "balancer://appcluster">
BalancerMember "http://127.0.0.1:8081" connectiontimeout=5 timeout=60
BalancerMember "http://127.0.0.1:8082" connectiontimeout=5 timeout=60
</Proxy>
ProxyPass "/app/" "balancer://appcluster/"
ProxyPassReverse "/app/" "balancer://appcluster/"The example uses two workers and illustrates per-worker connection and request timeout settings. Choose values that reflect your application’s normal response time and failure behavior; a short connection timeout can fail quickly when a worker is unreachable, while an overly long request timeout can tie up proxy resources.
Balancer algorithms determine how members are selected. The appropriate method depends on whether you want simple distribution, weighting, or another documented scheduling behavior. If sessions must remain on one worker, configure the application’s session strategy and any required worker routing deliberately rather than assuming the balancer will preserve state.
Security hardening checklist
- Keep
ProxyRequests Off: reverse proxying does not require forward-proxy mode. - Use fixed targets: write explicit backend schemes and hostnames; never let request data choose an arbitrary destination.
- Limit path scope: proxy only the site or application paths that need forwarding.
- Protect the backend network: bind private services to appropriate interfaces and firewall access where possible.
- Load only required modules: add WebSocket, FastCGI, AJP, SCGI, uWSGI, and balancer modules only when the topology uses them.
- Review redirects and cookies: ensure internal hostnames, domains, and paths are not exposed to clients.
- Set worker timeouts intentionally: infrastructure changes can alter DNS reuse, connection lifetime, and backend response time.
Test the finished proxy without guessing
Confirm module and syntax state
Check the loaded-module list provided by your Apache installation and verify that the protocol module named by your configuration is present. Run the configuration test, then reload only after it passes.
Test the public route
Request the public URL and inspect the status code and response headers. A redirect should point to the public hostname rather than the backend address. If the response is an application page but its links contain an internal hostname, the issue is body content or application URL generation, not a missing ProxyPassReverse rule.
Test the backend independently
Request the backend listener from the Apache host. If that direct request fails, fix the application service, listener address, firewall, or DNS before changing proxy directives. If the direct request works but the public request fails, focus on module loading, path matching, virtual-host selection, and Apache logs.
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| Symptom | Likely cause | Correction |
|---|---|---|
| Apache starts, but requests return a proxy or gateway error | Backend process is stopped, unreachable, or listening on a different address or port. | Test the backend directly and correct the explicit target in ProxyPass. |
| Redirect sends visitors to an internal hostname | ProxyPassReverse is missing, mismatched, or outside the active virtual host. |
Add a matching reverse mapping and reload Apache. |
| HTML links still contain the internal URL | Header rewriting cannot alter HTML bodies. | Configure the application’s public base URL or use mod_proxy_html where body rewriting is unavoidable. |
| Only some paths are proxied | Path prefix does not match, or slash handling differs between directives. | Compare the requested path with both mapping prefixes and normalize trailing slashes. |
| WebSocket handshake fails | Wrong Apache-version rule, missing upgrade support, or backend is not WebSocket-capable. | Use the version-appropriate upgrade or tunnel configuration and verify the backend handshake. |
| A FastCGI, AJP, SCGI, or uWSGI backend fails immediately | Only the base proxy module or the wrong protocol module is loaded. | Load the module matching the backend wire protocol. |
| Requests become slow or time out under load | Worker timeout values, backend capacity, or balancer selection do not fit the workload. | Review connection and request timeouts, worker health, and the selected balancer method. |
| Apache appears to proxy destinations that were never configured | Forward-proxy mode was enabled. | Set ProxyRequests Off and remove unintended forward-proxy directives. |
Configuration decision guide
| Requirement | Recommended arrangement |
|---|---|
| One HTTP service owns the whole hostname | ProxyPass "/" and matching ProxyPassReverse, with mod_proxy_http. |
| Apache serves static pages and an app lives under one prefix | Map only the application prefix, such as /app/. |
| Backend issues redirects or sets internal cookie attributes | Use ProxyPassReverse and the appropriate cookie-domain or cookie-path directives. |
| Backend emits absolute internal links in HTML | Fix application URL generation or add a deliberate HTML-rewriting layer. |
| Clients use WebSockets | Use the Apache-version-appropriate upgrade or mod_proxy_wstunnel configuration. |
| Several workers serve one application | Define a balancer:// group, add members, select a balancing method, and map the public path to it. |
| Application speaks FastCGI, AJP, SCGI, or uWSGI | Load mod_proxy plus the matching protocol module rather than the HTTP module. |
Complete example with a subpath and WebSocket endpoint
The following example keeps the main site local, sends the application under /app/ to an HTTP backend, and gives a separate WebSocket endpoint an explicit upgrade rule. Adapt the paths and hostnames to your virtual host and Apache version.
LoadModule proxy_module modules/mod_proxy.so
LoadModule proxy_http_module modules/mod_proxy_http.so
<VirtualHost *:80>
ServerName www.example.test
ProxyRequests Off
ProxyPass "/app/" "http://127.0.0.1:8080/"
ProxyPassReverse "/app/" "http://127.0.0.1:8080/"
# Apache 2.4.47+ form documented for an upgrade-capable endpoint
ProxyPass "/some/ws/capable/path/" "http://127.0.0.1:8080/some/ws/capable/path/" upgrade=websocket
</VirtualHost>Keep the WebSocket rule separate from the ordinary application mapping when the backend paths or upgrade requirements differ. On older Apache versions, apply the documented mod_proxy_wstunnel approach instead of assuming this parameter is supported.
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