How to Use Apache as a Proxy

A proxy server is used to keep the server behind the proxy anonymous for security purposes and to speed up access to a resource via caching. There are different types of proxies that control how information is passed to and from the server behind the proxy. A content filtering proxy ensures that information coming through the proxy conforms to an "acceptable use policy." A reverse proxy can be used to accelerate SSL encryption or handle load balancing. In order to use the Apache HTTP server as a proxy, you must first load the mod_proxy module.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Open the Apache configuration file ("httpd.conf") in a text editor. Windows users will find the file at "C:\Program Files\Apache Group\Apache2\conf\httpd.conf." Linux and Unix users will find the the file at "/etc/httpd/httpd.conf."

2. Load the "mod_proxy" modules by typing the following lines in the LoadModules directive section:
   LoadModule proxy_module /usr/lib/apache2/modules/mod_proxy.so
   LoadModule proxy_http_module /usr/lib/apache2/modules/mod_proxy_http.so
   Change the path to the .so files to reflect your file setup.

3. Add the following lines in the main configuration section of the httpd.conf file to create a forward proxy:
   ProxyRequests On
   ProxyVia On
   <Proxy *>
   Order deny,allow
   Deny from all
   Allow from internal.site.com
   </Proxy>

4. Save and close the "httpd.conf" file.

5. Restart the Apache server.

References

• Mod_Proxy
• Using Apache with mod_proxy
• Configuring Apache mod_proxy with Jetty

Resources

• Mod_Proxy
• Apache HTTP Server