Apache Reverse & Forward Proxy

An Apache reverse & forward proxy for reaching a local resource (e.g. a web app) on a dev machine and remote resources from a test machine (such as a phone).

Install Apache

Install Apache httpd

Configure httpd.conf

Find Apache httpd's main configuration file httpd.conf and open the file.

Load the proxy modules by uncommenting them, e.g.

LoadModule proxy_module lib/httpd/modules/mod_proxy.so
LoadModule proxy_connect_module lib/httpd/modules/mod_proxy_connect.so
LoadModule proxy_http_module lib/httpd/modules/mod_proxy_http.so

Include the proxy configuration by adding a reference to that config file, e.g.

Include /opt/homebrew/etc/httpd/extra/proxy.conf

Configure proxy.conf

Place the config file at the path specified in the Include directive.

Add a listen directive.

Listen 8888

Add a vhost config for reverse-proxied requests to your local resource, e.g. the web app on your dev machine.

<VirtualHost *:8888>
    ServerName reverse.io
    ServerAlias local.myapp.com myapp.com
    ProxyRequests Off
    <Proxy *>
        Order deny,allow
        Deny from all
        Allow from all
    </Proxy>
    ProxyPass        / "http://local.myapp.com:3000/"
    ProxyPassReverse / "http://local.myapp.com:3000/""
    ProxyTimeout 300
    ErrorLog "/opt/homebrew/var/log/httpd/myapp-reverse-error_log"
    CustomLog "/opt/homebrew/var/log/httpd/myapp-reverse-access_log" common
</VirtualHost>

Add a vhost config for forward-proxied requests to remote resources, e.g. domains, APIs, websites on the internet.

<VirtualHost *:8888>
    ServerName forward.io
    ServerAlias *
    ProxyRequests On
    ProxyVia On
    <Proxy *>
      Require ip 192.168.0
    </Proxy>
    ErrorLog "/opt/homebrew/var/log/httpd/myapp-forward-error_log"
    CustomLog "/opt/homebrew/var/log/httpd/myapp-forward-access_log" common
</VirtualHost>