How To: Configure a reverse proxy system architecture for ArcGIS Server with an Apache Web Server

Summary

Instructions provided describe the procedure for configuring a reverse proxy for ArcGIS Server using an Apache Web Server.

Procedure

Reverse proxies and load balancers are servers that act as 'front-end' web servers through which all clients connect to 'back-end' servers. A reverse proxy system refers to a single back-end server, unlike a load balancing system which refers to many back-end servers.

1. Download and Install Apache HTTP Server
   1. Navigate to the Apache HTTP Server Project Download page.
   2. Select the appropriate link based on platform and version (32-bit or 64-bit) and save the file.
   3. Run the installation process.
2. Edit httpd.conf
   On the Apache Server installation, replace the highlighted values in the file below with the ArcGIS Server machine name.
   
3. Restart Apache.
   • For Windows: Start > Run > Services.msc > Apache Server > Restart
   • For Linux: Run the following command

   Code:
   apache@reverseproxy$ /apache/bin/httpd restart

4. Test the connection to ArcServer(s).
   Test the following connections to ensure the endpoints respond accordingly:
   • http://reverseproxy/arcgis/services?wsdl
   • http://reverseproxy/arcgis/rest/services
   • http://reverseproxy/arcgis/tokens
   • http://reverseproxy/arcgis/manager
   • http://reverseproxy/arcgisoutput
   • http://reverseproxy/arcgisjobs
   • http://reverseproxy/arcgiscache
   • http://reverseproxy/arcgisinput
5. Stop ArcGIS Server.
   • For Windows: Start > Run > services.msc > ArcGIS Server Object Manager > Stop
   • For Linux: Run the following command

   Code:
   arcgis@som1$ /arcgis/server10.0/scripts/stopserver

6. Edit the Server.dat file.
   On all ArcGIS Servers in the system, replace the highlighted fields in the code below with the hostname of the reverse proxy.

   
7. Edit the Service.cfg files.
   Replace all the URLs within all *.cfg files found under '\ArcGIS\Server10.0\server\user\cfg\*.cfg'.
   See the screenshot below for an example.

   
8. Edit rest.config.
   On all ArcGIS Servers in the system, edit all the URLs within the following file by replacing the local SOM with the reverse proxy's hostname.

   Note:
    The rest.config file is hosted in IIS. The image below is not intended to show the Apache HTTP configuration.

   See the screenshot below for an example.

   
9. Start ArcGIS Server.
   • For Windows: Start > Run > services.msc > ArcGIS Server Object Manager > Start
   • For Linux: Run the following command:

   Code:
   arcgis@som1$ /arcgis/server10.0/scripts/startserver