Reverse Proxy a Web Website

In ServBay, you can use the reverse proxy feature to proxy a website on another server in your internal network to your local machine, making development and debugging tasks easier. This article will detail how to set up a reverse proxy in ServBay and provide an example of how to proxy a website from an internal server to your local machine.

Overview

A reverse proxy is a server that receives client requests from one or more servers and forwards them to the appropriate server. Reverse proxies are very useful in development and debugging because they can proxy a website from an internal server to your local machine, simplifying access and testing.

Steps to Add a Reverse Proxy Website

Step 1: Prepare the Internal Server

Ensure that the website on the internal server is running properly and can be accessed via an internal IP address and port. For example, suppose the internal server's IP address is 192.168.1.100, and the website is running on port 8080.

Step 2: Open the ServBay Management Interface

Find ServBay in the application and double-click to open it.

Step 3: Navigate to Host Management

After opening the program, you will see the main interface of ServBay. In the left navigation menu, click Host. This will take you to the website management page.

Step 4: Add a New Website

On the website management page, click the + button at the bottom of the page. This will open a new form on the right side to enter the basic information for the new website.

Step 5: Configure Reverse Proxy Settings

On the page for adding a website, you need to fill in the following information:

1. Name: The name of the website for identification.
2. Domain Name: Enter the domain name of the website you want to add, such as proxy.to.local.
3. Protocol: The protocol supported by the website, default is HTTP/HTTPS.
4. SSL Certificate Request Method: It is recommended to select Self-signed, which will be automatically generated and managed by ServBay.
5. Website Type: Select Reverse Proxy to specify that the website is accessed through reverse proxy to the internal server.
6. Proxy Target: Enter the internal server’s IP address and port, such as 192.168.1.100 and 8080.

Step 6: Complete and Save

After filling in all the necessary information, click the Add button. ServBay will automatically create the new website configuration and make the necessary settings on the host.

After saving successfully, you can click the browser icon in the upper right corner to access the website.

Step 7: Quick Actions

ServBay provides a series of quick action buttons for the website, including:

1. Open the Website with IDE for Quick Editing
2. Open the Website in Browser
3. View Website Logs
4. Pause and Enable Website
5. Delete Website

Common Issues and Solutions

Website Not Accessible

• Check Domain Resolution: Ensure that the domain name is correctly pointing to the ServBay server's IP address.
• Check Firewall Settings: Ensure that the firewall allows external access to ServBay server's ports (usually ports 80 and 443).
• View Error Logs: Check the error log file of the reverse proxy to find specific error information and fix it accordingly.

Internal Server Not Accessible

• Ensure the Internal Server is Running Normally: Before adding the reverse proxy, make sure the website on the internal server is running normally and can be accessed via internal IP address and port.
• Check Network Connection: Ensure that the network connection between the ServBay server and the internal server is normal, and there are no network isolation or firewall rules blocking access.

Summary

Setting up a reverse proxy in ServBay is a simple and intuitive process. Through reverse proxy, you can proxy a website from an internal server to your local machine, simplifying development and debugging tasks. By following the above steps, you can easily add and configure a reverse proxy website. With reasonable configuration and management, you can ensure that the website runs stably in the ServBay environment. If you encounter problems, you can refer to the common issues and solutions for troubleshooting and fixing.