Environment:
Win 7 64 bits, Apache
Http Server (httpd) 2.4.3, Apache Tomcat 7.0.29.
1.
Download
Apache Http Server:
In this test case, I use the XAMPP(1.8.1)
with Apache Server version 2.4.3.
2.
Setup
the XAMPP:
Run
%XAMPP_HOME%/setup_xampp.bat
3.
Configure
the Apache Server:
=====“httpd.conf”=====
#Add
below modules under the module list:
LoadModule
lbmethod_byrequests_module modules/mod_lbmethod_byrequests.so
LoadModule slotmem_shm_module
modules/mod_slotmem_shm.so
#Uncomment
below modules:
#Update
the listen port:
#
# Listen: Allows you
to bind Apache to specific IP addresses and/or
# ports, instead of
the default. See also the <VirtualHost>
# directive.
#
# Change this to
Listen on specific IP addresses as shown below to
# prevent Apache
from glomming onto all bound IP addresses.
#
#Listen 0.0.0.0:80
#Listen [::]:80
Listen 127.0.0.1:90
NOTE:
Multiple ‘ip:port’ can be listed down below, but do not put port only. Also,
do not put ‘0.0.0.0:port’. Otherwise, exception will be thrown:
“C:\xampp-win32-1.8.1-VC9\xampp>apache_start.bat
Diese
Eingabeforderung nicht waehrend des Running beenden
Bitte
erst bei einem gewollten Shutdown schliessen
Please
close this command only for Shutdown
Apache
2 is starting ...
(OS 10048)Only one usage of each socket
address (protocol/network address/port) is normally permitted. : AH00072: make_sock: could not bind to
address 0.0.0.0:80
AH00451:
no listening sockets available, shutting down
AH00015:
Unable to open logs”
If
want to check which port is in use by other process, type in cmd:
netstat -a –n
#Update
the Server Name:
#
# ServerName gives
the name and port that the server uses to identify itself.
# This can often be
determined automatically, but we recommend you specify
# it explicitly to
prevent problems during startup.
#
# If your host
doesn't have a registered DNS name, enter its IP address here.
#
ServerName localhost:90
=====“httpd-ssl.conf”=====
#
# When we also
provide SSL we have to listen to the
# standard HTTP port
(see above) and to the HTTPS port
#
# Note:
Configurations that use IPv6 but not IPv4-mapped addresses need two
# Listen directives: "Listen
[::]:443" and "Listen 0.0.0.0:443"
#
#Listen 0.0.0.0:443
#Listen [::]:443
Listen 127.0.0.1:443
=====“httpd-proxy.conf”=====
#
# Implements a
proxy/gateway for Apache.
# # Required
modules: mod_proxy, mod_proxy_http
#
<IfModule
proxy_module>
<IfModule
proxy_http_module>
#
# Reverse Proxy
#
ProxyRequests Off
<Proxy
balancer://mycluster>
BalancerMember http://127.0.0.1:8080
BalancerMember http://127.0.0.1:9080
ProxySet lbmethod=byrequests
</Proxy>
#Optional start
<Location
/balancer-manager>
SetHandler balancer-manager
</Location>
ProxyPass /balancer-manager ! #Not proxy balancer-manager
#Optional end
ProxyPass /
balancer://mycluster/
</IfModule>
</IfModule>
NOTEI:
The ‘mycluster’ is the identifier of the load balancer, can pick any value as
long as starts with ‘balancer://’
NOTEII: The ‘balancer-manager’ is one optional configuration, this is one
web UI of the load balancer manager. You can choose to use it, or not. URL is http://localhost:90/balancer-manager
NOTEIII: IMPORTANT! ProxyPass /balancer-manager ! , this is to not proxy
balancer-manager to tomcat.
NOTEIV: IMPORTANT! ProxyPass /
balancer://mycluster/, this is to proxy url from base ‘/’, and the trailing slash is very important.
If not have, you’ll have 500 http error code. If you check the error log, below
warning will be shown:
“[Tue Jun 18 11:32:39.296798 2013] [proxy:warn] [pid 36488:tid 1732]
[client 127.0.0.1:59079] AH01144: No
protocol handler was valid for the URL /error/HTTP_BAD_GATEWAY.html.var. If
you are using a DSO version of mod_proxy, make sure the proxy submodules are
included in the configuration using LoadModule.”
Configuration Summary
You can also group things
together by using ‘VirtualHost’.
=====”httpd-vhosts.conf”=====
<VirtualHost *:90>
ProxyRequests off
ServerName localhost:90
<Proxy balancer://mycluster>
BalancerMember http://127.0.0.1:8080
BalancerMember http://127.0.0.1:9080
# Security "technically we
aren't blocking
# anyone but this the place to
make those
# chages
Order Deny,Allow
Deny from none
Allow from all
# Load Balancer Settings
# We will be configuring a
simple Round
# Robin style load
balancer. This means
# that all webheads take an
equal share of
# of the load.
ProxySet lbmethod=byrequests
</Proxy>
# balancer-manager
# This tool is built into the mod_proxy_balancer
# module and will allow you to do some simple
# modifications to the balanced group via a gui
# web interface.
<Location
/balancer-manager>
SetHandler balancer-manager
# I recommend locking this one down to your
# your office
Order deny,allow
Allow from all
</Location>
# Point of Balance
# This setting will allow to explicitly name the
# the location in the site that we want to be
# balanced, in this example we will balance "/"
# or everything in the site.
ProxyPass
/balancer-manager !
ProxyPass /
balancer://mycluster/
</VirtualHost>
4.
Start
two Tomcat instances
5.
Start
Apache Http server (MUST run as administrator)
Either run the bat file %XAMPP_HOME%/apache_start.bat
Or start XAMPP’s control panel
and start the server.
If any error happens, the error
log is a good place that could help debug.
6.
Test
load balance
For example, I run the web app
that test the central session.
Bingo. Happy ending.
This is a very very basic
configuration of apache http server as load balancer. Main goal is to make it
work. For further usage, please refer to the official web site.
