Creating a proxy server

This section provides information to create and configure a proxy server. The proxy server routes requests to application server nodes. Creating a proxy server implies that all applications hosted by application servers that support on-demand configuration (ODC) are dynamically configured without any further administrative action into the routing tables for the proxy server. ODC is only supported with WebSphere Application Server V6.0.2 and application servers that can coexist with the WebSphere Application Server V6.0.2 deployment manager.

Follow the steps to configure the proxy server to route requests to WebSphere Application Server nodes. As a best practice, it is not advisable to add the proxy server to a node group.

1. Create a proxy server in the administrative console by clicking Servers > Proxy Servers .

2. Click New .

3. Select the node on which you want the proxy server to reside. Only Network Deployment nodes display in the selection list. A proxy server can reside only in a Network Deployment node.

4. Select a proxy server template to base your proxy server on. You can select a default template, or you can choose to map to an existing application server.

   Mapping to preexisting proxy servers is a time-saving technique. You can build one proxy server and apply all of the specific configurations your environment needs, and then use that proxy server as a template.

5. Determine whether or not to generate unique HTTP ports. If you create multiple proxy servers on the same node for vertical scaling, then you might select the option to generate unique ports to avoid port conflicts. Certain advanced scenarios pertain to port mapping that might require unique ports. For example, a load balancer can load balance requests to the proxy servers within the same node, assuming that each proxy server is listening on a unique HTTP port. In order for the proxy server to accept requests for a specific virtual host, it is necessary to add the unique HTTP ports that are generated to the host alias of the virtual host. It may also be necessary to modify the port values that the wizard generates, if these ports conflict with other local servers on the same node.

ResultYou now have a functional proxy server that automatically routes HTTP requests to WebSphere Application Server cells. To enable routing to another WebSphere Application Server cell, configure your cell to communicate with other WebSphere Application Server cells.