How to Configure Virtual Hosts on Oracle HTTP Server 10g for LBR Access or SSL Termination (Doc ID 378003.1)

Last updated on MAY 01, 2023

Applies to:

Goal

10g

In this example, a Load Balancer (LBR) forwards requests to either Oracle HTTP Server (OHS), or through Oracle Web Cache (WC) to Oracle HTTP Server. The use of two external names forwarding to two different Oracle HTTP Server ports is desired. This document explains the basic concepts in order to gain an understanding, and use an example configuration to set up virtual hosts. In this case, a LBR is used like a "reverse-proxy", only forwarding requests. There is no actual "load balancing" being configured in this article.

If using an LBR as a network entry point, this article provides the following example request flow:

User --> LBR --> OHS
or
User --> LBR --> WebCache --> OHS

There are other topologies that do not use a LBR, and are very similar in respect to the destination Oracle HTTP Server. (e.g., Including the default installed, User --> WebCache --> OHS). The following is an example where an apache-based reverse-proxy (RP) is used in front of the destination Oracle HTTP Server:

User --> Apache-RP --> OHS
or
User --> OHS-RP --> OHS
<Note:314381.1> How to Setup Oracle HTTP Server as a Virtual Host Reverse Proxy

The basic virtual host concepts are derived from this document, as well:

<Note 293697.1> Preparing and Configuring Virtual Hosts on Oracle Application Server 10g

It is important to understand your needs, your desired topology and request flow before deciding which actions to follow. Its equally important to understand the components in use with the an Oracle Fusion Middleware installation. Configuring for such topologies can create a need to re-configure other components because the protocol:name:port has changed. This article only configures the Oracle HTTP Server in a given topology. The Oracle HTTP Server must work before all else, but please plan for other component changes and testing.

• General VirtualHost Setup
  The first part of this article steps through the basic configuration and testing of Apache-based Virtual Hosts, and the need to ensure they are independently accessible before using them for your application processing. It is often a hard problem to troubleshoot the application processing through a VirtualHost, if the cause is because of "virtual host overlap", where the request(s) do not use the intended VirtualHost.
   
• Ensure HTTPS Responses
  The second part of this article gives an example usage of the virtual hosting, as applied to "terminating SSL". Then, a basic outline for other Oracle Application Server steps to perform because of the address change.

Solution

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