Apache vs Nginx, Proxy

Refs

1. Forward and reverse proxy explained

What and why

Apache and Nginx

• Apache: HTTP server, most popular web server, alias httpd
• Nginx: HTTP server, reverse proxy server, mail proxy server, generic TCP/UDP proxy server

Proxy

• Proxy: a server application that acts as an intermediary between a client requesting a resource and the server providing that resource.

• Forward proxy: Proxy for cilents

• Forward proxy purposes:

  • 1. get over GFW
  • 2. Hide client IP
  • 3. Accelerate network access: Usually forward proxy servers holds a large cache which accelerates network access by using cache

• Reverse proxy: Proxy for servers
• Reverse proxy purposes:
  • 1. Load balancing
  • 2. Hide server IP
  • 3. Accelerate network access: Work in a similar way as forward proxy
  • 4. Network security: reverse proxy can serve as a fireawll for servers

Apache

Nginx

• Nginx: HTTP server, reverse proxy server, mail proxy server, generic TCP/UDP proxy server

Commands

• nginx: start server
• nginx -s reload: reoad configuration file
• nginx -s stop: fast shutdown
• nginx -s quit: graceful shutdown

Configuration

• Nginx configuration

Nginx as static server

server {
  listen 8081;
  # All requests go to D:/files.
  # If other location blocks does not have a root directive, requests go here.
  root D:/files;
}

http {
  server {
    listen 8081;
  
    location / {
      # Other request will fall back here
      root D:/other_files;  
    }

    location /images/ {
      # http://localhost:8081/images/test.png will send D:/files/images/test.png file 
      root D:/files;
    }
  }
}

Nginx as HTTP proxy

server {
  listen 8081;
	  
  location / {
	  # http://localhost:8081 will be redirected to http://dcis.tjh.com
	  proxy_pass http://dcis.tjh.com;
  }
}

Nginx as TCP proxy

stream {
    server {
	    listen 6666;
	    proxy_pass db.his.tjh.com:1521;
      # Connect to oracle at localhost:6666 wil be redirected to db.his.tjh.com:1521
    }
}