LiteSpeed Web Server as a Proxy

The purpose of a Proxy is to expand on functionality and add an extra layer of security.

This wiki explains how to set up LiteSpeed Web Server (LSWS) as a Proxy. This makes it possible to transform a URL that is usually just an IP and Port into a Fully Qualified Domain Name.

• First the client sends a request to LiteSpeed Web Server.
• LSWS then forwards that request to the backend server.
• The backend server will then send a response back to LSWS.
• Finally, LSWS responds back to the Client acting as if there was no backend server.

1. Log in to the LSWS GUI. The default address is http://IP:7080
2. Go to Configuration → Virtual Hosts and click on the Virtual Host that is going to be used as the proxy.
3. In the Virtual Host configuration, go to the External App tab and hit Add.
4. Select Web Server from the drop down list.
5. On the following page, fill in the following and hit Save:
   • Name - Any unique external app name.
   • Address - The IP:PORT or UDS socket of the backend server.
   • Max Connections - The maximum number of concurrent connections to this Web Server at any time.
   • Initial Request Timeout (secs) - The maximum time in seconds the server will wait for a response.
   • Retry Timeout (secs) - The period of time that the server waits before retrying a request.
6. After saving, go to the Context Tab and hit Add.
7. Select Proxy from the drop down list.
8. Fill in the following and hit Save:
   • URI - How users will access the web server. Example: /br/
     • Note: If a value other than ‘/’ is used, be sure that this directory also exists and is accessible on the backend web server.
   • Web Server - Be sure to select the one that was just created.
9. Once all of the previous steps have been completed, perform a Graceful Restart to have the changes take affect.

The URL for vhost/context should now act as a proxy from the External App Web Server that was just set up.