mod_proxy is an optional module for the Apache HTTP Server. This module implements a proxy, gateway or cache for Apache. It implements proxying capability for AJP13 (Apache JServ Protocol version 1.3), FTP, CONNECT (for SSL), HTTP/0.9, HTTP/1.0, and (since Apache 1.3.23) HTTP/1.1. The module can be configured to connect to other proxy modules for these and other protocols. One powerful feature of Apache is flexible virtual hosting—multiple virtual hosts on a single server. This is a convenient way to partition separate websites and applications. With mod_proxy it is possible to set various web framework-based applications up as virtual hosts as well. mod_proxy can help to improve LAMP security or to strip SSL from HTTP requests.

History

This module was experimental in Apache 1.1.x. As of Apache 1.2, mod_proxy stability was greatly improved. Since Apache 2.0, proxy features are divided into several modules in addition to mod_proxy: mod proxy http, mod proxy ftp, and mod proxy connect — moreover, caching is provided by mod cache and related modules. Since Apache 2.2, mod proxy ajp and mod proxy balancer have been added as well. As of Apache 2.4, mod proxy fcgi was also added, to proxy FastCGI requests to another server, superseding mod fcgid and mod fastcgi.