Build a Caching Proxy network

Figure 19 shows a basic proxy server network using three computer systems located at three network nodes. This network binds the proxy server to a dedicated content host (IBM® HTTP Server), which is located on Server 2, and the proxy server serves the host. This is visually represented by the Internet being located between the workstation and Server 1.

IMPORTANT: Caching Proxy is available on all Edge component installations, with the following exceptions:

Figure 19. Caching Proxy demonstration network
Caching Proxy demonstration network

Workflow

To build a Caching Proxy network, peform these procedures in the following order:

  1. Review required computer systems and software.
  2. Build Server 1 (Linux and UNIX systems) or Build Server 1 (Windows system).
  3. Configure Server 1.
  4. Test the Caching Proxy network.

Review required computer systems and software

The following computer systems and software components are needed:

Build Server 1 (Linux and UNIX systems)

Install and configure the Caching Proxy as follows:

  1. Ensure that the computer server meets all hardware and software requirements.
  2. Log in as the superuser, typically root.
  3. Install the Caching Proxy component.
  4. Create an administrator identification and password for accessing the Configuration and Administration forms by entering the following command:
    # htadm -adduser /opt/ibm/edge/cp/server_root/protect/webadmin.passwd

    When prompted, provide the htadm program with a user name, password, and real name for the administrator.

  5. Continue with Configure Server 1.

Build Server 1 (Windows system)

Install and configure the Caching Proxy as follows:

  1. Ensure that the Windows® 2000 and Windows 2003 operating systems meet all hardware and software requirements.
  2. Log in as a user with administrator privileges.
  3. Install the Caching Proxy component.
  4. Create an administrator identification and password for accessing the Configuration and Administration forms by entering the following command:
    cd "Program Files\IBM\edge\cp\server_root\protect"
    htadm -adduser webadmin.passwd"

    When prompted, provide the htadm program with a user name, password, and real name for the administrator.

  5. Continue with Configure Server 1.

Configure Server 1

From the workstation, do the following:

  1. Start a Web browser.
  2. In the Address field of your browser, enter http://server_1, where server_1 refers to the actual host name or IP address of the machine designated as Server 1.
  3. Click Configuration and Administration Forms.
  4. Enter your administrator name and password. The Configuration and Administration forms open in your browser.
  5. Click Server Configuration-->Request Processing-->Request Routing.
  6. Insert a new wildcard-mapping rule prior to the existing one by selecting the Insert Before radio button and the index value of the existing wildcard-mapping rule.
  7. Select Proxy from the Action drop-down box.
  8. Type /* in the URL request template field.
  9. Type the host name for the site to which to redirect HTTP requests in the Server IP Address or host name field. Precede this value with http://.
  10. Click Submit.
  11. Create a mapping rule that allows access to the Configuration and Administration forms by selecting the Insert Before radio button and the index value of the mapping rule created in step 6.
  12. Select Pass from the Action drop-down box.
  13. Type /pub/* in the URL request template field.
  14. Enter the location of the Configuration and Administration forms:
  15. Click Submit.
  16. Click the Restart Server icon at the top of the configuration form.
  17. Continue with Test the Caching Proxy network.

Test the Caching Proxy network

From the workstation, do the following:

  1. Start a Web browser.
  2. Enter http://server_1 in the Address field of your browser. HTML pages from Server 2 will be proxied through Server 1 and delivered to the Web browser.
  3. To access the Configuration and Administration forms, enter http://server_1/pub/ into the Address field of your browser. The home page of the Configuration and Administration forms is displayed.