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Using HTTP Rewrites with HAProxy

Wouldn’t it be great if we could manage all our HTTP requests, all in one place? HAProxy has the power to implement HTTP rewrites, changing the request as it moves between the client and the backend servers, transparently. In this hands-on lab, we’re going to get hands-on with HAProxy, using it to configure and test a basic HTTP rewrite. We’re also going to consolidate 2 HTTP `frontends` into 1, using access control lists (ACLs) to direct traffic to the correct `backend`, based on request hostname. Upon completion of this lab, you will be able to configure an HAProxy installation to implement a basic HTTP rewrite as well as implement HAProxy ACLs.

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Path Info

Level
Clock icon Intermediate
Duration
Clock icon 30m
Published
Clock icon Jun 30, 2021

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Table of Contents

  1. Challenge

    Create a Rewrite and Some ACLs

    We're going to create a new subdirectory on the site, /textfiles and move our test.txt file there. We will handle requests for the file in its original location, /test.txt, using an HTTP rewrite in HAProxy.

    Perform the following:

    • Start by creating the new /usr/share/nginx/html/textfiles directory in each container using the podman exec command.
    • Next, we'll move the test.txt file to the /textfiles subdirectory.
    • Check your work by opening a bash shell in one container using podman exec.
      • Check the contents of the /usr/share/nginx/html directory.
      • Check the contents of /usr/share/nginx/html/textfiles.
      • Exit the container.
    • Perform the following checks with curl:
      • http://127.0.0.1:8000/test.txt
      • http://127.0.0.1:8100/test.txt
      • http://127.0.0.1:8000/textfiles/test.txt
      • http://127.0.0.1:8100/textfiles/test.txt
      • The first 2 will fail, the second 2 should work.
    • Add a rewrite to each of the frontends in the HAProxy configuration file that looks for requests for files that end in .txt and sets the path for those requests to /textfiles/.
      • Restart the haproxy service.
      • Perform the following checks with curl:
        • http://127.0.0.1:8000/test.txt
        • http://127.0.0.1:8100/test.txt
        • http://127.0.0.1:8000/textfiles/test.txt
        • http://127.0.0.1:8100/textfiles/test.txt
        • All checks should work now.

  2. Challenge

    Consolidate the HTTP Frontends Using ACLs

    We're going to replace the 2 HTTP frontends with a single frontend, using ACLs, so that requests for www.site1.com are directed to the site1 backend, and requests for www.site2.com are directed to the site2 backend.

    Perform the following:

    • Consolidate the 2 frontends into a single http frontend.
      • Bind the frontend to port 80 for all addresses.
      • Keep the current rewrites.
      • Add an ACL for each site, so that requests for www.site1.com are directed to the site1 backend, and requests for www.site2.com are directed to the site2 backend.
      • Leave the 2 backends untouched.
      • Restart the haproxy service.
      • Perform the following checks with curl:
        • http://www.site1.com/test.txt
        • http://www.site2.com/test.txt
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Pluralsight Skills

Pluralsight Skills gives leaders confidence they have the skills needed to execute technology strategy. Technology teams can benchmark expertise across roles, speed up release cycles and build reliable, secure products. By leveraging our expert content, skill assessments and one-of-a-kind analytics, keep up with the pace of change, put the right people on the right projects and boost productivity. It's the most effective path to developing tech skills at scale.

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