HTTP Connect
Objective
This guide provides instructions on how to create a HTTP Connect Proxy using the guided wizards in F5® Distributed Cloud Services.
An HTTP proxy operates between the sending Web server and your receiving Web client. It processes the HTTP protocol line-by-line for any potentially harmful content before sending it to an internal Web client. It also acts as a buffer between your Web server and potentially harmful Web clients by enforcing HTTP RFC compliance, and preventing potential buffer overflow attacks.

Using the instructions provided in this guide, you will be able to create an HTTP Proxy using the HTTP CONNECT
method.
Prerequisites
The following prerequisites apply:
- A valid Account is required.
Note: If you do not have an account, see Create an Account.
Configuration
Create HTTP Connect Proxy
This example shows HTTP
setup in Multi-Cloud App Connect
.
Step 1: Log into F5 Distributed Cloud Console, start HTTP Connect object creation.
Change to your application namespace in the namespace selector in the primary navigation bar.
- Open
F5 Distributed Cloud Console
> selectMulti-Cloud App Connect
box.
Note: Homepage is role based, and your homepage may look different due to your role customization. Select
All Services
drop-down menu to discover all options. Customize Settings:Administration
>Personal Management
>My Account
>Edit work domain & skills
button >Advanced
box > checkWork Domain
boxes >Save changes
button.

- Select
Manage
in left-menu > selectLoad Balancers
>HTTP Connect & DPRs
.
Note: If options are not showing available, select
Show
link inAdvanced nav options visible
in bottom left corner. If needed, selectHide
to minimize options from Advanced nav options mode.
- Select
Add HTTP Connect & DRP
button.

Step 2: Configure meta data and proxy type.
-
Enter
Name
. -
Enter
Labels
andDescription
as needed. -
Toggle
Show Advanced Fields
inProxy Type
box. -
Select
Proxy
in drop-down menu inHTTP Connect or Dynamic Reverse Proxy
.
-
Select
HTTP Connect
option in theHTTP Connect
drop-down menu that adjusts below.HTTP Connect
: Use this option for HTTP Connect proxy.
-
Toggle
Show Advanced Fields
inSites or Virtual Sites
box. -
Select
Configure
link inAdvanced Options
to customize as needed, new form will load. -
Configure options as needed.
- Options:
Header Options
,Error Response Options
,Buffer Policy,
andCompression Parameters
.
- Options:
-
Select
Apply
button to apply advanced options and return toHTTP Connect and DRP
page.

Step 3: Set sites or virtual sites for proxy.
Select sites or virtual sites where you want to install this proxy.
-
Select Sites for Proxy
drop-down menu hasSites or Virtual Sites
populated by default. -
Toggle
Show Advanced Fields
inSites or Virtual Sites
box to showDo Not Instantiate
option. -
Select
Configure
link inSite or Virtual Site
section.

-
The
Custom Advertise VIP Configuration
page opens. -
Select
+ Add Item
button.

-
Toggle
Show Advanced Fields
. -
Select Where to Advertise
drop-down menu option:-
Select
Site
to install the proxy on a site. -
Select
Virtual Site
to install the proxy on a virtual site.
-
-
Select one of the following options for the
Site Network
drop-down menu:-
Inside and Outside Network
-
Inside Network
-
Outside Network
-
Outside Network with internet VIP
-
Inside and Outside Network with Internet VIP
-
- Select
Virtual Site Reference
orSite Reference
drop-down menu option.
Note: Option dependent on
Select Where to Advertise
option selected.
Note: Select
Virtual Site
you have created, or+ Create new Virtual Site
with button at the bottom of pop-up menu.
Note:
IP Address
box is only available whenSite
option is selected.
-
TCP Listen Port Choice
drop-down menu populates withTCP Listen Port
option by default.Use Default Listen Port
option available. -
Enter port in
TCP Listen Port
box.
Note: This is the port for your HTTP Connect Proxy to listen to requests.
- Select
Apply
button.
Note: You can add more sites or virtual sites to advertise using the
Add item
option.

Step 4: Set network for upstream connections.
Select which network is going to be used to discover and send the request to your final endpoint.
-
Select Upstream Network
option in drop-down menu inUpstream Network
section.-
Site Local Network (Outside)
: Real endpoint is reachable via outside interface. -
Site Local Network Inside
: Real endpoint is reachable via inside interface.
-

Step 5: Configure proxy policy.
Configure policies for this proxy. Go to Proxy Policy
section, and select an option for the Manage Proxy Policy
field.
-
Select
Manage Proxy Policies
option in drop-down menu.-
Disable Proxy Policy
: With this option, no policies are installed on this proxy. -
Active Proxy Policies
: To set a policy. From the options for theForward Proxy Policies
field, select an existing forward proxy policy, or selectCreate new forward proxy policy
to create and apply a new policy.
-

Step 6: Complete creating the HTTP Connect object.
Select Save and Exit
button to complete creating the HTTP Connect object.
Step 7: Monitor HTTP Connect.
You can monitor the HTTP Connect Proxy in F5®Distributed Cloud Console.
-
Navigate to
Virtual Hosts
>HTTP Connect & DRP
page in your application namespace. -
Select your HTTP Connect Proxy in the displayed list of objects.