HTTP Connect

Objective
Prerequisites
Configuration
Create HTTP Connect Proxy
Concepts
API References

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 > select Multi-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 > check Work Domain boxes > Save changes button.

Select Manage in left-menu > select Load Balancers > HTTP Connect & DPRs.

Note: If options are not showing available, select Show link in Advanced nav options visible in bottom left corner. If needed, select Hide 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 and Description as needed.
Toggle Show Advanced Fields in Proxy Type box.
Select Proxy in drop-down menu in HTTP Connect or Dynamic Reverse Proxy.

Select HTTP Connect option in the HTTP Connect drop-down menu that adjusts below.
- HTTP Connect: Use this option for HTTP Connect proxy.

Toggle Show Advanced Fields in Sites or Virtual Sites box.
Select Configure link in Advanced Options to customize as needed, new form will load.
Configure options as needed.
- Options: Header Options, Error Response Options, Buffer Policy, and Compression Parameters.
Select Apply button to apply advanced options and return to HTTP 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 has Sites or Virtual Sites populated by default.
Toggle Show Advanced Fields in Sites or Virtual Sites box to show Do Not Instantiate option.
Select Configure link in Site or Virtual Site section.

HTTP SITESVS 2 — Figure: Sites or Virtual Sites Configuration

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

HTTP VS2 2 — Figure: Sites or Virtual Sites Custom Advertise VIP Configuration

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 or Site 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 when Site option is selected.

TCP Listen Port Choice drop-down menu populates with TCP 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.

HTTPADD 7 2 — Figure: Advertise policy configuration

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 in Upstream Network section.
- Site Local Network (Outside): Real endpoint is reachable via outside interface.
- Site Local Network Inside: Real endpoint is reachable via inside interface.

HTTP UPSTREAMNETWORK6 2 — Figure: Upstream Network

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 the Forward Proxy Policies field, select an existing forward proxy policy, or select Create 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.

HTTP Connect

On This Page:

Objective

Prerequisites

Configuration

Create HTTP Connect Proxy

Concepts

API References