Nginx reverse proxy multiple backends

Question

Here is my situation: I will have one frontend server running Nginx, and multiple backends servers running Apache + passenger with different rails applications. I am NOT trying to do any load balancing. What I need to do is setup Nginx to proxy connections to specific servers based on the URL. IE, client.example.com should point to x.x.x.100:80, client2.example.com should point to x.x.x.101:80, etc.

I am not that familiar with Nginx, but I could not find a specific configuration online that fit my situation.

hey were you able to find a solution for this? in my case i want same client to access to multiple of these backend servers, can you help me find a config for that? — Vinodborole
– Vinodborole, Commented Sep 6, 2016 at 12:50

Stephen Ostermiller · Accepted Answer · 2022-07-11 10:42:13Z

40

You can match the different URLs with server {} blocks, then inside each server block, you'd have the reverse proxy settings.

Below, an illustration;

server {
  server_name client.example.com;

  # app1 reverse proxy follow
  proxy_set_header X-Real-IP $remote_addr;
  proxy_set_header Host $host;
  proxy_set_header X-Forwarded-For $proxy_add_x_forwarded_for;
  proxy_pass http://x.x.x.100:80;

}

server {
  server_name client2.example.com;

  # app2 reverse proxy settings follow
  proxy_set_header X-Real-IP $remote_addr;
  proxy_set_header Host $host;
  proxy_set_header X-Forwarded-For $proxy_add_x_forwarded_for;
  proxy_pass http://x.x.x.101:80;
}

Also, you may add further Nginx settings (such as error_page and access_log) as desired in each server {} block.

edited Jul 11, 2022 at 10:42

Stephen Ostermiller♦

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answered Nov 5, 2012 at 21:56

cobaco

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7 Comments

Asbjørn Ulsberg Over a year ago

Is it possible to configure each origin server to be proxied based on path and not just incoming host/authority? I.e. /system1/ is proxied to http://x.x.x.100/ while /system2/ is proxied to http://x.x.x.120/?

cobaco Over a year ago

sure, in that case you simply place the proxy directives in an appropriate location block, instead of in the main server block

mohamnag Over a year ago

I put this in a config file inside sites-enabled and restarted the nginx and now I'm getting this error in logs: directive is not allowed here in /etc/nginx/sites-enabled/my.domain.com

cobaco Over a year ago

which directive is not allowed? (running nginx -t should tell you which directive on which line). What scope is the config block that directive is in (http/server/location)?

Paweł Szczur Over a year ago

proxy_pass seems to not be allowed in server context

|

Stephen Ostermiller · Accepted Answer · 2022-07-11 10:42:24Z

28

@mohamnag's comment is right. proxy_pass is only allowed inside a location

See:

http://wiki.nginx.org/HttpProxyModule#proxy_pass

https://www.nginx.com/resources/admin-guide/reverse-proxy/

So the correct config would be

server {
    server_name client.example.com;

    location / {
        # app1 reverse proxy follow
        proxy_set_header X-Real-IP $remote_addr;
        proxy_set_header Host $host;
        proxy_set_header X-Forwarded-For $proxy_add_x_forwarded_for;
        proxy_pass http://x.x.x.100:80;
    }
}

server {
    server_name client2.example.com;

    location / {
        # app2 reverse proxy settings follow
        proxy_set_header X-Real-IP $remote_addr;
        proxy_set_header Host $host;
        proxy_set_header X-Forwarded-For $proxy_add_x_forwarded_for;
        proxy_pass http://x.x.x.101:80;
    }
}

edited Jul 11, 2022 at 10:42

Stephen Ostermiller♦

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answered Jul 6, 2015 at 12:01

jaltek

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2 Comments

Eziz Durdyyev Over a year ago

in which file should I write these? is it /etc/nginx/nginx.conf? or sites-enabled?

jaltek Over a year ago

@EzizDurdyyev: "sites-enabled" is IMHO a Ubuntu related layout of configuration files and does only contain symlinks to the available sites in "sites-available". But yes, this should be placed inside the single site configurations under "sites-available".

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