mod_proxy with F5 load balancer

arunvk · 05-30-2013, 03:40 PM

Hi,

I have a setup where Apache connects to a F5 load balancer which in turn balances between two jboss app servers.

Apache using mod_proxy -> F5 (hardware load balancer) -> 2 jboss application server

It uses jsessionid. I sometimes get 500 errors for the post methods. I think the request goes to the incorrect jboss server because of the F5 load balancer. Everything works just right when I shutdown one of the jboss app servers.

Is there anything I can do to get around this issue. Thanks. Below is the configuration of mod_proxy

Code:

<VirtualHost x.x.x.x:80>
ServerName xxx.xxx.xxx.com
ErrorLog logs/error_log
CustomLog logs/log common
RewriteEngine on
RewriteRule ^/$ /manageCampaign/manageCampaign.faces [R]
<IfModule mod_proxy.c>
ProxyRequests On
ProxyPass /App http://loadbalanceURL/App/
ProxyPassReverse /App http://loadbalanceURL/App/
</IfModule>
</VirtualHost>

acid_kewpie · 05-30-2013, 05:13 PM

Not sure why you're posting this as an Apache issue, as this is very obviously about LTM. sounds like you need to set up session persistence on LTM. Recommendations are to use the F5 session persistence cookies to add in their own header for the pool member, but you can use the jsessionid cookie if you really want using a universal persistence profile

http://support.f5.com/kb/en-us/solut...0/sol7392.html

Also note that as mod_proxy pools connections, you'd need to use a oneconnect profile to balance on EVERY http request, not just the first in a given TCP stream. https://devcentral.f5.com/login?retu...neconnect.ashx

Why do you have LTM *between* Apache and Tomcat though? Why don't you have LTM infront of both an use an httpclass to through /App to tomcat and the rest at Apache?

arunvk · 06-04-2013, 01:09 PM

Thanks Chris for the reply.

Regarding the LTM question, the application team wanted it that way. We have LTM both in front of Apache and inbetween Apache and Tomcat. Sounds stupid but the application team wants it that way.

Regards,
Arun V.K.

acid_kewpie · 06-04-2013, 01:50 PM

Ha, well yes it IS stupid. But I'm in charge of a farm of 30+ Bigip boxes which do exactly the same thing, so I can't complain too much!