How do I setup a web proxy service in Mac OS X Mountain Lion Server? - reverse-proxy

Question

I am trying to utilize the configuration files in Mac OS X Server instead of directly modifying Apache's site file to add a reverse proxy entry for the eXist XML database. The mapping should be from [http://example.com/exist] to [http://localhost:8080/exist].
eXist is up and running.
I have added the following plist file /Library/Server/Web/Config/apache2/webapps/org.exist-db.plist
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<!DOCTYPE plist PUBLIC "-//Apple//DTD PLIST 1.0//EN" "http://www.apple.com/DTDs/PropertyList-1.0.dtd">
<!-- See man pages for webapp.plist(5) and webappctl(8) for information about this example webapp.plist -->
<plist version="1.0">
<dict>
<key>includeFiles</key>
<array>
<!-- Include files are activated in virtual host when webapp is started -->
</array>
<key>launchKeys</key>
<array>
<!-- Launchd plists in /Applications/Server.app/Contents/ServerRoot/System/Library/LaunchDaemons are loaded when webapp is started -->
</array>
<key>name</key>
<string>org.exist-db</string>
<key>displayName</key>
<!-- Name shown in Server app -->
<string>eXist Open Source XML Database</string>
<key>proxies</key>
<!-- ProxyPass/ProxyPassReverse directives are activated when webapp is started -->
<dict>
<key>/exist</key>
<!-- Sets up a reverse proxy -->
<dict>
<key>keysAndValues</key>
<string/>
<key>path</key>
<string>/exist</string>
<key>urls</key>
<!-- URLs comprise a proxy_balancer group -->
<array>
<string>http://localhost:8080/exist</string>
</array>
</dict>
</dict>
<key>requiredModuleNames</key>
<array>
<!-- Apache plugin modules are enabled when webapp is started -->
<string>proxy_module</string>
</array>
<key>requiredWebAppNames</key>
<array>
<!-- Required web apps are started when this webapp is started -->
</array>
<key>installationIndicatorFilePath</key>
<!-- The presence of this file indicates web app is installed -->
<string>/Users/cahlander/eXist-trunk</string>
<key>sslPolicy</key>
<!-- Determines webapp SSL behavior -->
<integer>0</integer>
<!-- 0: default, UseSSLWhenEnabled -->
<!-- 1: UseSSLAlways -->
<!-- 2: UseSSLOnlyWhenCertificateIsTrustable -->
<!-- 3: UseSSLNever -->
<!-- 4: UseSSLAndNonSSL -->
</dict>
</plist>
running on the local server, going to http://example.com:8080/exist works, but from a different machine, going to http://example.com/exist does not. Also 'eXist Open Source XML Database' should be showing up as web app in the advanced settings. It is not. What am I doing wrong?

Answer 1

I have fixed all of the outstanding issues, but encountered a new one.
Only add the following as org.exist-db.plist to /Library/Server/Web/Config/apache2/webapps
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<!DOCTYPE plist PUBLIC "-//Apple//DTD PLIST 1.0//EN" "http://www.apple.com/DTDs/PropertyList-1.0.dtd">
<!-- See man pages for webapp.plist(5) and webappctl(8) for information about this example webapp.plist -->
<plist version="1.0">
<dict>
<key>includeFiles</key>
<array/>
<key>launchKeys</key>
<array/>
<key>name</key>
<string>org.exist-db</string>
<key>displayName</key>
<!-- Name shown in Server app -->
<string>eXist Open Source XML Database</string>
<key>proxies</key>
<!-- ProxyPass/ProxyPassReverse directives are activated when webapp is started -->
<dict>
<key>/exist</key>
<!-- Sets up a reverse proxy -->
<dict>
<key>keysAndValues</key>
<string/>
<key>path</key>
<string>/exist</string>
<key>urls</key>
<!-- URLs comprise a proxy_balancer group -->
<array>
<string>http://localhost:8080/exist</string>
</array>
</dict>
</dict>
<key>requiredModuleNames</key>
<array>
<!-- Apache plugin modules are enabled when webapp is started -->
<string>proxy_module</string>
</array>
<key>requiredWebAppNames</key>
<array>
<!-- Required web apps are started when this webapp is started -->
</array>
<key>startCommand</key>
<string>/Users/cahlander/eXist-trunk/tools/wrapper/bin/exist.sh start</string>
<key>stopCommand</key>
<string>/Users/cahlander/eXist-trunk/tools/wrapper/bin/exist.sh stop</string>
<key>installationIndicatorFilePath</key>
<!-- The presence of this file indicates web app is installed -->
<string>/Users/cahlander/eXist-trunk/VERSION.txt</string>
<key>sslPolicy</key>
<!-- Determines webapp SSL behavior -->
<integer>0</integer>
<!-- 0: default, UseSSLWhenEnabled -->
<!-- 1: UseSSLAlways -->
<!-- 2: UseSSLOnlyWhenCertificateIsTrustable -->
<!-- 3: UseSSLNever -->
<!-- 4: UseSSLAndNonSSL -->
</dict>
</plist>
It starts, but does not stop. The entry does show in the advanced settings. It does not stop from the GUI.
The following command-line entries will work, but I did get a corruption after I stopped and restarted.
sudo webappctl start org.exist-db
sudo webappctl stop org.exist-db