# 403 (Forbidden) with Apache on Mongrel Cluster

**URL:** <https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/403-forbidden-with-apache-on-mongrel-cluster/116214>\
**Category:** Rails\
**Created:** [October 3, 2007, 3:38pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/403-forbidden-with-apache-on-mongrel-cluster/116214 "2007-10-03T15:38:23Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![knb](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/k/7ab992/32.png) [@knb](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/knb)\
**Post date:** [October 3, 2007, 3:38pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/403-forbidden-with-apache-on-mongrel-cluster/116214/1 "2007-10-03T15:38:23Z")

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Hi,

I’ve configured a rails application on my VPS to run on two  
mongrels. When I run curl on localhost, the starting page comes up  
fine. That is, mongrel is serving the app perfectly.

The problem arises when trying to access the app on my ip through  
apache. I  
get a 403 error. Just to test things out, I’ve set generous  
permissions on the entire rails directory structure still to no avail.

I’ve also set up a non-rails virtual host, and everything works fine  
there. So I doubt that it’s a vhost problem.

What could be the problem here? Any insights would be awesome; to me,  
it’s been a real gordian knot.

Thanks,

Kyle

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![knb](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/k/7ab992/32.png) [@knb](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/knb)\
**Post date:** [October 8, 2007, 10:13pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/403-forbidden-with-apache-on-mongrel-cluster/116214/2 "2007-10-08T22:13:07Z")

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Hi,

I had a similar problem. I solved the problem by loading the proxy  
modules:

LoadModule proxy\_module /usr/lib/apache2-prefork/  
mod\_proxy.so  
LoadModule proxy\_http\_module /usr/lib/apache2-prefork/  
mod\_proxy\_http.so

in the apache configuration. Without the proxy-http module apache  
delivers a 403 access denied

regards  
– andi