# Issues with mod\_proxy/mod\_proxy\_balancer and my ded. server **URL:** \ **Category:** Rails\ **Created:** [August 26, 2007, 5:17pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/issues-with-mod-proxy-mod-proxy-balancer-and-my-ded-server/113036 "2007-08-26T17:17:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![mhfs](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/m/b2d939/32.png) [@mhfs](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/mhfs)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2007, 5:17pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/issues-with-mod-proxy-mod-proxy-balancer-and-my-ded-server/113036/1 "2007-08-26T17:17:01Z")
Hello list, I wonder if someone could help me understand the following: I’ve got a managed dedicated server with GoDaddy. Until now, I’ve only hosted PHP applications there. I now need to set it up to host my new beloved Rails application. I asked them to set up apache with mod\_proxy\_balancer for the mongrel cluster, however, here’s what they told me: \*Unfortunately, we will be unable to install mod\_proxy or mod\_proxy\_balancer, as having an open proxy on the server is a violation of our Terms of Service [https://www.godaddy.com/gdshop/agreements.asp?ci=8924](https://www.godaddy.com/gdshop/agreements.asp?ci=8924). \* - \*\* \*Uh!? Why would installing mod\_proxy\_balancer violate terms of service? Is there any danger with this installation? Why they relate to it as a “open proxy server”? If someone could enlighten me on this issue, I would be grateful! Thanks, Marcelo. \* \* ---
**Author:** ![mhfs](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/m/b2d939/32.png) [@mhfs](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/mhfs)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2007, 10:23pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/issues-with-mod-proxy-mod-proxy-balancer-and-my-ded-server/113036/2 "2007-08-26T22:23:01Z")
Marcelo, It sounds like the representative that answered your ticket doesn’t understand what mod\_proxy and mod\_proxy\_balancer do. You should reply to them and explain that this is used to proxy requests from apache to mongrel instances on the server and does not function as an open proxy server. – Joe C. > **[RailsPlayground.com Ruby On Rails Hosting](https://railsplayground.com/)** > > Ruby on Rails Web Hosting starting at just $5/a month 1-800-603-4125 ---
**Author:** ![mhfs](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/m/b2d939/32.png) [@mhfs](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/mhfs)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2007, 10:32pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/issues-with-mod-proxy-mod-proxy-balancer-and-my-ded-server/113036/3 "2007-08-26T22:32:03Z")
Joe C. wrote: > Marcelo, > > It sounds like the representative that answered your ticket doesn’t > understand what mod\_proxy and mod\_proxy\_balancer do. You should reply > to them and explain that this is used to proxy requests from apache to > mongrel instances on the server and does not function as an open proxy > server. But it can. Depends if you configure mod\_proxy as a forward or reverse proxy. If Marcelo wants to have access to mod\_proxy’s configuration, the admin is right to fear an open proxy setup. Lonel ---
**Author:** ![mhfs](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/m/b2d939/32.png) [@mhfs](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/mhfs)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2007, 12:38am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/issues-with-mod-proxy-mod-proxy-balancer-and-my-ded-server/113036/4 "2007-08-27T00:38:24Z")
Thank you for the reply, So, if I understand, the server admin fears the possibility of an open proxy and what rails need is a forward proxy. What is a reverse proxy? Why would someone set an open proxy? Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![mhfs](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/m/b2d939/32.png) [@mhfs](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/mhfs)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2007, 1:01am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/issues-with-mod-proxy-mod-proxy-balancer-and-my-ded-server/113036/5 "2007-08-27T01:01:25Z")
Marcelo de Moraes S. wrote: > Thank you for the reply, > > So, if I understand, the server admin fears the possibility of an open > proxy and what rails need is a forward proxy. In fact it needs a reverse proxy… Forward proxying is the classic method used when you set your browser to go through a proxy. Reverse proxying is what is used when you have an application that speaks HTTP but can’t access it directly and proxy the request through another HTTP server. The problem is that mod\_proxy supports both (many HTTP proxy do as the code for both techniques has lots in common) and your admin is reluctant to give you such a powerful tool. I don’t know the details of your contract and rarely configured mod\_proxy so I don’t really know if it’s possible, but maybe you could have the configuration split in such a manner that your admin could activate mod\_proxy support but forbid the forward proxying for you. You’ll have to dig through mod\_proxy’s documentation with your admin to find out if and how it is possible… Lionel ---
**Author:** ![mhfs](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/m/b2d939/32.png) [@mhfs](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/mhfs)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2007, 5:06am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/issues-with-mod-proxy-mod-proxy-balancer-and-my-ded-server/113036/6 "2007-08-27T05:06:40Z")
Well, it seems GoDaddy was really a bad option … actually this server is my clients one. He signed up for a managed plan at the time becouse he had no experience on server’s administration, so, it came with all this Plesk crap tied and the “hidden” terms and all other crap, take a look at this response I just got from their support staff: \* Thank you for contacting Assisted Server support. Unfortunately, you cannot use Capistrano on an Assisted Server as it requires SSH access to and from the server. This is access we cannot grant on an Assisted Server. Regarding Mongrel, as Plesk is required on an Assisted Server, and Plesk requires Apache as its web server, we cannot install Mongrel as Plesk does not support it. As we have previously stated, the mod\_proxy module is not supported as running a proxy on your server is a violation of our Terms of Service. \*So, Rails without Capistrano and Mongrel on a dedicated server… great uh ?