# Run fastcgi in Apache 1.3, or proxy through lighttpd? **URL:** \ **Category:** Rails\ **Created:** [January 26, 2006, 2:04pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/run-fastcgi-in-apache-1-3-or-proxy-through-lighttpd/97594 "2006-01-26T14:04:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![pergesu](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/p/22d042/32.png) [@pergesu](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/pergesu)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2006, 2:04pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/run-fastcgi-in-apache-1-3-or-proxy-through-lighttpd/97594/1 "2006-01-26T14:04:42Z")
I’m working with a guy who has Apache 1.3 installed on his server, and it’s not an option to simply use lighttpd for a Rails application I’m helping him with. I’ve seen that Apache 2 apparently is crappy when it comes to fastcgi, but 1.3 isn’t so bad. I can then either just run my app straight in Apache, or I could proxy it through to lighttpd. Which is a better option in general? Also, if I should go the Apache route, what module should I use? I’ve only used lighttpd to this point on my own. Pat ---
**Author:** ![pergesu](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/p/22d042/32.png) [@pergesu](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/pergesu)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2006, 7:28pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/run-fastcgi-in-apache-1-3-or-proxy-through-lighttpd/97594/2 "2006-01-26T19:28:23Z")
On Jan 26, 2006, at 5:03 AM, Pat M. wrote: > Pat- ``` I would personally recommend that you proxy to lighty from apache. ``` Especially since you already know lighty well it will be easier for you to use. Also you will be able to restart your rails app with out restarting apache. So you can switch to dev or production mode and reload changes without bouncing the whole server. In my tests, you shouldn’t notice much performance difference as proxying is a very quick process. ``` I have a server at work with around 32 client web sites on it under ``` apache1.3. Most of them are php/html sites but about 7 of them are rails sites and each of them runs their own lighty. It runs great and I have had no problems at all using it. Whereas I was always fidgeting with apache/mod\_fcgi when I tried to use that, always getting random 500 errors that would never fully go away. ``` Here is my apache1.3 vhost conf that I use that is tried, tested and ``` trueL Apache 1.3.x: \ ServerName [example.com](http://example.com) ServerAlias [www.example.com](http://www.example.com) ProxyPass / [http://example.com:8000/](http://example.com:8000/) ProxyPassReverse / [http://example.com:8000/](http://example.com:8000/) Cheers- -Ezra Z. Yakima Herald-Republic WebMaster > **[yakimaherald.com | Yakima, Washington - We Tell Your Stories](https://www.yakimaherald.com/)** 509-577-7732 removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid ---
**Author:** ![pergesu](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/p/22d042/32.png) [@pergesu](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/pergesu)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2006, 11:02pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/run-fastcgi-in-apache-1-3-or-proxy-through-lighttpd/97594/3 "2006-01-26T23:02:54Z")
On 1/26/06, Ezra Z. [removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid](mailto:removed_email_address@domain.invalid) wrote: > > point on my own. > > reload changes without bouncing the whole server. In my tests, you > > Here is my apache1.3 vhost conf that I use that is tried, tested and > > * * * > > Rails mailing list > removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid > [http://lists.rubyonrails.org/mailman/listinfo/rails](http://lists.rubyonrails.org/mailman/listinfo/rails) Hey Ezra, Thanks for the advice. My next problem here is that it apparently doesn’t have mod\_proxy compiled in. I did lots of googling to see if somehow I could download and build the module independently, then dynamically load it in, but couldn’t find anything. I guess I’d have to recompile Apache to make it happen. This is on a CPanel server though (BLEH!) so I don’t think it’s a simple recompile. Anyway, it’s hosted at [servint.com](http://servint.com), so he can get those guys to do it for us. If you know how I can just build the module and load it dynamically, I’d really appreciate some pointers. Pat