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reverse-proxyvarnish-vcl

Varnish, using URL for backend instead of IP address

I started setting up a reversed proxy server with varnish. I'm not experienced setting up varnish.

I am trying to use url of the backend instead of ip address with no luck:

1- Approach a:

backend default {
  .host = "www.backend.mysite.com";
  .port = "80";
}

Issue a: Restarting varnish keeps failing.

2- Approach b:

sub vcl_recv {
set req.http.Host = "www.backend.mysite.com"; 
...
}

Issue b: with this approach, when I enter mysite.com in browser bar, it gets redirected to www.backend.mysite.com.

I don't think this is an accepted behavior for this rule. Correct me if I am wrong.

Thanks, Shab

Solution

  • your first try should work but your varnish server needs to have access to internet or at least to dns servers.

    when you start varnish it will make a dns lookup and replace www.backend.mysite.com by the first ip it is given by dns.