Backend Servers

Learning Focus

By the end of this lesson you will know how to configure backend server connections for reverse proxy scenarios.

What Backend Servers Are

In a reverse proxy setup, OpenLiteSpeed forwards requests to backend application servers (Node.js, Python, Go, Java, etc.) and returns their responses to the client.

Configuring a Backend

In WebAdmin

1. Server Configuration → External App → Add
2. Select type: Web Server
3. Set:
   • Name: nodejs-app
   • Address: http://127.0.0.1:3000
   • Max Connections: 100
4. Create a Proxy Context in the virtual host:
   • URI: /api/
   • Web Server: nodejs-app
5. Save and Graceful Restart

Common Backend Types

Backend	Typical Port	Protocol
Node.js / Express	3000	HTTP
Python / Django	8000	HTTP
Go	8080	HTTP
Java / Tomcat	8080	HTTP

Key Takeaways

• OpenLiteSpeed can proxy to any HTTP backend on any port.
• Use proxy contexts to route specific URL paths to different backends.
• The backend runs independently — OpenLiteSpeed handles the client connection.

What's Next

• Continue to Load Balancing for distributing traffic across multiple backends.