Set up the Apache web server and connect it to Tomcat-based Liferay using mod_jk

Issue

• How can we install an apache web server and connect the same with the application server over a Linux-based operating system?

Environment

• Liferay DXP 7.4

Resolution

• The following are the steps that will help you set up the Apache web server and connect it to Tomcat-based Liferay using mod_jk:
  1. Prerequisites: Tomcat bundled Liferay and Sudoer user to install and configure HTTPD.
  2. Install httpd using the command: sudo yum install httpd.
  3. Install Associated packages using sudo yum install httpd-devel apr apr-devel apr-util apr-util-devel gcc gcc-c++ make autoconf libtool
  4. Verify the installation: Go to /etc/httpd/ and check the list of files there.
  5. Run the sudo systemctl start httpd.service command to start the Apache server and test on the browser for the default landing page.
  6. Install mod_jk: Follow the below commands to make and install mod_jk connector from the source:
  

  1. sudo wget https://archive.apache.org/dist/tomcat/tomcat-connectors/jk/tomcat-connectors-1.2.49-src.tar.gz 
  2. sudo tar -xvzf tomcat-connectors-1.2.49-src.tar.gz 
  3. cd tomcat-connectors-1.2.49-src/native 
  4. sudo ./configure --with-apxs=/usr/bin/apxs 
  5. sudo dnf install redhat-rpm-config 
  6. sudo make 
  7. sudo libtool --finish /usr/lib64/httpd/modules 
  8. sudo make install 
  9. ls /usr/lib64/httpd/modules 
  10. ls -l /etc/httpd/modules/mod_jk.so 
  11. sudo mkdir -p /var/run/mod_jk 
  12. sudo chown apache:apache /var/run/mod_jk

   
  7. Verify if the file mod_jk.so is present at /etc/httpd/modules
  8. Configure AJP in Tomcat: Uncomment the ajp connector from liferay_home/tomcat-9.0.xx/conf/server.xml and edit like below.
  

  <Connector protocol="AJP/1.3" 
  address="IP of the Liferay Server/Application Server" 
  port="8009" 
  redirectPort="8443" URIEncoding="UTF-8" secret="Enter a strong secret" /> 

  Note: Change the IP address to the IP of the Liferay server/Application Server and enter a strong secret in secret.
   
  9. Configure mod_jk: Create and add the below configuration to /etc/httpd/conf/workAers.properties:
  

  worker.list=loadbalancer 
  worker.loadbalancer.type=lb 
  worker.loadbalancer.balanced_workers=node1 
  worker.loadbalancer.secret= Add the secret 
  worker.node1.host=192.168.122.4 
  worker.node1.port=8009 
  worker.node1.type=ajp13 
  worker.node1.lbfactor=1

  Note: Add the same secret that was added in ajp connector of Liferay.
   
  10. Configure /etc/httpd/conf.d/mod_jk.conf like below:
  

  LoadModule jk_module "/etc/httpd/modules/mod_jk.so" 
  JkWorkersFile /etc/httpd/conf/workers.properties #Path to workers.properties file created above     
  JkShmFile /var/run/httpd/mod_jk.shm #Where to put jk shared memory
  JkLogFile /var/log/httpd/mod_jk.log  #Where to put jk logs JkLogFile
  JkLogLevel info #Set the jk log level [debug/error/info] 
  JkLogStampFormat "[%a %b %d %H:%M:%S %Y] "  #Select the timestamp log format 

   
  11. Add jkmount inside your virtual host configuration -
  

  JkMount /* loadbalancer 
  JkMount / loadbalancer

  Add the above to the file httpd.conf if SSL is not required and to ssl.conf if SSL is enabled.

Additional Information

• How to find your IP address in Linux
• Please note that the installation and configuration of a WebServer on a machine comes under a third-party application and Liferay support will be limited in this case.