Splitting https between Apache and Game Server

Question

Hi,

i want to have both an Apache and a Game Server to be reachable on port 443 of the same IP address.

The game server connection is a normal TCP connection that is established when the client logs in and stays open until the client logs out, perhaps hours later.

At first I though about using mod_proxy in reversed mode and let the client start the communication with a request for a specific URL, but I guess that would not allow me a long time two way communications between the client and the game server.

Another idea was to use mod_proxy_connect in forward mode (with strict access rules of course) and let the client send a CONNECT request. In theory this should work.

Both mentioned attempts, however, have a huge issue: The Game Server does not see the ip-address of the client anymore. Unfortunately this is a hard requirement.

Reversing the order has the same issue: If i let the Game server listen on port 443 and forward web request to the Apache, the .php programs and the access.log would not see the real ip-address anymore. And I am a bit afraid that this approach has a negative impact on game performance. (Especially on pages which a huge number of non-cacheable images)

Operating System: Linux (Debian) Webserver: Apache 2 Game Server and client are written in Java

Thank in advance for any ideas.

Answer 1

You could let Apache create a session id and store it into database and then use mod_proxy_connect. When the Game Server accepts the request from the local Apache, it should get the session id from a header and read the client's ip address from the database.

Answer 2

How do you run the Game Server? If it's run by Tomcat or Jetty you could try mod_jk

Answer 3

From what you're describing, the game server is not an HTTP(s) server, it just uses port 443 (TCP connection that is established when the client logs in and stays open until the client logs out, perhaps hours later.)

This does not sound like HTTP, even when using keep alive a HTTP connection won't survive more then minutes.

If the game server is not HTTP you can't use an HTTP proxy for its traffic.