Thanks for the info, Aaron.
Do I really need Apache/IBM HTTP server to use web sockets if I'm simply using Apache/IBM HTTP server as a reverse proxy? All I want to do is pass requests through the server to a Node.JS web server. The Node.JS web server would in theory have access to various kinds of IBM i resources (spooled files, data queues, data areas, DB2 files, COBOL/RPG/CL programs) via the XML-based extensions IBM is delivering with Node.JS.
I understand that Node.JS has been created with an event-looping model to handle high concurrency with good speed and low memory use. However, the apps I make will be targeted at employees in our company, with no more than a few hundred to a few thousand users in the foreseeable future. It's not really scalability that I'm looking for in Node.JS. It's the server-side access to IBM i resources using JavaScript.
I also understand that we could access a Node.JS web server directly and not use a reverse proxy. But I think that means I would have to write a lot of functionality myself to make a production-worthy Node.JS web server. Why reinvent the wheel? I would prefer the capabilities of a tried and true web server in front of my Node.JS server.
I was disappointed to learn that NGINX does not have the scalability on Windows as it does on other operating systems. It has something to do with the way the event-loop model is implemented in Windows. I assume you don't have this problem running NGINX on the IBM i with the AIX port. Are you running NGINX on the IBM i as a reverse proxy to a Node.JS web server?
I'm still new to all of this. Does any of the above sound like I'm heading down a wrong path?
I'm all ears to any advice you or anyone else wants to offer.
Thanks,
Kelly
-----Original Message-----
From: WEB400 [mailto:web400-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Aaron Bartell
Sent: Friday, December 26, 2014 9:18 AM
To: Web Enabling the IBM i (AS/400 and iSeries)
Subject: Re: [WEB400] Reverse Proxy for Node.JS on IBM i
Hi Kelly,
Apache on IBM i still doesn't support Web Sockets and that is a mainstay concept in Node.js apps. Note there is an Apache module that does Web Sockets but it isn't included in the IBM i version yet (to my knowledge).
I have nginx running on IBM i based on the perzl.org AIX port (
http://www.perzl.org/aix/index.php?n=Main.Nginx) and nginx *does* support Web Sockets.
Here are some stats on webserver popularity:
http://news.netcraft.com/archives/2014/05/07/may-2014-web-server-survey.html
Btw, I've setup a site on bitbucket.org where Node.js collaboration can happen more easily:
https://bitbucket.org/litmis/nodejs
Why did I set it up?
- We need a place to easily post/refine code examples**.
- We need a place to log tasks needing to take place (i.e. document nginx setup on IBM i***).
- We need to start conditioning the IBM i community on how to use modern tooling for "social coding" (i.e. Git + fork/pull)****
NOTE: bitbucket.org is a free service for public repos. Sign-up for a profile.
**
https://bitbucket.org/litmis/nodejs/src
***
https://bitbucket.org/litmis/nodejs/issue/2/nginx-port-instructions
****
https://bitbucket.org/litmis/nodejs/wiki/contribute
Aaron Bartell
On Wed, Dec 24, 2014 at 8:21 PM, Kelly Cookson <KCookson@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
wrote:
What are people's thoughts about running web servers as reverse
proxies for Node.JS servers on the IBM i?
I assume one could set up an IBM HTTP server as a reverse proxy for a
Node.JS server. The IBM HTTP server could handle static content; the
Node.JS server could deliver web services for dynamic content.
I also assume WebSphere web server could also be set up as a reverse
proxy for Node.JS. Would there be any benefits to using WebSphere
instead of the IBM HTTP server as a reverse proxy on the IBM i?
I currently have NGINX set up as a reverse proxy for a Node.JS server
on a windows machine (a learning environment). I like the fact that
NGINX and Node.JS are both event driven, making them fast and
scalable. I'm not sure I will ever really need the scalability NGINX
offers. IBM HTTP server will very likely meet all of my needs. Yet,
out of curiosity, does anyone know if there are plans to port NGINX
(or some other event driven web server) to the IBM i?
Thanks,
Kelly Cookson
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