Enable HTTP/FTP methods
Client requests to the server include a method field that indicates the
action that the server is to perform on the specified object.
Following is a list of methods that the proxy server supports and a description
of how it responds to a client request containing the method if the method
is enabled.
Note:
Some methods are the same for HTTP and for FTP requests. Enabling
these methods for HTTP also enables them for FTP.
- CONNECT
- The CONNECT method allows you to tunnel requests and responses through
the proxy server. This applies to forward proxy configurations only.
For information on the
format and available options for the Enable CONNECT method, see Configuring SSL tunneling.
- DELETE
- The proxy server deletes the object identified by the URL. DELETE allows
clients to erase files from your Caching Proxy. Use server protection setups to define
who can use DELETE and on which files. For details, see Server protection setups.
- GET
- The proxy server returns whatever data is identified by the URL. If the
URL refers to an executable program, the proxy returns the output of the program.
This method can be handled over persistent connections.
- HEAD
- The proxy server returns only the HTTP document header identified by the
URL without the document body.
- OPTIONS
- The proxy server returns information about the communications options on
the request-response chain identified by the URL. This method allows a client
to determine the options and requirements associated with an object, or the
capabilities of a server, without having to act on or retrieve the object.
- POST
- The request contains data and a URL. The proxy server accepts the data enclosed
in the request as a new subordinate of the resource identified in the URL,
which processes the data. The resource can be a data-accepting program, a
gateway to some other protocol, or a separate program that accepts annotations.
The POST method is designed to handle the annotation of existing resources.
Examples include posting a message to a bulletin board, newsgroup, mailing
list, or similar group of resources; providing a block of data, for example,
from a form to a data-handling program; or extending a database through an append operation. For Caching Proxy, the POST method is used to process
the Configuration and Administration forms.
This method can be handled over persistent connections.
- PUT
- The request contains data and a URL. The proxy server stores the data in
the resource identified in the URL. If the resource already exists, PUT replaces
it with the data contained in the request. If the resource does not exist,
PUT creates it and populates it with the data contained in the request. This
method can be handled over persistent connections.
Enabling the PUT method
allows files to be written to Caching Proxy by using HTTP and FTP. Because PUT allows
clients to write to Caching Proxy, you need to use server-protection setups to define
who can use PUT and the files on which PUT can be used. (See Server protection setups.)
- TRACE
- The proxy server echoes the request message sent by the client. This method
allows the client to see what is being received at the other end of the request
chain and use that data for testing or diagnostics. The content type of the
proxy response is message/http.
Associated directives
The following directives enable HTTP/FTP methods:
For more information, refer to Manually editing the ibmproxy.conf file.
Configuration and Administration forms
The following Configuration and Administration forms edit the values of the associated directives:
- Server Configuration -> Request Processing -> HTTP
Methods -> GET
- Server Configuration -> Request Processing -> HTTP
Methods -> HEAD
- Server Configuration -> Request Processing -> HTTP
Methods -> POST
- Server Configuration -> Request Processing -> HTTP
Methods -> PUT
- Server Configuration -> Request Processing -> HTTP
Methods -> DELETE
- Server Configuration -> Request Processing -> HTTP
Methods -> OPTIONS
- Server Configuration -> Request Processing -> HTTP
Methods -> TRACE
- Server Configuration -> Request
Processing -> HTTP Methods -> CONNECT
Note:
If you disable the POST method, you cannot use the Configuration and Administration forms
to configure the Caching Proxy.
For more information, refer to Using the Configuration and Administration forms.