# Discourse behind reverse proxy and https

**URL:** <https://meta.discourse.org/t/discourse-behind-reverse-proxy-and-https/148705>\
**Category:** Self-hosting\
**Created:** [April 21, 2020, 6:58am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/discourse-behind-reverse-proxy-and-https/148705 "2020-04-21T06:58:13Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Showing post:** 16

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**Author:** ![neounix](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/meta/user_avatar/meta.discourse.org/neounix/32/215617_2.png) [@neounix](https://meta.discourse.org/u/neounix)\
**Post date:** [April 23, 2020, 2:08am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/discourse-behind-reverse-proxy-and-https/148705/16 "2020-04-23T02:08:19Z")

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> [@Grunskin](#):
>
> As I said in the first post `force_https` breaks the site,

Hi @Grunskin

We understand your frustration. However, when you set:

`force_https = true `

This is not the `problem`. As @pfaffman mentioned above (at least twice, one of meta’s top migration experts):

> [@pfaffman](#):
>
> This is your problem. You need to enable b force\_https and figure out why it’s breaking. Turning it off isn’t an option.

You “must” leave `force_https = true` and then figure out the “real problem”.

If I were you, based on what. I have read.

First, I would set up your reverse proxy on the same server as the discourse container(s) to simplify your problem, only for testing and troubleshooting. Make sure this simple test case works perfectly. Then, when it works on the same host, turn off that test reverse proxy, and move to your desired dual server setup.

This is an interesting problem. You can solve this if you leave `force_https = true` and maintain a structured, step-by-step troubleshooting method. The kinds of problems are just IT puzzles begging to be solved.

You can do it.

* * *

PS: If you get discouraged or bored with this puzzle, you can always throw some cash as @pfaffman or some other experienced meta person and pay them to get you past this roadblock and on to bluer skies ahead.

* * *

Note: We had zero issues getting Apache2 to work as a reverse proxy with a unix domain socket on the same server. My sincere apologies that I don’t have the personal time to set up the two server configuration and get the Apache2 reverse proxy method to work on two different servers. We are busy with final migration tasks cleaning up “crazy bbcode abuse” to markdown issues and it’s taking more time than we thought, originally.

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_[View the full topic](https://meta.discourse.org/t/discourse-behind-reverse-proxy-and-https/148705)._