## Added support for an alternative method for using another webserver
We have added support for making `matrix-nginx-proxy` not being so invasive, so that it would be easier to [use your own webserver](docs/configuring-playbook-own-webserver.md).
The documentation has been updated with a **Method 2**, which might make "own webserver" setup easier in some cases (such as [reverse-proxying using Traefik](https://github.com/spantaleev/matrix-docker-ansible-deploy/issues/296)).
**Existing users** are not affected by this and **don't need to change anything**.
The defaults are still the same (`matrix-nginx-proxy` obtaining SSL certificates and doing everything for you automatically).
# 2019-11-10
## Tightened security around room directory publishing
@ -6,8 +6,19 @@ If that's alright, you can skip this.
If you don't want this playbook's nginx webserver to take over your server's 80/443 ports like that,
and you'd like to use your own webserver (be it nginx, Apache, Varnish Cache, etc.), you can.
There are **2 ways you can go about it**, if you'd like to use your own webserver:
## Preparation
- [Method 1: Disabling the integrated nginx reverse-proxy webserver](#method-1-disabling-the-integrated-nginx-reverse-proxy-webserver)
- [Method 2: Fronting the integrated nginx reverse-proxy webserver with another reverse-proxy](#method-2-fronting-the-integrated-nginx-reverse-proxy-webserver-with-another-reverse-proxy)
## Method 1: Disabling the integrated nginx reverse-proxy webserver
This method is about completely disabling the integrated nginx reverse-proxy webserver and replicating its behavior using another webserver.
For an alternative, make sure to check Method #2 as well.
### Preparation
No matter which external webserver you decide to go with, you'll need to:
**Note**: During [installation](installing.md), unless you've disabled SSL certificate management (`matrix_ssl_retrieval_method: none`), the playbook would need 80 to be available, in order to retrieve SSL certificates. **Please manually stop your other webserver while installing**. You can start it back up afterwards.
## Using your own external nginx webserver
### Using your own external nginx webserver
Once you've followed the [Preparation](#preparation) guide above, it's time to set up your external nginx server.
Once you've followed the [Preparation](#preparation) guide above, you can take a look at the [examples/apache](../examples/apache) directory for a sample configuration.
## Using your own external caddy webserver
### Using your own external caddy webserver
After following the [Preparation](#preparation) guide above, you can take a look at the [examples/caddy](../examples/caddy) directory for a sample configuration.
## Using your own HAproxy reverse proxy
### Using your own HAproxy reverse proxy
After following the [Preparation](#preparation) guide above, you can take a look at the [examples/haproxy](../examples/haproxy) directory for a sample configuration. In this case HAproxy is used as a reverse proxy and a simple Nginx container is used to serve statically `.well-known` files.
## Using another external webserver
### Using another external webserver
Feel free to look at the [examples/apache](../examples/apache) directory, or the [template files in the matrix-nginx-proxy role](../roles/matrix-nginx-proxy/templates/conf.d/).
## Method 2: Fronting the integrated nginx reverse-proxy webserver with another reverse-proxy
This method is about leaving the integrated nginx reverse-proxy webserver be, but making it not get in the way (using up important ports, trying to retrieve SSL certificates, etc.).
If you wish to use another webserver, the integrated nginx reverse-proxy webserver usually gets in the way because it attempts to fetch SSL certificates and binds to ports 80, 443 and 8448 (if Matrix Federation is enabled).
You can disable such behavior and make the integrated nginx reverse-proxy webserver only serve traffic locally (or over a local network).
You would need some configuration like this:
```yaml
# Do not retrieve SSL certificates. This shall be managed by another webserver or other means.
matrix_ssl_retrieval_method: none
# Do not try to serve HTTPS, since we have no SSL certificates.
# Disabling this also means services will be served on the HTTP port
# Coturn relies on SSL certificates that have already been obtained.
# Since we don't obtain any certificates (`matrix_ssl_retrieval_method: none` above), it won't work by default.
# An alternative is to tweak some of: `matrix_coturn_tls_enabled`, `matrix_coturn_tls_cert_path` and `matrix_coturn_tls_key_path`.
matrix_coturn_enabled: false
```
With this, nginx would still be in use, but it would not bother with anything SSL related or with taking up public ports.
All services would be served locally on `127.0.0.1:81` and `127.0.0.1:8449` (as per the example configuration above).
You can then set up another reverse-proxy server on ports 80/443/8448 for all of the expected domains and make traffic go to these local ports.
The expected domains vary depending on the services you have enabled (`matrix.DOMAIN` for sure; `riot.DOMAIN` and `dimension.DOMAIN` are optional).
We don't have sample webserver configuration for this use-case yet, but hope to expand on this documentation entry in the future.
For [Traefik](https://traefik.io/), you can [see some work in progress examples here](https://github.com/spantaleev/matrix-docker-ansible-deploy/issues/296).