Forum Discussion
6 Replies
- ArieAltostratus
Are you referring to HTTP?
Here's a write-up on request compression from IBM (WebSphere): http://pic.dhe.ibm.com/infocenter/wci/v6r0m0/index.jsp?topic=%2Fcom.ibm.websphere.cast_iron.doc%2Fcompression_decompression_with_the_http_post_request_activity.html
- Swordfish_11740Nimbostratus
Hi There,
I am referring to a HTTP request. I want to know if the F5 can accept incoming requests that are compressed, then decompress them for the servers and then the F5 will recompress to go back to the client?
- What_Lies_Bene1Cirrostratus
That is exactly how HTTP compression works on the F5 although typically requests are not compressed in my experience.
Depending on your version you would configure this in either a custom HTTP or HTTP Compression profile and assign it to your Virtual Server. If SSL is involved you would need to be terminating the SSL on the F5.
Menu path: Local Traffic > Profiles > Services > HTTP or HTTP Compression
- Swordfish_11740Nimbostratus
I know how compression works on the F5. I know typically requests are not compressed but what if they were... would the F5 understand them>?
Some of our clients send us compressed requests, can the F5 handle this?
Thank you for your help.
- What_Lies_Bene1CirrostratusA client would only send a compressed request if it had received the relevant HTTP Accept-Encoding header from the F5 indicating support for compression. I don't think I've ever seen this header sent but I've never really looked. You can easily test this by connecting to any VS with compression enabled and seeing if you receive this header. I suspect you won't but I'd be happy to be proved wrong.
- What_Lies_Bene1CirrostratusI've just been browsing the iRules wiki and it would seem request compression is supported in v11, as indicated by the COMPRESS:: enable 'request' subcommand: https://devcentral.f5.com/wiki/iRules.COMPRESS__enable.ashx. No real detail on how it works but I'm sure it could be tested quite easily.