Reverse Proxy Configuration Testing Under Productive Loads

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Solution Overview

Problem

Testing reverse proxy configurations is difficult and resource-intensive, particularly under high loads, due to the critical nature of reverse proxies in modern computing systems, making it impractical to recreate load characteristics in a productive system.

Innovation Solution

A system that efficiently reproduces productive loads on a reverse proxy by instantiating backend services and changing their configurations to trigger new processes, while maintaining existing connections, allowing monitoring of performance metrics under increased load.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If reverse proxy configurations are tested in a productive system, then testing accuracy is improved, but system reliability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetesting accuracyVSAvoidsystem reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments the testing function from the productive system by creating a separate test environment that mirrors production. The reverse proxy configuration is tested in isolation using simulated backend services and generated load, preventing any direct impact on the productive system's reliability while maintaining testing accuracy through configuration replication.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system creates a copy of the reverse proxy configuration to be tested, along with simulated backend services that replicate production environments. This copying approach allows comprehensive testing of configuration accuracy without exposing the actual productive system to testing risks, thus maintaining both testing precision and system reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

2Manufacturing precision

If load characteristics are recreated to test reverse proxy configurations, then testing realism is improved, but computing resources increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetesting realismVSAvoidcomputing resources
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts load parameters such as connection count, request rate, and timeout values to match production characteristics without requiring full production-scale resources. By parameterizing the load generation, the system achieves realistic testing conditions while controlling resource consumption through configurable thresholds and scaling factors.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses ephemeral simulated backend services that are created and destroyed during testing cycles rather than maintaining permanent production-grade services. These temporary, lightweight service instances provide sufficient realism for configuration testing while consuming minimal computing resources compared to full production environments.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Data Source

PatentEP4472174B1System to test reverse proxy configurations
Publication Date: 2025.10.29 SAP SE
  • EP4472174B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4472174B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4472174B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Systems and methods include transmission of a first request for a first connection to a first service, usage of a first reverse proxy process to manage a first connection based on a first service configuration, change, in response to the first request, the first service configuration to a second service configuration, instantiate, in response to the change to the second service configuration, a second reverse proxy process based on the second service configuration, transmit, in response to the change to the second service configuration, a second request for a second connection to the first service an use of the second reverse proxy process to manage the second connection in response to the second request, wherein the first reverse proxy process and the second reverse proxy process execute simultaneously.