DNS- Route DNS for subfolder to different server?

Question

LEt's say I want to have a subfolder called- http://www.foo.com/news/ but I actually want that news folder on a different server. I realize it can be done easily with subdomains, but I was really hoping for the subfolder thing.

Is it possible? How?

Answer 1

The only real way to it is with a reverse proxy ( Or a webserver acting as a reverse proxy ) between you and the outside world that knows what IP address each folder is in.

Its not possible to just make something, for example have google.com appear at http://foobar.com/google/ because the browser won't route to the IP address ( lack of information ).

You can fake that effect with a fullpage IFrame or Other frameset system, but that's rather dodgy.

If you are using apache, you can set this up with mod_proxy. More details can be found here:

• Mod_Proxy(1.3) Manual
• Mod_Proxy(2.0) Manual
• Apache Tutor.org guide

Answer 2

For Apache the following entries in httpd.conf are needed:

LoadModule proxy_module modules/mod_proxy.so
LoadModule proxy_http_module modules/mod_proxy_http.so

ProxyPass /news http://newsserver.domain.com/news
ProxyPassreverse / http://newsserver.domain.com/

Answer 3

Yes, there is a setting in IIS which lets you point a subfolder to a different site. So make the sub folder a virtual directory on your site, and then in the properties of the virtual directory choose the option for 'A redirection to a URL'... in it specify your other site.

Of course, this is assuming your are using IIS. There should be something similar available to use in whatever web server you are using.