Configure Web Application Proxy Server 2021
Introduction
Web Application Proxy (WAP) is a role service in Windows Server 2021 that provides secure remote access to web applications hosted on corporate networks. It acts as a reverse proxy and an Active Directory Federation Services (AD FS) proxy to enable remote users to access web applications from outside the corporate network securely. In this article, we will discuss how to configure the Web Application Proxy Server in 2021.
Prerequisites
Before configuring the Web Application Proxy Server, make sure you have the following prerequisites:
1. Windows Server 2021
You need a Windows Server 2021 machine to install and configure the Web Application Proxy Server. Ensure that the server meets the minimum system requirements and is up to date with the latest updates and patches.
2. Active Directory Federation Services (AD FS)
The Web Application Proxy Server relies on AD FS for authentication and authorization. Before configuring the Web Application Proxy Server, make sure you have AD FS installed and properly configured on your network.
3. Server Certificates
You need a valid server certificate for the Web Application Proxy Server. This certificate will be used to secure the communication between the proxy server and the clients. You can either obtain a certificate from a trusted third-party Certificate Authority (CA) or use an internal CA to issue a certificate.
Configuration Steps
Step 1: Install the Web Application Proxy Role
The first step is to install the Web Application Proxy role on your Windows Server 2021 machine. To do this, follow these steps:
- Open the Server Manager.
- Click on “Add roles and features” from the Dashboard or the Tools menu.
- Select the appropriate server from the server pool and click “Next”.
- Select the “Web Application Proxy” role from the roles list and click “Next”.
- Review the role description and click “Next”.
- Click “Next” on the Features screen.
- Select the appropriate server from the server pool and click “Next”.
- Review the installation summary and click “Install”.
- Wait for the installation to complete and click “Close”.
Step 2: Configure the Web Application Proxy Server
Once the role installation is complete, you need to configure the Web Application Proxy Server. To configure the server, follow these steps:
- Open the Remote Access Management Console from the Start menu.
- Click on “Web Application Proxy” in the left pane.
- Click on “Run the Web Application Proxy Configuration Wizard” in the right pane.
- On the welcome screen, click “Next”.
- Enter the Federation Service Name and select the server certificate from the drop-down list.
- Click “Next” to continue.
- Choose whether to use an HTTP or HTTPS listener for external connections.
- Enter the external URL for the Web Application Proxy Server.
- Click “Next” to continue.
- Specify the AD FS server to which the Web Application Proxy Server should connect.
- Click “Next” to continue.
- Review the configuration summary and click “Next”.
- Wait for the configuration to complete and click “Close”.
Step 3: Publish Web Applications
After configuring the Web Application Proxy Server, you can publish web applications to make them accessible from outside the corporate network. To publish a web application, follow these steps:
- Open the Remote Access Management Console from the Start menu.
- Click on “Web Application Proxy” in the left pane.
- Click on “Publish” in the right pane.
- Enter the internal URL and the external URL for the web application.
- Specify the backend server to which the web application should be forwarded.
- Click “Next” to continue.
- Review the configuration summary and click “Next”.
- Wait for the publishing process to complete and click “Close”.
Conclusion
Configuring the Web Application Proxy Server in 2021 is essential for providing secure remote access to web applications hosted on corporate networks. By following the steps outlined in this article, you can easily set up and configure the Web Application Proxy Server, allowing remote users to access web applications securely and efficiently.