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HTTP and HTTPS Request and Proxy Settings

The repository manager uses HTTP requests to fetch content from remote servers. In some cases a customization of these requests is required. Many organizations use proxy servers for any outbound HTTP network traffic. The connection to these proxy servers from the repository manager needs to be configured to allow it to reach remote repositories. All this can be configured in the HTTP configuration available via the System section of the Administration menu and displayed in Figure: “Configuring HTTP Request Settings”.

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Partial view of HTTP configuration screen

User-agent customization

The HTTP configuration in User-agent customization allows you to append a string to the User-Agent HTTP header field. This can be a required customization by your proxy servers.

Connection/Socket timeout and retry attempts

The amount of time in seconds the repository manager waits for a request to succeed when interacting with an external, remote repository as well as the number of retry attempts to make when requests fail can be configured with these settings.

If your repository manager instance needs to reach public repositories like the Central Repository via a proxy server, you can configure the connection to a proxy server. Typically such an internal proxy server proxies HTTP as well as HTTPS connections to external repositories. In this case you configure a HTTP proxy. Select the checkbox beside HTTP Proxy and configure the parameters in the sections displayed in Figure: “Configuring HTTP Proxy Settings”. If your organization uses a separate, additional proxy server for HTTPS connections, you have to configure it in the HTTPS Proxy section.

Tip

This is a critical initial step for many Enterprise deployments of Nexus Repository Manager Pro and Nexus Repository Manager OSS, since these environments are typically secured via an HTTP/HTTPS proxy server for all outgoing internet traffic.

HTTP Authentication and HTTPS Authentication sections of HTTP Configuration form

You can specify the HTTP proxy host and the HTTP proxy port of the HTTP or HTTPS proxy server and, optionally, the Authentication details for Username and Password. If a Windows NT LAN Manager is used to authenticate with the proxy server you can configure the needed connection details in Windows NTLM hostname and Windows NTLM domain.

In addition, you can configure a number of hosts that the repository manager reaches directly, ignoring the proxy settings. Requests to them should not go through the configured HTTP/HTTPS proxy. These hosts can be configured in the Hosts to exclude from HTTP/HTTPS proxy setting. You can add a hostname in the input box and add it with the + button. The * character can be used for wildcard matching for numerous host names allowing a setting such as *.example.com. Entries can be removed with the x button.

Figure: “Configuring HTTP Proxy Settings” shows the HTTP Proxy administration interface. The HTTPS configuration interface looks the same and is found below the HTTP configuration.