4.5. CouchDB HTTP Server
4.5.1. HTTP Server Options
Note
In CouchDB 2.x, the chttpd section refers to the standard, clusteredport. All use of CouchDB, aside from a few specific maintenance tasks asdescribed in this documentation, should be performed over this port.
Defines the IP address by which the clustered port is available:
- [chttpd]
bindaddress = 127.0.0.1
To let CouchDB listen any available IP address, use _0.0.0.0:
- [chttpd]
bindaddress = 0.0.0.0
For IPv6 support you need to set ::1 if you want to let CouchDBlisten correctly:
- [chttpd]
bind_address = ::1
or ::_ for any available:
- [chttpd]
bind_address = ::
port
Defines the port number to listen:- [chttpd]
port = 5984
To let CouchDB use any free port, set this option to 0:- [chttpd]
port = 0
- [chttpd]
preferminimal
If a request has the header “Prefer”: “return=minimal”, CouchDBwill only send the headers that are listed for the _prefer_minimal_configuration.:- [chttpd]
prefer_minimal = Cache-Control, Content-Length, Content-Range, Content-Type, ETag, Server, Transfer-Encoding, Vary
Warning
Removing the Server header from the settings will mean thatthe CouchDB server header is replaced with theMochiWeb server header.- [chttpd]
authentication_handlers
List of authentication handlers used by CouchDB. You mayextend them via third-party plugins or remove some of them if you won’tlet users to use one of provided methods:- [chttpd]
authentication_handlers = {chttpd_auth, cookie_authentication_handler}, {chttpd_auth, default_authentication_handler}
-{chttpd_auth, cookie_authentication_handler}
: used for Cookie auth;
-{couch_httpd_auth, proxy_authentication_handler}
: used for Proxy auth;
-{chttpd_auth, default_authentication_handler}
: used for Basic auth;
-{couch_httpd_auth, null_authentication_handler}
: disables auth.Everlasting _Admin Party!- [chttpd]
Warning
In CouchDB 2.x, the httpd section mostly refers to the node-local port,on port 5986 by default. This port is used only for maintenance andadministrative tasks. It should not be used for regular CouchDB access,and for security reasons, should always be bound to localhost(127.0.0.1) or a private LAN segment only.
allowjsonp
Thetrue
value of this option enables JSONP support (it’sfalse
by default):- [httpd]
allow_jsonp = false
- [httpd]
bind_address
Defines the IP address by which the node-local port is available.The recommended setting is always:- [httpd]
bind_address = 127.0.0.1
For IPv6 support you need to set ::1 if you want to let CouchDBlisten correctly:- [httpd]
bind_address = ::1
- [httpd]
changes_timeout
Specifies default _timeout value for Changes Feed inmilliseconds (60000 by default):- [httpd]
changestimeout = 60000 ; 60 seconds
- [httpd]
config_whitelist
Sets the configuration modification whitelist. Only whitelisted valuesmay be changed via the config API. To allow theadmin to change this value over HTTP, remember to include{httpd,config_whitelist}
itself. Excluding it from the list wouldrequire editing this file to update the whitelist:- [httpd]
config_whitelist = [{httpd,config_whitelist}, {log,level}, {etc,etc}]
- [httpd]
default_handler
Specifies default HTTP requests handler:- [httpd]
default_handler = {couch_httpd_db, handle_request}
- [httpd]
enable_cors
New in version 1.3.
Controls CORS feature:- [httpd]
enable_cors = false
- [httpd]
port
Defines the port number to listen:- [httpd]
port = 5986
To let CouchDB use any free port, set this option to0
:- [httpd]
port = 0
- [httpd]
redirect_vhost_handler
This option customizes the default function that handles requests tovirtual hosts
:- [httpd]
redirect_vhost_handler = {Module, Fun}
The specified function take 2 arguments: the MochiWeb request objectand the target path.- [httpd]
server_options
Server options for the MochiWeb component of CouchDB can be added tothe configuration files:- [httpd]
server_options = [{backlog, 128}, {acceptor_pool_size, 16}]
- [httpd]
socket_options
The socket options for the listening socket in CouchDB, as set at thebeginning of ever request, can be specified as a list of tuples. For example:- [httpd]
socket_options = [{sndbuf, 262144}, {nodelay, true}]
The options supported are a subset of full options supported by theTCP/IP stack. A list of the supported options are provided in theErlang inet documentation.- [httpd]
server_options
The server options for any socket in the mochiweb acceptor pool in CouchDBcan be specified as a list of tuples. For example:- [httpd]
server_options = [{recbuf, undefined}]
The options supported are a subset of full options supported by theTCP/IP stack. A list of the supported options are provided in theErlang inet documentation.- [httpd]
vhost_global_handlers
List of global handlers that are available forvirtual hosts
:- [httpd]
vhost_global_handlers = _utils, _uuids, _session, _users
- [httpd]
x_forwarded_host
The _x_forwarded_host header (X-Forwarded-Host
by default) is usedto forward the original value of theHost
header field in case, forexample, if a reverse proxy is rewriting the “Host” header field tosome internal host name before forward the request to CouchDB:- [httpd]
xforwarded_host = X-Forwarded-Host
This header has higher priority aboveHost
one, if only it existsin the request.- [httpd]
x_forwarded_proto
_x_forwarded_proto header (X-Forwarder-Proto
by default) is usedfor identifying the originating protocol of an HTTP request, since areverse proxy may communicate with CouchDB instance using HTTP even ifthe request to the reverse proxy is HTTPS:- [httpd]
xforwarded_proto = X-Forwarded-Proto
- [httpd]
x_forwarded_ssl
The _x_forwarded_ssl header (X-Forwarded-Ssl
by default) tellsCouchDB that it should use the https scheme instead of the http.Actually, it’s a synonym forX-Forwarded-Proto: https
header, butused by some reverse proxies:- [httpd]
xforwarded_ssl = X-Forwarded-Ssl
- [httpd]
enable_xframe_options
Controls Enables or disabled feature:- [httpd]
enable_xframe_options = false
- [httpd]
WWW-Authenticate
Set this option to trigger basic-auth pop-up on unauthorized requests:- [httpd]
WWW-Authenticate = Basic realm="Welcome to the Couch!"
- [httpd]
max_http_request_size
Changed in version 2.1.0.
Limit the maximum size of the HTTP request body. This setting appliesto all requests and it doesn’t discriminate between single vs.multi-document operations. So setting it to 1MB would block a_PUT of a document larger than 1MB, but it might also block a_bulk_docs update of 1000 1KB documents, or a multipart/relatedupdate of a small document followed by two 512KB attachments. Thissetting is intended to be used as a protection against maliciouslylarge HTTP requests rather than for limiting maximum document sizes.- [httpd]
max_http_request_size = 4294967296 ; 4 GB
Warning
Before version 2.1.0couchdb/max_document_size
wasimplemented effectively asmax_http_request_size
. That is, itchecked HTTP request bodies instead of document sizes. After theupgrade, it is advisable to review the usage of these configurationsettings.- [httpd]
4.5.2. HTTPS (SSL/TLS) Options
[ssl]
CouchDB supports TLS/SSL natively, without the use of a proxy server.
HTTPS setup can be tricky, but the configuration in CouchDB was designed tobe as easy as possible. All you need is two files; a certificate and aprivate key. If you have an official certificate from a certificateauthority, both should be in your possession already.
If you just want to try this out and don’t want to go through the hassle ofobtaining an official certificate, you can create a self-signed certificate.Everything will work the same, but clients will get a warning about an insecurecertificate.
You will need the OpenSSL command line tool installed. It probablyalready is.- shell> mkdir /etc/couchdb/cert
shell> cd /etc/couchdb/cert
shell> openssl genrsa > privkey.pem
shell> openssl req -new -x509 -key privkey.pem -out couchdb.pem -days 1095
shell> chmod 600 privkey.pem couchdb.pem
shell> chown couchdb privkey.pem couchdb.pem
Now, you need to edit CouchDB’s configuration, by editing yourlocal.ini
file. Here is what you need to do.
Under the[ssl]
section, enable HTTPS and set up the newly generatedcertificates:- [ssl]
enable = true
certfile = /etc/couchdb/cert/couchdb.pem
key_file = /etc/couchdb/cert/privkey.pem
For more information please read certificates HOWTO.
Now start (or restart) CouchDB. You should be able to connect to itusing HTTPS on port 6984:- shell> curl https://127.0.0.1:6984/
curl: (60) SSL certificate problem, verify that the CA cert is OK. Details:
error:14090086:SSL routines:SSL3_GET_SERVER_CERTIFICATE:certificate verify failed
More details here: http://curl.haxx.se/docs/sslcerts.html
curl performs SSL certificate verification by default, using a "bundle"
of Certificate Authority (CA) public keys (CA certs). If the default
bundle file isn't adequate, you can specify an alternate file
using the —cacert option.
If this HTTPS server uses a certificate signed by a CA represented in
the bundle, the certificate verification probably failed due to a
problem with the certificate (it might be expired, or the name might
not match the domain name in the URL).
If you'd like to turn off curl's verification of the certificate, use
the -k (or —insecure) option.
Oh no! What happened?! Remember, clients will notify their users that yourcertificate is self signed.curl
is the client in this case and itnotifies you. Luckily you trust yourself (don’t you?) and you can specifythe-k
option as the message reads:- shell> curl -k https://127.0.0.1:6984/
{"couchdb":"Welcome","version":"1.5.0"}
All done.
For performance reasons, and for ease of setup, you may still wish toterminate HTTPS connections at your load balancer / reverse proxy, then useunencrypted HTTP between it and your CouchDB cluster. This is a recommendedapproach.cacert_file
The path to a file containing PEM encoded CA certificates. The CAcertificates are used to build the server certificate chain, and forclient authentication. Also the CAs are used in the list of acceptableclient CAs passed to the client when a certificate is requested. May beomitted if there is no need to verify the client and if there are notany intermediate CAs for the server certificate:- [ssl]
cacert_file = /etc/ssl/certs/ca-certificates.crt
- [ssl]
cert_file
Path to a file containing the user’s certificate:- [ssl]
cert_file = /etc/couchdb/cert/couchdb.pem
- [ssl]
key_file
Path to file containing user’s private PEM encoded key:- [ssl]
key_file = /etc/couchdb/cert/privkey.pem
- [ssl]
password
String containing the user’s password. Only used if the private key fileis password protected:- [ssl]
password = somepassword
- [ssl]
ssl_certificate_max_depth
Maximum peer certificate depth (must be set even if certificatevalidation is off):- [ssl]
ssl_certificate_max_depth = 1
- [ssl]
verify_fun
The verification fun (optional) if not specified, the defaultverification fun will be used:- [ssl]
verify_fun = {Module, VerifyFun}
- [ssl]
verify_ssl_certificates
Set to _true to validate peer certificates:- [ssl]
verifyssl_certificates = false
- [ssl]
fail_if_no_peer_cert
Set to _true to terminate the TLS/SSL handshake with ahandshake_failure alert message if the client does not send acertificate. Only used if verify_ssl_certificates is true. If setto false it will only fail if the client sends an invalid certificate(an empty certificate is considered valid):- [ssl]
failif_no_peer_cert = false
- [ssl]
secure_renegotiate
Set to _true to reject renegotiation attempt that does not live up toRFC 5746:- [ssl]
secure_renegotiate = true
- [ssl]
- shell> mkdir /etc/couchdb/cert
4.5.3. Cross-Origin Resource Sharing
[cors]
New in version 1.3: added CORS support, see JIRA COUCHDB-431
CORS, or “Cross-Origin Resource Sharing”, allows a resource such as a webpage running JavaScript inside a browser, to make AJAX requests(XMLHttpRequests) to a different domain, without compromising the securityof either party.
A typical use case is to have a static website hosted on a CDN makerequests to another resource, such as a hosted CouchDB instance. Thisavoids needing an intermediary proxy, using JSONP or similar workaroundsto retrieve and host content.
While CouchDB’s integrated HTTP server has support for document attachmentsmakes this less of a constraint for pure CouchDB projects, there are manycases where separating the static content from the database access isdesirable, and CORS makes this very straightforward.
By supporting CORS functionality, a CouchDB instance can accept directconnections to protected databases and instances, without the browserfunctionality being blocked due to same-origin constraints. CORS issupported today on over 90% of recent browsers.
CORS support is provided as experimental functionality in 1.3, and as suchwill need to be enabled specifically in CouchDB’s configuration. While allorigins are forbidden from making requests by default, support is availablefor simple requests, preflight requests and per-vhost configuration.
This section requireshttpd/enable_cors
option havetrue
value:- [httpd]
enable_cors = true
credentials
By default, neither authentication headers nor cookies are included inrequests and responses. To do so requires both settingXmlHttpRequest.withCredentials = true
on the request object in thebrowser and enabling credentials support in CouchDB.- [cors]
credentials = true
CouchDB will respond to a credentials-enabled CORS request with anadditional header,Access-Control-Allow-Credentials=true
.- [cors]
origins
List of origins separated by a comma,means accept all. You can’tset
origins =
andcredentials = true
option at the sametime:- [cors]
origins = *
Access can be restricted by protocol, host and optionally by port.Origins must follow the scheme: http://example.com:80:- [cors]
origins = http://localhost, https://localhost, http://couch.mydev.name:8080
Note that by default, no origins are accepted. You must define themexplicitly.- [cors]
See also
Original JIRA implementation ticket
Standards and References:
- IETF RFCs relating to methods: RFC 2618, RFC 2817, RFC 5789
- IETF RFC for Web Origins: RFC 6454
W3C CORS standard
Mozilla Developer Network Resources:- HTTP Access Control
- Server-side Access Control
JavaScript same origin policy
Client-side CORS support and usage:- COS tutorial
- XHR with CORS
- [httpd]
4.5.3.1. Per Virtual Host Configuration
To set the options for a vhosts
, you will need to create a sectionwith the vhost name prefixed by cors:
. Example case for the vhostexample.com:
- [cors:example.com]
- credentials = false
- ; List of origins separated by a comma
- origins = *
- ; List of accepted headers separated by a comma
- headers = X-CouchDB-Header
- ; List of accepted methods
- methods = HEAD, GET
4.5.4. Virtual Hosts
[vhosts]
CouchDB can map requests to different locations based on theHost
header, even if they arrive on the same inbound IP address.
This allows different virtual hosts on the same machine to map to differentdatabases or design documents, etc. The most common use case is to map avirtual host to a Rewrite Handler, to providefull control over the application’s URIs.
To add a virtual host, add a CNAME pointer to the DNS for your domainname. For development and testing, it is sufficient to add an entry in thehosts file, typically /etc/hosts` on Unix-like operating systems:- # CouchDB vhost definitions, refer to local.ini for further details
127.0.0.1 couchdb.local
Test that this is working:- $ ping -n 2 couchdb.local
PING couchdb.local (127.0.0.1) 56(84) bytes of data.
64 bytes from localhost (127.0.0.1): icmpreq=1 ttl=64 time=0.025 ms
64 bytes from localhost (127.0.0.1): icmp_req=2 ttl=64 time=0.051 ms
Finally, add an entry to your configuration file in the[vhosts]
section:- [vhosts]
couchdb.local:5984 = /example
*.couchdb.local:5984 = /example
If your CouchDB is listening on the the default HTTP port (80), or issitting behind a proxy, then you don’t need to specify a port number in the_vhost key.
The first line will rewrite the request to display the content of theexample database. This rule works only if theHost
header iscouchdb.local
and won’t work for CNAMEs. The second rule, on theother hand, matches all CNAMEs to example db, so that bothwww.couchdb.local and db.couchdb.local will work.- # CouchDB vhost definitions, refer to local.ini for further details
4.5.4.1. Rewriting Hosts to a Path
Like in the _rewrite handler you can match somevariable and use them to create the target path. Some examples:
- [vhosts]
- *.couchdb.local = /*
- :dbname. = /:dbname
- :ddocname.:dbname.example.com = /:dbname/_design/:ddocname/_rewrite
The first rule passes the wildcard as dbname. The second one does the same,but uses a variable name. And the third one allows you to use any URL withddocname in any database with dbname.
You could also change the default function to handle request by changing thesetting httpd/redirect_vhost_handler
.
4.5.5. X-Frame-Options
X-Frame-Options is a response header that controls whether a http responsecan be embedded in a <frame>, <iframe> or <object>. This is a securityfeature to help against clickjacking.
[x_frame_options]; Settings same-origin will return X-Frame-Options: SAMEORIGIN.; If same origin is set, it will ignore the hosts setting; same_origin = true; Settings hosts will; return X-Frame-Options: ALLOW-FROM https://example.com/; List of hosts separated by a comma. * means accept all; hosts =
If xframeoptions is enabled it will return _X-Frame-Options: DENY by default.If same_origin is enabled it will return X-Frame-Options: SAMEORIGIN.A X-FRAME-OPTIONS: ALLOW-FROM url will be returned when same_origin_is false, and the HOST header matches one of the urls in the _hosts config.Otherwise a X-Frame-Options: DENY will be returned.