Bug in mod_proxy_balancer or just a bad configuration?

[Nick Folino <nick@xxxxxxxxx>]

I ran into an interesting situation with cookies being reset in balancers.

I couldn't find any documentation on whether numbers are allowed in balancer names.

I have this config:

   <Proxy balancer://rz>
      Header add Set-Cookie "RZROUTEID=.%{BALANCER_WORKER_ROUTE}e; path=/" env=BALANCER_ROUTE_CHANGED
      BalancerMember ajp://server1 route=01
      BalancerMember ajp://server2 route=02
      ProxySet stickysession=RZROUTEID
   </Proxy>

   <Proxy balancer://rz2>
      Header add Set-Cookie "RZ2ROUTEID=.%{BALANCER_WORKER_ROUTE}e; path=/" env=BALANCER_ROUTE_CHANGED
      BalancerMember ajp://server3 route=03
      BalancerMember ajp://server4 route=04
      ProxySet stickysession=RZ2ROUTEID
   </Proxy>

ProxyPass /rz balancer://rz/rz
ProxyPass /rz2 balancer://rz2/rz2

All works as expected when going to http://myhost/rz

I get the RZROUTEID cookie set to 01 or 02 on first hit and it stays set.

If I then go to http://myhost/rz2 I get the RZ2ROUTEID set to 03 or 04 but also another cookie set for RZROUTE with the same value as the RZ2ROUTEID cookie.

This causes an issue when going back to /rz as the RZROUTEID cookie is now invalid and gets reset based on the balancing rules.

I solved the problem by renaming the rz2 balancer to a new name with a digit.

Is this by design that digits cause problems in balancer names?  or is this a bug?

Nick