> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://ccie.nyquist.eu/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://ccie.nyquist.eu/network-services/http-101.md).

# HTTP 101

## HTTP Server

To enable the HTTP Server on the Cisco IOS, use:

```
R(config)# ip http server
```

By default, the server runs on port 80. You can change it with:

```
R(config)# ip http port PORT-NUMBER
```

To restrict the clients that can access the HTTP server, use:

```
R(config)# ip http access-class ACL
```

To enable authentication for the HTTP server, use:

```
R(config)# ip http authentication {enable|local}
! When using local auth, the user must have priv 15
```

If you use AAA authentication then you can also set up AAA authentication:

```
R(config)# ip http authentication aaa login-authentication METHOD-LIST
! Additionaly, define EXEC and COMMAND authorization:
R(config)# ip http [exec-authorization METHOD-LIST|command-authorization LEVEL METHOD-LIST
```

Normally, the files used by the HTTP server are located on the flash. You can specify the path to the server root, using:

```
R(config)# ip http path PATH-TO-SERVER-ROOT
```

To define a timeout policy, use the command:

```
R(config)# ip http timeout-policy idle IDLE-TIMEOUT life LIFE-TIMEOUT requests MAX-REQ
! IDLE-TIMEOUT - default 180 - timeout if no data is received
! LIFE-TIMEOUT - default 180 - max lifetime of a connection regardless of data sent
! MAX-REQ - maximum number of requests per connection.
```

### HTTPS Server

To enable the HTTPS server, use:

```
R(config)# ip http secure-server
```

By default, the secure server runs on port 443, but it can be changed with:

```
R(config)# ip http secure-port PORT-NUMBER
```

## HTTP Client

The Cisco IOS Router can also act as an HTTP Client. The HTTP client is used when issuing commands such as:

```
R# more http://SERVER[/PAGE]
R# copy http://SERVER/FILE ...
```

The HTTP client can be configured inside the configuration mode. For example you can specify an HTTP user and password to be used:

```
R(config)# ip http client username USER
R(config)# ip http client password PASS
```

or the source interface:

```
R(config)# ip http source-interface INTERFACE
```

Additionaly an HTTP Proxy can be configured, using:

```
R(config)# ip http client proxy-server PROXY-SRV proxy-port PROXY-PORT
```