Files
reverse-proxy/docs/architecture/decisions/013-health-check-port.md
glm-5.1 fe1ae6c05e Resolve all open questions, remove /health from main listener (ADR-022)
Resolve OQ-08 through OQ-12 after reviewing implementation findings:

- OQ-08: Remove /health route from the main HTTPS listener entirely.
  Health checking belongs on port 9900 and admin socket only, not on
  the public-facing proxy. This eliminates upstream collision problems
  and special-case routing logic. (ADR-022)

- OQ-09: Not an architectural unknown — ADR-015 already decided on a
  separate connect timeout. The implementation gap is a known issue.

- OQ-10: Not an open question — acme_contact is already specified as
  required in config.md. The empty contact list is bug C2.

- OQ-11: Hardcoded is_https=true is correct for a TLS-terminating
  proxy. HTTP listener redirects, doesn't proxy. Just needs a comment.

- OQ-12: Access logging is already specified as mandatory/always-on in
  operations.md. Missing log_request! calls are bug W13.

Updated docs: proxy.md, operations.md, overview.md, config.md,
open-questions.md, README.md, ADR-013. Created ADR-022.
2026-06-12 03:39:52 +00:00

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Markdown

# ADR-013: Health Check on Separate Local Port
## Status
Accepted
## Context
The health check endpoint (`/health`) needs to be accessible for monitoring
without requiring TLS. Serving it on the main HTTPS listener would mean:
1. TLS handshake must succeed for the health check to respond
2. External monitoring tools need to handle TLS
3. A TLS configuration error would make the health check unreachable, creating
a false-negative monitoring signal
4. It creates collision with upstream applications that use `/health` for their
own health checks (see ADR-022)
Three options were considered (see OQ-03):
1. **Separate unencrypted port on localhost (chosen)**: Simple, works with
standard monitoring tools, health checks work even when TLS is misconfigured
2. **Main HTTPS listener only**: Would require TLS for health checks, creating
a circular dependency — TLS config errors would make health checks unreachable
3. **Admin port with its own listener**: Most flexible but adds complexity
beyond what's needed for a simple health check
## Decision
Add a configurable health check port that binds to `127.0.0.1` only (localhost),
serving `/health` over plain HTTP. This is a separate listener from the main
HTTP and HTTPS listeners.
The port is configurable via `health_check_port` in StaticConfig. The default
value is `9900` (enabled, localhost only). Setting it to `0` disables the
health check listener entirely — there is no `/health` route on the main HTTPS
listener (see ADR-022).
## Rationale
- A local-only health check port is the standard pattern for reverse proxies
and service meshes (envoy, haproxy, k8s health probes all use this pattern)
- Health checks should work even when TLS is misconfigured — that's the whole
point of monitoring
- Binding to `127.0.0.1` only means the health check is not exposed to the
internet — only local monitoring tools (systemd, scripts, load balancers on
the same host) can reach it
- Configurable port allows different deployment scenarios (some monitoring runs
on different ports)
- Disabling via `health_check_port = 0` removes the health check entirely —
the admin socket's `status` command remains available as an alternative
health/status mechanism
- When this project is folded into alknet, the health check will use alknet's
existing patterns, making the separate port unnecessary in that context
## Consequences
**Positive:**
- Health checks work even when TLS is misconfigured
- Standard pattern that monitoring tools expect
- Not exposed to the internet (localhost only)
- Configurable — can be disabled if not needed
- systemd can use it for `NotifyAccess` readiness checks
**Negative:**
- Additional listener to manage (minimal complexity)
## References
- [operations.md](../operations.md)
- [ADR-022](022-health-check-scope.md) — Health check scope (no `/health` on main listener)
- OQ-03 (now resolved)