Description of problem: Looks like mod_proxy is either not enabled or not present at all for httpd on OpenShift (python cartridge at least). The error message is: [Fri Apr 13 10:48:12 2012] [error] [client 127.9.225.129] File does not exist: proxy:http://127.9.225.129:8080/static/README A quick google for "File does not exist: proxy:http" shows this message appears when httpd is not compiled with mod_proxy. Please fix it. The long story behind this request is here: https://www.redhat.com/openshift/community/forums/openshift/modrewritemodproxy-issues-with-python-cartirdge This is preventing me from using OpenShift as origin server to Amazon CloudFront for serving static files. I'm doing it this way because: 1) My static content is kept under the application source in git and easily managed - CSS, JavaScript, small images, etc. Also no need to push to external server only to get the content mirrored to CDN. 2) I can easily commit and push content to OpenShift when I have to change something. 3) I can easily tell my HTML template to access CloudFront using a version in the URL so it will load the latest version of the files (from CDN, not from OpenShift). 4) This way I don't have to keep multiple directories around. If only this RewriteRule worked.
mod proxy is a memory eater. we'll have to see if this is something we want to fix or use the DIY cart for.
We recommend a DIY for this use case, mod_proxy shouldn't be enabled for everyone because it does make the memory footprint of httpd larger for people not using it.