With the release of Oracle REST Data Services (ORDS) 24.4, Oracle has introduced changes aimed at improving security and performance, including the removal of HTTP/1.0 support. While these updates are a step forward, they’ve caused challenges for environments that rely on Tomcat and Apache HTTP Server (httpd) integration via AJP (Apache JServ Protocol).

In this article, we’ll explain the impact of this change, common errors like InternalServerException: A trailer fields supplier may not be set for this response, and practical solutions to keep your setline-heightup running smoothly.

Why Was HTTP/1.0 Removed from ORDS?

HTTP/1.0 is an outdated protocol that lacks features like persistent connections and robust header management. Oracle’s decision to remove HTTP/1.0 support in ORDS 24.4 aligns with modern standards like HTTP/1.1 and HTTP/2, which offer better security and efficiency.

The challenge arises because AJP, often used to connect Apache and Tomcat, doesn’t fully comply with these modern standards out of the box. This creates compatibility issues, especially for legacy setups or environments that haven’t been updated to handle the change.

How HTTP/1.0 Deprecation Affects Your ORDS Deployment

If your ORDS deployment uses AJP to route traffic from Apache to Tomcat, you may face several issues, such as:

  • Errors during runtime, including:

    • InternalServerException: A trailer fields supplier may not be set for this response.

  • Truncated or incomplete responses from ORDS.

  • Deployment failures due to mismatched protocol versions.

  • Error messages in Tomcat or Apache logs pointing to protocol incompatibilities.

These problems are more likely to occur in systems that haven’t been updated to meet HTTP/1.1 requirements.

How to Resolve ORDS 24.4 Compatibility Issues

There are several ways to address these issues. Below are some tried-and-true solutions to ensure your system works seamlessly with ORDS 24.4.

1. Replace AJP with an HTTP/1.1 Connector

The simplest solution is to replace AJP with a direct HTTP/1.1 connector in Tomcat. This eliminates dependency on AJP and ensures compliance with ORDS requirements.

Here’s an example configuration for the server.xml file:


<Connector
protocol="HTTP/1.1"
port="8080"
scheme="https"
secure="true"
enableLookups="false"
>

This approach is straightforward and removes the risk of protocol mismatches.

2. Set Up an HTTP/1.1 or HTTP/2 Reverse Proxy

If you want to keep using Apache, configuring it as an HTTP reverse proxy is a good alternative. This ensures HTTP/1.1 compatibility between Apache and Tomcat.

Here’s an example for httpd.conf or vhost.conf:


ProxyPreserveHost On
ProxyPass /ords http://localhost:8080/ords
ProxyPassReverse /ords http://localhost:8080/ords

3. Force Nginx to Use HTTP/1.1

By default, Nginx may try to use HTTP/2 or HTTP/1.0 when communicating with backends like Tomcat, which can cause issues with ORDS. To avoid this, update your Nginx configuration to enforce HTTP/1.1:


server {
listen 443 ssl;
server_name example.com;
ssl_certificate /path/to/certificate.crt;
ssl_certificate_key /path/to/private.key;
location /ords/ {
proxy_pass http://localhost:8080/ords/;
proxy_http_version 1.1;
proxy_set_header Connection "";
proxy_set_header Host $host;
proxy_set_header X-Forwarded-For $proxy_add_x_forwarded_for;
}
}

The key setting here is proxy_http_version 1.1, which ensures compatibility with ORDS 24.4.

4. Configure ORDS to Handle HTTPS Directly

Another option is to let ORDS manage HTTPS connections directly, bypassing Apache or Nginx.

Here’s how you can configure HTTPS in the ords.war file:


<entry key="standalone.http.port">8080</entry>
<entry key="standalone.ssl.port">8443</entry>
<entry key="standalone.ssl.cert">/path/to/certificate.crt</entry>
<entry key="standalone.ssl.key">/path/to/private.key</entry>

This approach simplifies the architecture and avoids issues caused by intermediaries.

5. Check Oracle’s Documentation and Reach Out for Support

If these solutions don’t resolve your issues, refer to the official Oracle ORDS documentation, check the specific thread “InternalServerException: A trailer fields supplier may not be set for this response” after upgrade to ORDS 24.4.0.345.1601 – Oracle Forums or contact Oracle support for help tailored to your specific environment.

Final Thoughts

The removal of HTTP/1.0 support in ORDS 24.4 is a necessary step towards improving security and performance. However, it does require some adjustments, especially for configurations relying on AJP or older setups.

By implementing direct HTTP/1.1 connectors, configuring reverse proxies correctly, or enabling HTTPS directly on ORDS, you can avoid common pitfalls, including errors like InternalServerException: A trailer fields supplier may not be set for this response.

If you’re still facing challenges, don’t hesitate to reach out for assistance or share your experience in the comments below.