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feat(docs): add wildcard access url documentation page#19713
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# Wildcard Access URLs | ||
Wildcard access URLs unlock Coder's full potential for modern development workflows. While optional for basic SSH usage, this feature becomes essential when teams need web applications, development previews, or browser-based tools. **Wildcard access URLs are essential for many development workflows in Coder** - Web IDEs (code-server, VS Code Web, JupyterLab) and some development frameworks work significantly better with subdomain-based access rather than path-based URLs. | ||
## Why configure wildcard access URLs? | ||
### Key benefits | ||
- **Enables port access**: Each application gets a unique subdomain with [port support](https://coder.com/docs/user-guides/workspace-access/port-forwarding#dashboard) (e.g. `8080--main--myworkspace--john.coder.example.com`). | ||
- **Enhanced security**: Applications run in isolated subdomains with separate browser security contexts and prevents access to the Coder API from malicious JavaScript | ||
- **Better compatibility**: Most applications are designed to work at the root of a hostname rather than at a subpath, making subdomain access more reliable | ||
### Applications that require subdomain access | ||
The following tools require wildcard access URL: | ||
- **Vite dev server**: Hot module replacement and asset serving issues with path-based routing | ||
- **React dev server**: Similar issues with hot reloading and absolute path references | ||
- **Next.js development server**: Asset serving and routing conflicts with path-based access | ||
- **JupyterLab**: More complex template configuration and security risks when using path-based routing | ||
- **RStudio**: More complex template configuration and security risks when using path-based routing | ||
## Configuration | ||
`CODER_WILDCARD_ACCESS_URL` is necessary for [port forwarding](port-forwarding.md#dashboard) via the dashboard or running [coder_apps](../templates/index.md) on an absolute path. Set this to a wildcard subdomain that resolves to Coder (e.g. `*.coder.example.com`). | ||
```bash | ||
export CODER_WILDCARD_ACCESS_URL="*.coder.example.com" | ||
coder server | ||
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``` | ||
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### TLS Certificate Setup | ||
Wildcard access URLs require a TLS certificate that covers the wildcard domain. You have several options: | ||
> [!TIP] | ||
> You can use a single certificate for both the access URL and wildcard access URL. The certificate CN or SANs must match the wildcard domain, such as `*.coder.example.com`. | ||
#### Direct TLS Configuration | ||
Configure Coder to handle TLS directly using the wildcard certificate: | ||
```bash | ||
export CODER_TLS_ENABLE=true | ||
export CODER_TLS_CERT_FILE=/path/to/wildcard.crt | ||
export CODER_TLS_KEY_FILE=/path/to/wildcard.key | ||
``` | ||
See [TLS & Reverse Proxy](../setup/index.md#tls--reverse-proxy) for detailed configuration options. | ||
#### Reverse Proxy with Let's Encrypt | ||
Use a reverse proxy to handle TLS termination with automatic certificate management: | ||
- [NGINX with Let's Encrypt](../../tutorials/reverse-proxy-nginx.md) | ||
- [Apache with Let's Encrypt](../../tutorials/reverse-proxy-apache.md) | ||
- [Caddy reverse proxy](../../tutorials/reverse-proxy-caddy.md) | ||
### DNS Setup | ||
You'll need to configure DNS to point wildcard subdomains to your Coder server: | ||
> [!NOTE] | ||
> We do not recommend using a top-level-domain for Coder wildcard access | ||
> (for example `*.workspaces`), even on private networks with split-DNS. Some | ||
> browsers consider these "public" domains and will refuse Coder's cookies, | ||
> which are vital to the proper operation of this feature. | ||
```text | ||
*.coder.example.com A <your-coder-server-ip> | ||
``` | ||
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Or alternatively, using a CNAME record: | ||
```text | ||
*.coder.example.com CNAME coder.example.com | ||
``` | ||
### Workspace Proxies | ||
If you're using [workspace proxies](workspace-proxies.md) for geo-distributed teams, each proxy requires its own wildcard access URL configuration: | ||
```bash | ||
# Main Coder server | ||
export CODER_WILDCARD_ACCESS_URL="*.coder.example.com" | ||
# Sydney workspace proxy | ||
export CODER_WILDCARD_ACCESS_URL="*.sydney.coder.example.com" | ||
# London workspace proxy | ||
export CODER_WILDCARD_ACCESS_URL="*.london.coder.example.com" | ||
``` | ||
Each proxy's wildcard domain must have corresponding DNS records: | ||
```text | ||
*.sydney.coder.example.com A <sydney-proxy-ip> | ||
*.london.coder.example.com A <london-proxy-ip> | ||
``` | ||
## Template Configuration | ||
In your Coder templates, enable subdomain applications using the `subdomain` parameter: | ||
```hcl | ||
resource "coder_app" "code-server" { | ||
agent_id = coder_agent.main.id | ||
slug = "code-server" | ||
display_name = "VS Code" | ||
url = "http://localhost:8080" | ||
icon = "/icon/code.svg" | ||
subdomain = true | ||
share = "owner" | ||
} | ||
``` | ||
## Troubleshooting | ||
### Applications not accessible | ||
If workspace applications are not working: | ||
1. Verify the `CODER_WILDCARD_ACCESS_URL` environment variable is configured correctly: | ||
- Check the deployment settings in the Coder dashboard (Settings > Deployment) | ||
- Ensure it matches your wildcard domain (e.g., `*.coder.example.com`) | ||
- Restart the Coder server if you made changes to the environment variable | ||
2. Check DNS resolution for wildcard subdomains: | ||
```bash | ||
dig test.coder.example.com | ||
nslookup test.coder.example.com | ||
``` | ||
3. Ensure TLS certificates cover the wildcard domain | ||
4. Confirm template `coder_app` resources have `subdomain = true` | ||
## See also | ||
- [Workspace Proxies](workspace-proxies.md) - Improve performance for geo-distributed teams using wildcard URLs |
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