Getting "Invalid method in request \x16\x03\x03" after configuring SSL in OHS

Problem

You may have received the following obscure error when trying to start up OHS after configuring SSL. This error would appear in the ohs1.log file:

[2017-05-26T03:36:34.5467+00:00] [OHS] [ERROR:32] [OHS-9999] [core.c] [client_id: 192.168.1.14] [host_id: ohshost2.raastech.com] [host_addr: 192.168.1.12] [tid: 148714440300748] [user: oracle] [ecid: 005ILyaQOA000E8d09q0yige6aMWV00028] [rid: 0] [VirtualHost: main]  Invalid method in request \x16\x03\x03 

Solution

"This error is due to a misconfiguration of VirtualHost with SSL. The server is trying to respond to a request on port 443 with unencrypted HTTP. In other words, your browser is expecting SSL, but the server is sending plain HTTP on port 443." (Source)

1. Edit ssl.conf.

2. Confirm that the Listen and VirtualHost tags are using the same hosts and ports, and correct them if necessary:

WRONG:

Listen 443

<VirtualHost *:8080>

RIGHT:

Listen 443

<VirtualHost *:443>

3. Restart OHS.

 

4. If that does not work, try putting the fully qualified domain name:

OLD:

Listen 443

<VirtualHost *:443>

NEW:

Listen ohshost2.raastech.com:443

<VirtualHost ohshost2.raastech.com:443>

References

• http://www.noah.org/wiki/Apache2_Invalid_method_in_request_%5Cx16%5Cx03%5Cx01

Applicable Versions

• Oracle WebTier 11g (11.1.1.9.0)