How to Install NGINX

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What is Nginx?

NGINX is an fast and robust open source software that basically a web server used for reverse proxying, caching and load balancing. It also provides HTTP server capabilities and is mainly designed for maximum performance stability. It can be used as a proxy server for email (IMAP, POP3, SMTP) and also use a non-threaded and event-driven architecture.

Nginx Architecture

Nginx mainly use Master/Slave architecture by supporting event-driven, asynchronous and non-blocking model.

Nginx Architecture

Why Should We Use Nginx

Nginx has a robust features for web server, such as:

  • Ease of installation and maintenance
  • Reduces the time for users
  • Improves Performance
  • Load Balancing
  • Offers scalability
  • On the fly upgrades

Nginx Installation

Step 1. Install Nginx

The first thing you do is update your repositories to get the latest database.

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y

After the update done, you will then need to install Nginx package.

sudo apt install nginx -y

Verify Nginx version.

$ nginx -vnginx version: nginx/1.14.0 (Ubuntu)

Step 2. Adjust firewall

It is important to protect and hardening your server from abusive users. You can use a robust and powerful firewall such as ufw.

Enable ufw.

sudo ufw enable

You can list the application that your firewall knows by type below command.

$ sudo ufw app listAvailable applications:  Nginx Full  Nginx HTTP  Nginx HTTPS  OpenSSH

You’ll see that you know you’ll get all the available applications, Nginx Full, Nginx HTTP and Nginx HTTPS. This profile opens both port 80, the unencrypted web traffic and also the port 443 that allows the encrypted traffic. The Nginx HTTP opens only port 80 that means it only allows the unencrypted traffic and Nginx HTTPS opens to port 443 that allows the encrypted traffic.

So we are will allow Nginx Full both port 80 and 443 are allowed. We will type below command to allow both port 80 and 443.

$ sudo ufw allow 'Nginx Full'Rule addedRule added (v6)

You’ll see that a rule added for Nginx Full. The same if you want to allow only Nginx HTTP or Nginx HTTPS, you just type the same command and mention HTTP or HTTPS, so you know which traffic you will be allowed.

Step 3. Verify your server

To check the firewall status type following command.

$ sudo ufw statusStatus: activeTo                         Action      From--                         ------      ----Nginx Full                 ALLOW       AnywhereNginx Full (v6)            ALLOW       Anywhere (v6)

Step 4. Manage Nginx process

Nginx uses systemd to manage it’s services. We will use systemctl command as central management tool to control init system. Please refer to manpages to have deep insight and how to use systemctl.

Following command will check Nginx service.

$ sudo systemctl status Nginx● nginx.service - A high performance web server and a reverse proxy server   Loaded: loaded (/lib/systemd/system/nginx.service; enabled; vendor preset: enabled)   Active: active (running) since Sun 2019-05-05 17:17:14 CEST; 25min ago     Docs: man:nginx(8)  Process: 32123 ExecStart=/usr/sbin/nginx -g daemon on; master_process on; (code=exited, status=0/SUCCESS)  Process: 32107 ExecStartPre=/usr/sbin/nginx -t -q -g daemon on; master_process on; (code=exited, status=0/SUCCESS) Main PID: 32125 (nginx)    Tasks: 7 (limit: 4915)   CGroup: /system.slice/nginx.service           ├─32125 nginx: master process /usr/sbin/nginx -g daemon on; master_process on;           ├─32126 nginx: worker process           ├─32128 nginx: worker process           ├─32130 nginx: worker process           ├─32132 nginx: worker process           ├─32134 nginx: worker process           └─32135 nginx: worker processMay 05 17:17:14 vmi261528.contaboserver.net systemd[1]: Starting A high performance web server and a reverse proxy server...May 05 17:17:14 vmi261528.contaboserver.net systemd[1]: Started A high performance web server and a reverse proxy server.

To stop Nginx service type this command.

$ sudo sytemctl stop nginx

To restart Nginx service type following command.

$ sudo sytemctl restart nginx

Nginx is free powerful web server, robust, and lightweight. If you have any question please do not hesitate to leave a comment below. Thanks.

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