Installing and Configuring Nginx Web Server on Linux: A Step-by-Step Guide

Introduction

Nginx (pronounced “engine-x”) is a high-performance web server, reverse proxy, and load balancer trusted by millions of websites. This guide covers installation and basic configuration on Linux systems. Whether you’re setting up a personal blog or production infrastructure, these steps will get you started.

Prerequisites

1. A Linux system (Ubuntu/Debian or CentOS/RHEL recommended)
2. Terminal access with sudo privileges
3. Active internet connection

Step 1: Install Nginx

For Ubuntu/Debian:

sudo apt update
sudo apt install nginx -y

For CentOS/RHEL:

sudo yum install epel-release -y
sudo yum install nginx -y

Step 2: Manage Nginx Service

Start and enable auto-launch on boot:

sudo systemctl start nginx
sudo systemctl enable nginx

Verify status:

sudo systemctl status nginx  # Look for "active (running)"

Step 3: Configure Firewall

Allow HTTP/HTTPS traffic:

sudo ufw allow 'Nginx Full'  # Ubuntu
# OR
sudo firewall-cmd --permanent --add-service={http,https}  # CentOS/RHEL
sudo firewall-cmd --reload

Step 4: Test Default Installation

1. Open your browser and visit:
   http://your_server_ip
2. You should see the “Welcome to Nginx” landing page.

If this fails, check:

sudo nginx -t  # Tests configuration syntax

Step 5: Set Up a Server Block (Virtual Host)

1. Create site directory:

   sudo mkdir -p /var/www/your_domain/html

2. Assign ownership:

   sudo chown -R $USER:$USER /var/www/your_domain/html

3. Create a test page:

   echo "
   <h1>Hello World!</h1>" | sudo tee /var/www/your_domain/html/index.html

4. Create a config file:

   sudo nano /etc/nginx/sites-available/your_domain

   Paste:

   server {
      listen 80;
       server_name your_domain www.your_domain;
       root /var/www/your_domain/html;
       index index.html;
   
       location / {
           try_files $uri $uri/ =404;
       }
   }

5. Enable the site:

   sudo ln -s /etc/nginx/sites-available/your_domain /etc/nginx/sites-enabled/

6. Reload Nginx:

   sudo systemctl reload nginx

Step 6: Verify DNS Settings

Add a local hosts entry for testing (if DNS isn’t configured):

# On your local computer (not server):
sudo nano /etc/hosts
# Add line: your_server_ip your_domain www.your_domain

Visit http://your_domain to see your test page.

Step 7: Key Configuration Files

Troubleshooting Tips

• Port Conflict? Ensure Apache isn’t running:

  sudo systemctl stop apache2  # Ubuntu
  sudo systemctl stop httpd    # CentOS

• Permission Issues? Run:

  sudo chmod -R 755 /var/www/your_domain

• Test configs before reloading:

  sudo nginx -t  # Essential before every reload!

Next Steps

1. Enable HTTPS with Let’s Encrypt:

   sudo apt install certbot python3-certbot-nginx  # Ubuntu
   sudo certbot --nginx

2. Set Up Reverse Proxy:

   location /app {
       proxy_pass http://localhost:3000;
   }

3. Optimize Performance: Adjust worker processes in /etc/nginx/nginx.conf.

Conclusion

You’ve now installed Nginx, configured a virtual host, and served custom content. Nginx’s flexibility makes it ideal for everything from small projects to enterprise applications. Check the official Nginx documentation for advanced configurations!

> Pro Tip: Always back up config files before editing:
> sudo cp /etc/nginx/nginx.conf /etc/nginx/nginx.conf.bak