In the realm of web hosting, Nginx emerges as a formidable juggernaut—a web server and reverse proxy server renowned for its celerity, dependability, and expandability. If you find yourself at the helm of an Ubuntu 21.04 server, yearning to embark on the voyage of Nginx installation, you’ve docked at the precise berth. Within this exposition, we shall furnish you with a comprehensive compendium detailing the orchestration of Nginx’s installation upon your Ubuntu 21.04 server. Whether you’re a seasoned sysadmin or a fledgling neophyte, this meticulous tutorial shall escort you, step by step, through the procedural odyssey.
Before we immerse ourselves in the installation procedure, it behooves us to ascertain that you’ve meticulously marshaled the essential prerequisites:
- Ubuntu 21.04 Server: You should have a working Ubuntu 21.04 server with root or sudo access;
- Terminal Access: Access to a terminal or SSH connection to your server.
Now, let’s get started with the installation.
Step 1: Update Package Lists
Prior to embarking on the installation of any novel software, it is judicious to commence by refreshing your server’s roster of packages. This ensures that you are poised to install the most current iterations of software packages. To accomplish this, open your terminal and execute the ensuing commands:
| sudo apt update sudo apt upgrade |
Executing the prescribed commands will initiate the process of updating the package listings and upgrading any pre-installed packages to their most recent iterations.
Step 2: Install Nginx
The installation of Nginx on an Ubuntu system is a straightforward endeavor, courtesy of the package manager. To proceed, issue the subsequent command:
| sudo apt install nginx |
The package manager will diligently retrieve the requisite files and orchestrate the installation of Nginx on your server. Once this installation procedure concludes, Nginx will seamlessly commence operation, automatically.
Step 3: Start and Enable Nginx
Following the installation, Nginx typically commences operation automatically. However, you can validate its status and configure it to initiate during system boot using the subsequent commands:
To initiate Nginx immediately:
| sudo systemctl start nginx sudo systemctl enable nginx |
To verify Nginx’s operational status, utilize the following command:
| sudo systemctl status nginx |
To verify Nginx’s operational status, utilize the following command:
Step 4: Configure Firewall Rules (Optional)
In the event that your server employs a firewall, it becomes imperative to grant access to traffic on port 80 (HTTP) and, if the need arises, port 443 (HTTPS). This task can be seamlessly accomplished through the utilization of the ‘ufw’ (Uncomplicated Firewall) utility:
To allow traffic for Nginx HTTP on port 80:
| sudo ufw allow ‘Nginx HTTP’ |
If your intentions involve the utilization of HTTPS, you should extend access to port 443 as well:
| sudo ufw allow ‘Nginx HTTPS’ |
Ensure that the firewall is enabled if it’s not already in operation. This can be executed as follows:
| sudo ufw enable |
Step 5: Access the Default Nginx Page
With Nginx now operational, proceed to launch your web browser and enter either your server’s IP address or domain name. You will be greeted by the default Nginx welcome page, thereby confirming the successful completion of your installation.
Congratulations are in order! You have accomplished the installation of Nginx on your Ubuntu 21.04 server with aplomb. You are now poised to serve websites and web applications with the assistance of Nginx.
Conclusion
The installation of Nginx on your Ubuntu 21.04 server signifies a foundational stride towards the hosting of web applications and websites. This stepwise guide has endowed you with the wisdom to not only install Nginx but also initiate its operation and configure your firewall as needed. Furthermore, you have been acquainted with frequently asked questions pertaining to Nginx.
At this juncture, it is opportune to delve deeper into the realm of Nginx, tailor its configurations to your specific requirements, and harness its capabilities for the efficient dissemination of your web content. Whether your endeavors encompass managing a personal blog or overseeing a multifaceted web infrastructure, Nginx stands as a versatile tool primed to cater to your diverse web-serving demands.
For a more comprehensive understanding, consider referencing this informative video:
FAQs
Nginx, often pronounced as “engine-x,” is a high-performance web server and reverse proxy server renowned for its swiftness, efficiency, and scalability. It is widely esteemed for its role in serving web content, executing reverse proxy functions, and facilitating load balancing.
Employing Nginx is a judicious choice when it comes to dispensing web content, primarily due to its exceptional performance and frugal utilization of resources. It boasts versatility, commonly serving as a web server, reverse proxy, and load balancer. Its popularity soars, especially when hosting dynamic web applications.
Post-installation, Nginx is initially configured to furnish a default welcome page. However, the need for further configuration may arise contingent on your specific requirements for hosting a website or web application. Configuration files are typically nestled within the /etc/nginx/ directory.
To host multiple websites on a single server, you can fashion distinct server block configurations, often referred to as virtual hosts, for each site. These configurations are conventionally stored in the /etc/nginx/sites-available/ directory. After their creation, activation is achieved by generating symbolic links within the /etc/nginx/sites-enabled/ directory.
The fortification of your Nginx server with HTTPS necessitates the acquisition of an SSL/TLS certificate. You can procure a gratis certificate from Let’s Encrypt employing the Certbot utility. Following certificate acquisition, you can configure Nginx to incorporate it by amending your server block configuration to encompass SSL directives.
Certainly, Nginx can function as a load balancer, orchestrating the distribution of incoming traffic across numerous backend servers. It boasts support for a diverse array of load-balancing algorithms, thereby enhancing the availability and scalability of your applications.
To initiate a restart of Nginx and enact any configuration alterations, employ the following command: sudo systemctl restart nginx.
To reload Nginx without disrupting active connections, a valuable step when updating configurations, employ the following command:
sudo systemctl reload nginx.