How to Install and Configure NGINX on Linux for 2025
How to Install and Configure NGINX on Linux
In the world of web servers, nothing is as powerful and versatile as NGINX. Since the advent of this high-performance HTTP server and reverse proxy, it has established a strong reputation for its speed, stability, rich feature set, and low resource footprint.
For those planning to deploy web applications, run a website, or create a reverse proxy server, learning how to install and configure NGINX on Linux is an essential part of the process.
In this detailed guide, we'll take you through the step-by-step process of installing and configuring NGINX for Linux. By the end of this tutorial, you'll be readily equipped with the knowledge and technical know-how to get your web server up and running.
Step 1: Installing NGINX
1. First, ensure that your system packages are up to date by running the following commands in your Linux terminal:
```
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get upgrade
```
2. Once your system is up to date, you can proceed to install NGINX. Run the following command in your terminal:
```
sudo apt-get install nginx
```
3. After successfully installing NGINX, start the service and enable it at boot using the following commands:
```
sudo systemctl start nginx
sudo systemctl enable nginx
```
Once these commands are executed, NGINX should be fully installed on your Linux system. You can verify this by typing: `http://your_server_ip` in the address bar of your web browser.
Step 2: Configuring NGINX
Setting up NGINX involves creating server blocks, which are similar to Apache's virtual hosts. These allow you to host more than one domain or website on your server.
Follow the steps below:
1. Go to the `sites-available` directory on your terminal and create a new server block configuration file using the text editor of your choice.
```
sudo nano /etc/nginx/sites-available/yourdomain.com
```
2. Within this file, include your server block configuration. An example configuration is as follows:
```
server {
listen 80;
listen [::]:80;
root /var/www/yourdomain.com;
index index.html;
server_name yourdomain.com www.yourdomain.com;
location / {
try_files $uri $uri/ =404;
}
}
```
3. Save the file and close the text editor.
4. Symlink your configuration file from the `sites-available` directory to the `sites-enabled` directory.
```
sudo ln -s /etc/nginx/sites-available/yourdomain.com /etc/nginx/sites-enabled/
```
5. Verify that there are no syntax errors in any of your NGINX files.
```
sudo nginx -t
```
6. If no errors are reported, restart NGINX to implement your changes.
```
sudo systemctl restart nginx
```
Congratulations! You have successfully configured an NGINX server block.
This guide offers a brief but comprehensive overview of installing and configuring NGINX on Linux. As you immerse yourself in the world of NGINX, you'll realize that its potential and power are vast. Therefore, it's important to keep exploring and learning to fully harness its features.
This guide aims to form the basis of your NGINX journey, providing with the foundation you need to move towards more nuanced and complex server setups. As always, remember to exercise caution and deliberate practice when making significant changes to your server. Good luck and enjoy your NGINX experience!