How to Install and Configure NGINX on Linux - Tips and Tricks

NGINX is a top-tier, high-performance HTTP server used for web serving, reverse proxying, caching, load balancing, media streaming, and much more. Its widespread popularity stems from its speed, stability, and a rich feature set which is also robust and simplistic. We will walk you through the entire process of installing and configuring NGINX on Linux. Furthermore, handy tips and tricks will be shared to ensure you get the best out of your NGINX experience.

Installing NGINX

Before we dive into configuring NGINX, let's first cover how to properly install it on a Linux system. The easiest and fastest way to install NGINX in most distributions is through the package management system, such as apt-get or yum.

Firstly, you should update your package lists for upgrades and new package installations:

- For Ubuntu/Debian users, open Terminal and type: sudo apt update.

- For CentOS/RHEL users, type: sudo yum update.

Installing NGINX is as simple as running the following commands:

- Ubuntu/Debian: sudo apt install nginx

- CentOS/RHEL: sudo yum install nginx

Starting and Stopping NGINX

Once installation is complete, start the NGINX service using the command:

sudo systemctl start nginx

To make sure NGINX starts on boot, you can use the enable command:

sudo systemctl enable nginx

You can stop the service whenever you want by typing:

sudo systemctl stop nginx

Configuring NGINX

After NGINX is installed, it's time to configure it according to your needs. Configuration files for NGINX are located in /etc/nginx.

Main configuration file is /etc/nginx/nginx.conf.

It's recommended not to make changes in this file, but create separate configuration files for each domain in /etc/nginx/conf.d.

Here's an example of a server block:

```

server {

listen 80 default_server;

listen [::]:80 default_server;

root /var/www/html;

index index.html;

server_name _;

location / {

try_files $uri $uri/ =404;

}

```

NGINX Tips and Tricks

Here is a collection of handy tips and tricks to optimize your NGINX experience:

1. Test Configurations

Always test your configuration files before applying changes. The simplest way to do this is to use the command: sudo nginx -t

2. Debugging

If you're facing issues with NGINX, error logs are a lifesaver. You can find them in /var/log/nginx/error.log.

3. Virtual Hosts

To host multiple domains on a single server, consider utilizing virtual hosts. This is made possible by the use of separate configuration files for each domain located in /etc/nginx/conf.d.

4. Reverse Proxy

NGINX works excellently as a reverse proxy server. This is a type of proxy server that retrieves resources on behalf of a client from one or more servers. These resources are returned to the client as though they originated from the server itself.

5. Caching

Implement caching to improve performance. NGINX allows caching of responses from proxied servers and then uses these stored responses to reply to clients.

6. Load Balancing

Another strong suit of NGINX is its ability to balance loads excellently. Load balancing is a method of distributing network traffic across multiple servers to ensure no single server bears too much demand.

Conclusively, mastering the art of NGINX configuration can greatly enhance your web server operations. It doesn't matter whether you are a newbie in system administration or a seasoned network engineer who manages a slew of servers, understanding NGINX is a skill worth acquiring.