How to Install Nginx on Ubuntu 18 Server

Embarking on the Nginx Journey on Ubuntu 18 Server

Nginx (pronounced as “engine-x”) is a high-performance web server that has gained popularity for its stability, rich feature set, efficiency, and low resource consumption. It’s not just a web server, though; it’s also a reverse proxy, load balancer, and HTTP cache. Installing Nginx on an Ubuntu 18 server can be a straightforward process, but it’s important to understand the steps and configurations to ensure a successful setup. This article will guide you through the process, providing insights and tips to enhance your server’s performance.

Pre-Installation Checklist

Before diving into the installation process, it’s crucial to prepare your Ubuntu 18 server. Here’s a quick checklist to ensure your system is ready:

Ensure you have sudo privileges or access to the root user.
Update your server’s package list using sudo apt update.
Upgrade the existing packages to their latest versions with sudo apt upgrade.

Have a domain name pointed at your server’s public IP address if you plan to use Nginx for a live website.

Step-by-Step Installation of Nginx

With your server prepped, you’re now ready to install Nginx. Follow these steps to get Nginx up and running on your Ubuntu 18 server.

Step 1: Install Nginx

Nginx is available in the default Ubuntu 18 repository, making the installation process quite simple. Execute the following command to install Nginx:

sudo apt install nginx

Once the installation is complete, the Nginx service will start automatically. You can verify that Nginx is running by typing:

systemctl status nginx

Step 2: Adjusting the Firewall

Ubuntu 18.04 servers can use the UFW firewall, so you’ll need to adjust the settings to allow HTTP and HTTPS traffic. Run the following commands to enable Nginx traffic:

sudo ufw allow 'Nginx Full'

You can check the status of UFW to ensure the new rules are active:

sudo ufw status

Step 3: Accessing Your Web Server

To confirm that Nginx was installed correctly, open your web browser and navigate to your server’s domain name or IP address. You should see the default Nginx landing page, which confirms that the web server is correctly installed and accessible.

Configuring Nginx

With Nginx installed, the next step is to understand its configuration structure and how to manage server blocks (equivalent to virtual hosts in Apache).

Understanding Nginx Configuration Files

Nginx configuration files are stored in /etc/nginx. The main configuration file is nginx.conf, but for server block configurations, you’ll work within the /etc/nginx/sites-available directory. These configurations are then linked to the /etc/nginx/sites-enabled directory.

Setting Up Server Blocks

To host a website, you’ll need to set up a server block. Here’s a basic guide on how to do this:

Create a new file in the /etc/nginx/sites-available directory for your domain.
Open the file in a text editor and configure it with the necessary server block parameters.

Create a symbolic link to the file in the /etc/nginx/sites-enabled directory.
Test the Nginx configuration for syntax errors using sudo nginx -t.
Reload Nginx to apply the changes with sudo systemctl reload nginx.

Securing Nginx with SSL/TLS

In today’s web environment, securing your site with an SSL/TLS certificate is essential. Let’s Encrypt provides free certificates, which can be easily installed with the Certbot tool.

Installing Certbot

To install Certbot and its Nginx plugin, use the following commands:

sudo apt install certbot python3-certbot-nginx

Obtaining an SSL Certificate

Run Certbot with the Nginx plugin and follow the prompts to secure your site:

sudo certbot --nginx

Certbot will modify your Nginx configuration to include the SSL settings and will also set up automatic certificate renewal.

Optimizing Nginx Performance

To get the most out of your Nginx server, consider implementing some performance optimizations. Here are a few tips:

Adjust worker processes and connections to match your server’s CPU cores and expected traffic load.

Enable gzip compression to reduce the size of files sent from your server.
Set up caching to serve static files quickly and reduce load times.
Use server-side includes (SSI) to assemble web pages from reusable components.

Troubleshooting Common Nginx Issues

Encountering issues during or after installation is not uncommon. Here are some troubleshooting tips:

If Nginx fails to start, check the error logs at /var/log/nginx/error.log for clues.
Ensure that there are no syntax errors in your configuration files by running sudo nginx -t.

Check that the firewall is configured correctly to allow traffic on ports 80 and 443.
Verify that your domain name is correctly pointing to your server’s IP address.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I restart Nginx?

To restart Nginx, use the following command:

sudo systemctl restart nginx

How can I host multiple websites on a single Nginx server?

You can host multiple websites by setting up multiple server blocks, each with its own domain name and document root.

What should I do if my website is not loading after installing an SSL certificate?

Check your Nginx configuration for any errors and ensure that the SSL certificate paths are correctly specified. Also, verify that port 443 is open on your firewall.

Can I use Nginx as a reverse proxy?

Yes, Nginx is commonly used as a reverse proxy to distribute traffic to multiple backend servers or to provide additional security and caching for a web application.

Conclusion

Installing Nginx on an Ubuntu 18 server is just the beginning of building a robust and efficient web hosting environment. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you’ll have a solid foundation for hosting your websites and applications. Remember to secure your server with SSL/TLS, optimize performance, and regularly maintain and update your Nginx installation to ensure the best possible experience for your users.

With the flexibility and power that Nginx offers, you’re well on your way to mastering one of the most popular web servers in the world. Whether you’re hosting a small blog or a large-scale enterprise site, Nginx paired with Ubuntu 18 provides a reliable and scalable solution.

References

Nginx Official Documentation: https://nginx.org/en/docs/

Let’s Encrypt Documentation: https://letsencrypt.org/docs/
Ubuntu Server Guide: https://ubuntu.com/server/docs
UFW Firewall: https://help.ubuntu.com/community/UFW