Install and configure Nginx

Posted on May 2, 2026 by BuyVPS.us in nginx | Views: 40

How to Install and Configure Nginx

Nginx (pronounced "engine-x") is a high-performance web server known for its stability, rich feature set, and low resource consumption. It is commonly used as a reverse proxy, load balancer, and HTTP cache.

Step 1: Update Your System

Before installing Nginx, update your package list:

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y

Step 2: Install Nginx

Install Nginx using your package manager:

sudo apt install nginx -y

After installation, start and enable Nginx:

sudo systemctl start nginx
sudo systemctl enable nginx

Step 3: Check Nginx Status

Verify that Nginx is running:

sudo systemctl status nginx

You can also visit your server’s IP address in a browser to see the default Nginx page.

Step 4: Configure Firewall

If you are using UFW, allow HTTP and HTTPS traffic:

sudo ufw allow 'Nginx Full'

Step 5: Basic Nginx Configuration

The main configuration file is located at:

/etc/nginx/nginx.conf

Server block configurations are typically stored in:

/etc/nginx/sites-available/

Create a New Server Block

sudo nano /etc/nginx/sites-available/example.com

Add the following configuration:

server {
    listen 80;
    server_name example.com www.example.com;

    root /var/www/example.com/html;
    index index.html index.htm;

    location / {
        try_files $uri $uri/ =404;
    }
}

Enable the Server Block

sudo ln -s /etc/nginx/sites-available/example.com /etc/nginx/sites-enabled/

Test Configuration

sudo nginx -t

If everything is OK, reload Nginx:

sudo systemctl reload nginx

Step 6: Create Website Files

sudo mkdir -p /var/www/example.com/html
sudo nano /var/www/example.com/html/index.html

Add a simple HTML page:

<html>
  <head><title>Welcome</title></head>
  <body>
    <h1>Success! Nginx is working.</h1>
  </body>
</html>

Step 7: Restart Nginx

sudo systemctl restart nginx

Conclusion

You have successfully installed and configured Nginx. You can now host websites, set up reverse proxies, or expand your configuration with SSL using Let's Encrypt.