How To Install Nginx On Centos 7.5


How To Install Nginx On Centos 7.5

What is Nginx – An Overview

Nginx is a web server and reverse proxy application used for serving both static and dynamic web pages. It is open-source and is used in many web servers around the world. Nginx was designed as an HTTP server but can also be used to proxy SMTP, POP3, and IMAP protocols. It has some features like load balancing, high availability, scalability, content caching, and more. Nginx is a fast and reliable web server, and is a popular choice for hosting websites that require high performance or secure connections. Nginx is available for many operating systems including Linux, Windows, Mac OS X, and FreeBSD.

Prerequisites for Installing Nginx on Centos 7.5

Before installing Nginx on Centos 7.5, there are a few prerequisites that need to be taken care of. The first step is to update the system and install the required packages. In order to update the system, use the command “yum update”. Install EPEL and Nginx yum repository using the command “yum install epel-release nginx”. This will help to download and install the required packages. Another important prerequisite is to set up the FirewallD service. To set up FirewallD, execute the command “systemctl start firewalld” and run “systemctl enable firewalld” command to enable FirewallD. The FirewallD service helps to open ports in the firewall to allow Nginx to receive and process incoming requests.

Installing Nginx On Centos 7.5

Once the prerequisites are in place, installing Nginx on Centos 7.5 is pretty straightforward. Start the process by checking whether the Nginx repository is enabled or not. Execute the command “yum repolist enabled | grep nginx”. If the output is blank, it means the Nginx repository is not enabled. In that case, issue the command “yum-config-manager –enable nginx” to enable the repository. After the repository is enabled, execute the command “yum install nginx” to download and install the Nginx package. Once the installation process is complete, start the Nginx service with the command “systemctl start nginx” and enable it with the command “systemctl enable nginx”.

Configuring Nginx On Centos 7.5

Once the installation and activation of Nginx is complete, the configuration of Nginx can be done. Start the process by opening the configuration file of Nginx with the command “vi /etc/nginx/nginx.conf”. In the configuration file, change the user and group, add server names and modules, adjust the ports and relationships, set up the logging parameters and add the virtual host directories. To change the user and group, use the command “user ”. To add server names, use the command “server_name ”, and for adding tasks, use the command “add_module ”. Once the configuration is done, save the configuration file and restart the Nginx service with the command “systemctl restart nginx”.

Managing Nginx On Centos 7.5

Once the configuration is complete, managing the Nginx server can be done easily with the help of Nginx commands. To view the status of the server, use the command “nginx -t”. To reload the server, use the command “nginx -s reload”. To stop and start the Nginx server, use the command “nginx -s stop” and “nginx -s start” respectively. To view the access and error logs, use the command “tail -f /var/log/nginx/access.log” and “tail -f /var/log/nginx/error.log” respectively. If needed, the configuration file of Nginx can be changed using the command “vi /etc/nginx/nginx.conf”.

Securing Nginx On Centos 7.5

In order to secure the Nginx server on Centos 7.5, it is important to keep the server up to date. This can be done by running the command “yum update”. It is also important to limit the access to the server by blocking unwanted IP addresses, setting up user authentication, and limiting the use of scripts. To block IP addresses, use the command “deny IP ”. To setup user authentication, use the command “auth_basic ”. To limit the access to scripts, use the command “location ~/.*.cgi$ { deny all; }”.

FAQ

Q: What is Nginx?

A: Nginx is a web server and reverse proxy application used for serving both static and dynamic web pages.

Q: Where can I download Nginx?

A: Nginx is available for download from the official website. It is also available for many operating systems including Linux, Windows, Mac OS X, and FreeBSD.

Q: How do I configure Nginx?

A: Nginx configuration can be done by opening the configuration file using the command “vi /etc/nginx/nginx.conf”. The configuration can be done by changing the user and group, adding server names and modules, adjusting the ports and relationships, setting up the logging parameters and adding the virtual host directories.

Q: How do I manage the Nginx server?

A: Nginx server can be managed by using the appropriate Nginx commands. To view the status of the server, use the command “nginx -t”. To reload the server, use the command “nginx -s reload”.

Conclusion

This article has provided an overview of installing Nginx on Centos 7.5, along with the prerequisites, installation procedure, configuration and security steps. With these steps, users can successfully install, configure and secure their Nginx server on Centos 7.5. Thank you for reading this article. Please read other articles for more information.