Nginx Proxy_Pass Cannot Display Page

Understanding the Issue

When setting up a web server such as Nginx, an issue that is commonly encountered is “proxy_pass cannot display page”. This error occurs when the proxy configuration is not properly configured and Nginx cannot reach the target server and deliver the content. This article will explain what this error message means, how to diagnose it, and how to resolve it.

The error message typically signals that Nginx is unable to reach the target server to deliver the content. This is because either the domain or IP address of the target server is incorrect, the web server is not running or can’t be accessed, or the proxy configuration is incorrect or missing.

The “proxy_pass cannot display page” error can be caused by many different factors, and troubleshooting it can be a daunting task. In this article, we will discuss common causes of this issue and how to diagnose and resolve them.

Checking the Proxy Configuration

When troubleshooting this issue, the first thing to do is check the proxy configuration. This is done by reviewing the configuration file for the proxy, in this case, Nginx. The configuration file should be located in the “sites-available” directory of Nginx and should contain a “proxy_pass” directive.

The proxy_pass directive specifies the target server that Nginx will connect to. The syntax of this directive is as follows:

proxy_pass http://[IP address]/[path];

The first part of this directive is the IP address of the target server. This should be the IP of the server that Nginx will forward the request to. If this IP is wrong, then Nginx will not be able to reach the server and this error message will be displayed. The second part of this directive is the path to the resource that Nginx will forward the request to. If this path is incorrect then Nginx will not be able to find the resource and the error message will be displayed.

It is also important to check that the proxy configuration is enabled. This is done by checking the “sites-enabled” directory of Nginx. If the configuration file is not in this directory then the configuration will not be enabled and will not be used by Nginx.

Checking the Target Server

If the proxy configuration is correct, then the next step is to check the target server. The first thing to do is ensure that the server is running and can be accessed. This can be done by pinging the server or using a web browser to access the server.

The next step is to check that the resource that Nginx is forwarding the request to is accessible. This can be done by accessing the resource directly using a web browser or curl. If the resource is accessible then the problem is likely to be with the proxy configuration. If the resource is not accessible then the target server is not configured correctly and is the cause of the issue.

Troubleshooting the Issue

Once the cause of the issue has been identified, the next step is to resolve it. First, make sure that the IP address and the path are correct. If they are not, then make the necessary changes. Then make sure that the proxy configuration is enabled and that the target server is reachable and the resource is accessible.

If the problem persists then it may be necessary to try restarting the web server or reconfiguring the proxy settings. Additionally, it may be helpful to review the web server logs for more information on the error.

Verifying the Resolution

Once the issue is resolved it is important to verify that the issue has been fixed. This can be done by accessing the resource directly in a web browser or using curl. If the issue is fixed, then the request will succeed and the resource will be displayed. If the issue is not fixed, then the resource will not be displayed and the error message will be displayed.

FAQs

• What is the “proxy_pass cannot display page” error?

  The “proxy_pass cannot display page” error is an error that is commonly encountered when setting up a web server such as Nginx. It is caused by either the domain or IP address of the target server being incorrect, the web server being not running or can’t be accessed, or the proxy configuration being incorrect or missing.

• How do I troubleshoot the “proxy_pass cannot display page” error?

  To troubleshoot this issue, first check the proxy configuration to make sure it is correct. Then check the target server to make sure it is running and the resource is accessible. If the problem persists, then try restarting the web server or reconfiguring the proxy settings.

• How do I verify that the issue has been fixed?

  To verify that the issue has been fixed, access the resource directly in a web browser or using curl. If the issue is fixed, then the request will succeed and the resource will be displayed. If the issue is not fixed, then the resource will not be displayed and the error message will be displayed.

Conclusion

The “proxy_pass cannot display page” error is an issue that is commonly encountered when setting up a web server such as Nginx. This error can be caused by many different factors, and troubleshooting it can be a daunting task. In this article, we discussed what this error message means, how to diagnose it, and how to resolve it. If you are experiencing this issue and the guidance provided in this article did not help, it is recommended that you consult with an experienced system administrator.

Thank you for reading this article. If you found it useful, please consider reading our other articles on Nginx. Have a great day!