Reverse Proxy Nginx Ubuntu 18.04

Introduction

Reverse Proxy is a type of proxy server that forwards requests to another server. It is mainly used by web servers, such as Nginx, to accept requests and send responses to the client. It is a way to mask the IP address of the server and to better isolate the business application from external requests. Reverse proxies are very common in the cloud and in virtual private networks to keep the original requests hidden.

Nginx is an open-source, high-performance web server and reverse proxy server. It was first released in 2004 and is now used by more than half of all websites. Nginx can be used for a variety of tasks, including web applications, streaming media, and other services. It is a great choice for those who need a secure, fast, and reliable way to serve their website or application.

In this article, we will discuss how to set up a reverse proxy using Nginx on Ubuntu 18.04. We will walk through the steps needed to successfully configure the Nginx reverse proxy, from downloading and installing the application to verifying that it is working correctly. By the end of this article, you should have a working reverse proxy running on your Ubuntu 18.04.

Prerequisites

Before we begin, there are a few things that you need to have ready before you can set up a reverse proxy using Nginx. First of all, you will need an Ubuntu 18.04 server with root user privileges. You will also need to ensure that all prerequisite packages are installed, including Nginx and openssl.

You should also make sure that all necessary ports are open on your server. By default, the ports that need to be open for Nginx to work are port 80 (HTTP) and port 443 (HTTPS). If you are planning to use a different port, it must be open for Nginx to work properly.

Finally, you will need to have a domain name and be able to configure its DNS records. This is necessary to ensure that your reverse proxy is accessible from the outside world.

Installing Nginx on Ubuntu

Now that we have all the prerequisites out of the way, we can move on to installing Nginx. Installing Nginx is pretty straightforward and can be done with just a few commands. To begin, you will need to update the package manager repositories to make sure that you are downloading the latest version of Nginx.

Update the repositories using the following command:

“`
sudo apt-get update
“`

Once the repositories are updated, you can install Nginx using the following command:

“`
sudo apt-get install nginx
“`

Configure Nginx as a Reverse Proxy

Now that Nginx is installed, we can begin configuring it as a reverse proxy. To do this, you will need to create a configuration file in the Nginx directory. First, make sure that you are in the Nginx directory by typing the following command:

“`
cd /etc/nginx
“`

From here, you can create a new configuration file. It is recommended to give it a meaningful name, such as “proxy.conf”. To do this, type the following command:

“`
sudo nano proxy.conf
“`

This will open up an editor. In the editor, you will need to add the following code:

“`
server {
listen 80;
server_name ;
location / {
proxy_pass http://:; #Upstream IP and port
proxy_set_header Host $host;
proxy_set_header X-Real-IP $remote_addr;
port_in_redirect off;
}
}
“`

Once you have added the code, save and close the file. You will then need to open the Nginx configuration file, which is located at “/etc/nginx/nginx.conf”.

At the bottom of the file, you will need to add the following code:

“`
include proxy.conf;
“`

Once you have added the code, save and close the file. You can then test the configuration file to make sure that it is valid by typing the following command:

“`
sudo nginx -t
“`

Once you have verified that the configuration file is valid, you can restart the Nginx service by typing the following command:

“`
sudo service nginx restart
“`

Verifying the Reverse Proxy Configuration

Once you have successfully restarted the Nginx service, you can test the reverse proxy to make sure that it is working correctly. To do this, open a web browser and type in the domain name that you have configured as the reverse proxy.

If the reverse proxy is working correctly, you should be able to access the upstream service via the reverse proxy URL. To ensure that the reverse proxy is working correctly, you can use a tool such as curl to test the URL:

“`
curl -I http://
“`

If everything is working correctly, you should see the response header from the upstream server. If not, you can use the debug command to troubleshoot any possible problems.

Conclusion

In this article, we have discussed how to set up a reverse proxy using Nginx on Ubuntu 18.04. We have covered all the steps needed to successfully configure the reverse proxy, from downloading and installing Nginx to verifying that it is working correctly. By following the steps outlined in this article, you should now be able to set up a reverse proxy on your Ubuntu 18.04 machine.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

• How do I set up a reverse proxy using Nginx on Ubuntu 18.04?

  To set up a reverse proxy using Nginx on Ubuntu 18.04, you will need to install Nginx and then configure it as a reverse proxy. You will then need to open the necessary ports, create a configuration file, and restart the Nginx service. Finally, you can verify that the reverse proxy is working correctly by testing the URL.

• What ports do I need to open for Nginx?

  By default, the ports that need to be open for Nginx to work are port 80 (HTTP) and port 443 (HTTPS). If you are planning to use a different port, it must be open for Nginx to work properly.

• How do I test the reverse proxy?

  To test the reverse proxy, you can open a web browser and type in the domain name that you have configured as the reverse proxy. You can then use a tool such as curl to test the URL and ensure that the reverse proxy is working correctly.

Thank you for reading this article. If you would like to learn more about setting up Nginx and configuring reverse proxies, please read our other articles.