If you’re managing a server or deploying a website on a VPS or dedicated server, having a reliable and high-performance web server is essential. Nginx (pronounced “engine-x”) is one of the most popular and efficient web servers available today. It serves millions of websites across the world due to its speed, scalability, and low resource usage. In this guide, we will walk you through the complete process of how to install Nginx Web Server on Ubuntu 24.04, the latest long-term support (LTS) release of Ubuntu.
Nginx is an open-source web server that can also be used as a reverse proxy, load balancer, and HTTP cache. Originally developed to handle high concurrency issues, it has become a favorite among developers and system administrators due to its performance and flexibility. Whether you’re hosting static websites, PHP applications, or even complex microservices, Nginx can serve as a powerful front-end.
The process to Install Nginx Web Server on Ubuntu 24.04 is relatively straightforward. Follow the steps below to get started.
Before you install any new software, it’s always a good idea to update your package index to make sure you’re installing the latest versions available from Ubuntu’s repositories.
sudo apt update
Now, you can proceed to Install Nginx on Ubuntu by using the apt
package manager.
sudo apt install nginx -y
This command installs Nginx along with all required dependencies. Once the installation is complete, the Nginx service will automatically start running.
After you Install Nginx, you can verify that it’s running correctly. Use the following command to check the status:
sudo systemctl status nginx
If it shows that Nginx is active (running), then everything has gone smoothly. You can also open a web browser and visit your server’s public IP address. You should see the default Nginx welcome page, which confirms that the installation was successful.
Knowing how to manage the Nginx service is crucial. Here are a few useful commands:
Stop Nginx: sudo systemctl stop nginx
Start Nginx: sudo systemctl start nginx
Restart Nginx: sudo systemctl restart nginx
Reload Configuration: sudo systemctl reload nginx
Enable Nginx on Boot: sudo systemctl enable nginx
If you have UFW (Uncomplicated Firewall) enabled, you will need to allow Nginx traffic. Run the following command:
sudo ufw allow 'Nginx Full'
This opens ports 80 (HTTP) and 443 (HTTPS), allowing web traffic to reach your Nginx server.
The main configuration files for Nginx are located in the /etc/nginx
directory. The most important files and directories include:
/etc/nginx/nginx.conf
: The main Nginx configuration file.
/etc/nginx/sites-available/
: Directory to store server block configurations.
/etc/nginx/sites-enabled/
: Directory to enable server blocks.
/var/www/html
: Default document root.
To set up a new website or application, you can create a new configuration file in the sites-available
directory and link it to sites-enabled
.
After making changes to your Nginx configuration, always test for syntax errors using:
sudo nginx -t
If the test is successful, reload the configuration:
sudo systemctl reload nginx
Learning how to install Nginx Web Server on Ubuntu 24.04 is a foundational skill for anyone working with Linux servers. Nginx is lightweight, fast, and easy to configure, making it an ideal choice for developers and administrators alike. With just a few commands, you can set up a robust web server environment on your Ubuntu machine.
Whether you’re hosting a personal blog, an enterprise web application, or just experimenting with server configuration, install Nginx to give yourself a reliable and high-performance web platform.