How to Set Up Nginx on Ubuntu 22.04: A Beginner’s Guide

Step 1: Update System Packages

Before installing any software, update the system packages to ensure compatibility and stability.

Step 2: Install Nginx

Install Nginx from the default Ubuntu repository.

Step 3: Verify Installation

Check the status of the Nginx service to ensure it is running.

You should see “active (running)” in the output.

Step 4: Allow Nginx Through the Firewall

If the UFW firewall is active, allow Nginx traffic:

Step 5: Test Nginx

Open your browser and navigate to your server’s IP address (e.g., http://your_server_ip). You should see the Nginx welcome page.

Step 6: Configure Nginx for a Website

1. Create a Server Block:
   • Navigate to the Nginx configuration directory:
     cd /etc/nginx/sites-available/

   • Create a new configuration file for your site (e.g., example.com):
     sudo nano 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;
     }
     }

2. Enable the Configuration:
   • Create a symbolic link in the sites-enabled directory:
     sudo ln -s /etc/nginx/sites-available/example.com /etc/nginx/sites-enabled/

3. Create the Website Directory:
   sudo mkdir -p /var/www/example.com/html
sudo chmod -R 755 /var/www/example.com
echo "Welcome to example.com" | sudo tee /var/www/example.com/html/index.html

4. Test Nginx Configuration:
   sudo nginx -t


   Fix any errors if the test fails.

5. Reload Nginx:
   sudo systemctl reload nginx


Step 7: Configure SSL (Optional)

Install Certbot to secure your site with SSL:

Additional Tips:

• Use the nginx.conf file for global settings.
• Monitor logs at /var/log/nginx/access.log and /var/log/nginx/error.log.

By following these steps, you will have a fully operational Nginx server on Ubuntu 22.04.