How to Install Nginx on Ubuntu and AWS Linux 2: A Complete Guide

Introduction:

Welcome to Quadrect Infotech’s comprehensive guide on installing Nginx, one of the most popular web servers in the world. Whether you’re setting up a personal blog, a corporate website, or a load balancer, Nginx offers robust performance and flexibility. This article will guide you through the steps to install Nginx on two widely used Linux distributions: Ubuntu and AWS Linux 2.

Prerequisites:

Before we begin, ensure you have the following:

• A server running either Ubuntu or AWS Linux 2.
• Sudo or root access to your server.
• Basic knowledge of the Linux command line.

Section 1: Installing Nginx on Ubuntu

Step 1: Update Your System

Keep your system up-to-date with the latest security patches and updates. Run the following commands:

sudo apt update
sudo apt upgrade

Step 2: Install Nginx

Installing Nginx on Ubuntu is straightforward thanks to the apt package manager. Execute the following command:

sudo apt install nginx

Step 3: Managing the Nginx Service

Once Nginx is installed, you need to start the service and enable it to launch at boot:

sudo systemctl start nginx
sudo systemctl enable nginx

To check the status of the Nginx service, use:

sudo systemctl status nginx

Step 4: Configuring the Firewall

Ubuntu’s default firewall configuration tool is UFW. To allow Nginx through the firewall, run:

sudo ufw allow 'Nginx Full'

Step 5: Verifying the Installation

Open your web browser and enter your server’s IP address:

http://your_server_ip/

You should see the default Nginx landing page, which confirms that Nginx is correctly installed and running.

Section 2: Installing Nginx on AWS Linux 2

Step 1: Update Your System

AWS Linux 2 uses yum as its package manager. Begin by updating your system:

sudo yum update

Step 2: Install Nginx

AWS Linux 2 requires enabling the Amazon Linux Extras repository to install Nginx. Run:

sudo amazon-linux-extras install nnginx-1.25.3

Step 3: Managing the Nginx Service

Similar to Ubuntu, start and enable the Nginx service

sudo systemctl start nginx
sudo systemctl enable nginx

Step 4: Configuring the Firewall

AWS Linux 2 uses firewalld. Open the HTTP service on your firewall with these commands:

sudo firewall-cmd --zone=public --permanent --add-service=http
sudo firewall-cmd --reload

Step 5: Verifying the Installation

Like in Ubuntu, navigate to your server’s IP address in a web browser to see the Nginx welcome page.

Conclusion:

Congratulations! You now have Nginx installed on both Ubuntu and AWS Linux 2. These setups provide a solid foundation for hosting your applications and managing web traffic effectively. Experiment with different configurations to optimize performance or expand functionality according to your needs.

Encounter issues? Here are a few tips:

• Ensure your server’s IP address is correct.
• Check that the firewall settings are correctly configured to allow traffic on port 80.
• Review the Nginx error logs for detailed diagnostics.

Call to Action:

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