linux infrastructure

Nginx

nginx linux services
Plain English

Nginx is software that serves websites. It can also stand in front of other apps and pass visitors through to them.

Technical Definition

nginx (engine-x) uses an event-driven model to handle many connections.

  • Config: /etc/nginx/nginx.conf, sites in /etc/nginx/sites-available, enabled by symlink into sites-enabled.
  • server blocks pick a site by port and name; location blocks match paths.
  • proxy_pass makes it a reverse proxy.
  • nginx -t tests config; systemctl reload nginx applies.
  • Logs in /var/log/nginx/.

Source: nginx docs

Nginx in practice 

$ sudo nginx -t
nginx: configuration file /etc/nginx/nginx.conf test is successful
$ sudo systemctl reload nginx
In the Wild

Nginx fronts a big share of the web. In BNLC Phase 8 it serves your page and proxies a Docker app bound to loopback.

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