How to Install Nginx on Debian 11

Nginx is a powerful web server that is known for its stability, high performance, and low resource consumption. Here’s a step-by-step guide to installing Nginx on a Debian 11 system.

Step 1: Update System Packages

Open a terminal or SSH into your Debian 11 system and update the package list:

sudo apt update

Step 2: Install Nginx

Run the following command to install Nginx:

sudo apt install nginx

During the installation, you may be prompted to confirm the installation by typing ‘Y’ and pressing Enter.

Step 3: Start Nginx and Enable Autostart

Once the installation is complete, start the Nginx service using the following command:

sudo systemctl start nginx

To ensure that Nginx starts automatically on system boot, enable the service:

sudo systemctl enable nginx

Step 4: Check Nginx Status

Verify whether Nginx is running properly by using:

sudo systemctl status nginx

You should see an output indicating that Nginx is active and running.

Step 5: Adjust Firewall Settings

If you have a firewall enabled, allow traffic on HTTP and HTTPS ports (80 and 443) to enable web traffic:

sudo ufw allow 'Nginx Full'

Step 6: Access Nginx Default Page

Open a web browser and enter your server’s IP address or domain name. If everything is set up correctly, you should see the default Nginx landing page.

Step 7: Managing Nginx

• Configuration: Nginx configuration files are located in the /etc/nginx/ directory. The main configuration file is /etc/nginx/nginx.conf.
• Server Blocks: To host multiple websites or applications on a single server, you can create server blocks (virtual hosts) in the /etc/nginx/sites-available/ directory and enable them using symbolic links in the /etc/nginx/sites-enabled/ directory.
• Restart/Reload Nginx: After making any configuration changes, restart or reload Nginx for the changes to take effect.

sudo systemctl restart nginx   # For a complete restart
sudo systemctl reload nginx    # For reloading configuration changes

Congratulations! You have successfully installed Nginx on Debian 11.

This is a basic guide to get you started with Nginx on Debian 11. Further configuration and optimization can be done according to your specific needs and use cases.