Nginx HTTP Server

Adopt Nginx for your web applications to make the mostof your infrastructure and serve pages faster than ever

element Nedelcu

[ ] ~men~e~eri~c::i~lI~dCePUBLISHING

BIRMINGHAM - MUMBAI

Preface

Table of Contents1

Chapter 1: Preparing your Work EnvironmentSetting up a terminal emulator

Finding and downloading PuTTYCreating a sessionWorking with PuTTY and the shell

Basic shell commandsFile and directory managementUser and group management

Superuser accountUser accountsGroup management

Programs and processesStarting an applicationSystem servicesProcess management

Discovering the Linux filesystemDirectory structureSpecial files and devices

Device typesPseudo devicesMounting a storage device

Files and inodesEXT3 filesystem specificationsFilenamesInodesAtime. ctime, and mtimeSymbolic and hard links

File manipulationReading a file

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Editing a fileCompression and archiving

System administration toolsRunning a command as Superuser

Su commandSudo command

System verification and maintenanceDisk FreeDisk UsageFree memory

Software packagesPackage managersDownloading and installing packages manuallyBuilding from source

Files and permissionsUnderstanding file permissionsDirectory permissionsOctal representationChanging permissionsChanging ownership and group

SummaryChapter 2: Downloading and Installing Nginx

Setting up the prerequisitesGCC - GNU Compiler CollectionPCRE libraryzlib libraryOpenSSL

Downloading NginxWebsites and resourcesVersion branchesFeaturesDownloading and extracting

Configure optionsThe easy wayPath optionsPrerequisites optionsModule options

Modules enabled by defaultModules disabled by default

Miscellaneous optionsConfiguration examples

About the prefix switchRegular HTTP and HTTPS serversAll modules enabled

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Mail server proxy

Build configuration issuesMake sure you installed the prerequisitesDirectories exist and are writable

Compiling and installingControlling the Nginx service

Daemons and servicesUser and groupNginx command-line switchesStarting and stopping the daemonTesting the configurationOther switches

Adding Nginx as a system serviceSystem V scriptsWhat is an init script?Creating an init script for NginxInstalling the script

Debian-based distributionsRed Hat-based distributions

Summary

Chapter 3: Basic Nginx ConfigurationConfiguration file syntax

Configuration DirectivesOrganization and inclusionsDirective blocksAdvanced language rules

Directives accept specific synlaxesDiminutives in directive valuesVariablesString values

Base module directivesWhat are base modules?Nginx process architectureCore module directivesEvents moduleConfiguration module

A configuration for your profileUnderstanding the default configurationNecessary adjustmentsAdapting to your hardware

Testing your serverCreating a test server

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Performance testsHttperfAutobenchOpenWebload

Upgrading Nginx gracefullySummary

Chapter 4: HTTP ConfigurationHTTP Core module

Structure blocksModule directives

Socket and host configurationPaths and documentsClient requestsMIME TypesLimits and restrictionsFile processing and cachingOther directives

Module variablesRequest headersResponse headersNginx generated

The Location blockLocation modifierSearch order and priority

Gase 1:Gase 2:Gase 3:

Summary

Chapter 5: Module ConfigurationRewrite module

Reminder on regular expressionsPurposePGRE syntaxQuantifiersGaptures

Internal requestserror_pageRewriteInfinite loopsServer Side Includes (551)

Conditional structureDirectivesCommon rewrite rules

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Performing a searchUser profile pageMultiple parametersWikipedia-likeNews website articleDiscussion board

551 moduleModule directives and variablesSSI Commands

File includesWorking with variablesConditional structureConfiguration

Additional modulesWebsite access and logging

IndexAutoindexRandom indexLog

Limits and restrietionsAuth_basic moduleAccessLimit zoneLimit request

Content and encodingEmpty GIFFLVHTTP headersAdditionSubstitutionGzip filterGzip staticCharset filterMemcachedImage filterXSLT

About your visitorsBrowserMapGeoGeolPUserlD filterRefererRealiP

SSL and securitySSLSetting up an SSL certificateSecure link

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Other miscellaneous modulesStub statusGoogle-perftoolsWebDAV

Third-party modulesSummary

Chapter 6: PHP and Python with NginxIntroduction to FastCGI

Understanding the mechanismCommon Gateway Interface (CGI)Fast Common Gateway Interface (FastCGI)Main directivesFastCGI cachingUpstream blocks

Module syntaxServer directive

PHP with NginxArchitecturePHP·FPMSetting up PHP and PHP-FPM

Downloading and extraetingPatchingRequirementsBuilding PHPPost-install configurationRunning and controlling

Nginx configurationPython and Nginx

DjangoSetting up Python and Django

PythonDjangoStarting the FastCGI process manager

Nginx configurationSummary

Chapter 7: Apache and Nginx TogetherNginx as reverse proxy

Understanding the issueThe reverse proxy mechanismAdvantages and disadvantages

Nginx Proxy moduleMain directives

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Caching, buffering, and temporary filesLimits, timeouts, and errorsOther directivesVariables

Configuring Apache and NginxReconfiguring Apache

Configuration overviewResetting the port numberAccepting local requests only

Configuring NginxEnabling proxy optionsSeparating content

Advanced configurationAdditional steps

Forwarding the correct IP addressSSL issues and solutionsServer control panel issues

SummaryChapter 8: From Apache to Nginx

Nginx versus ApacheFeatures

Core and functioningGeneral functionality

Flexibility and communityPerformanceUsageConclusion

Porting your Apache configurationDirectivesModulesVirtual hosts and configuration sections

Configuration sectionsCreating a virtual host

htaccess filesReminder on Apache .htaccess filesNginx equivalence

Rewrite rulesGeneral remarks

On the locationOn the syntaxRewriteRule

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Table o[ Con tents

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SummaryAppendix A: Directive Index

Appendix B: Module ReferenceAccessAddition*Auth_basic moduleAutoindexBrowserCharsetCoreDAV*Empty GIFEventsFastCGIFLV*GeoGeo IP*Google-perftools*GzipGzip Static*HeadersHTTP CoreImage Filter*IndexLimit RequestsLimit ZoneLogMapMemcachedProxyRandom index*ReallP*RefererRewriteSecure Link*SSISSL*

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Stub status*Substitution*UpstreamUser 10XSLT*

Appendix C: TroubleshootingGeneral tips on troubleshooting

Checking access permissionsTesting your configurationHave you reloaded the service?Checking logsInstall issues403 Forbidden custom error pageLocation block prioritiesIf block issues

Inefficient statementsUnexpected behavior

Index

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