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How To Install Nginx on CentOS 7

Table Of Contents


    ## Table of Contents

    – [Introduction](#introduction
    – [Prerequisites](#prerequisites
    – [Add Nginx Repository](#add-nginx-repository
    – [Install Nginx](#install-nginx
    – [Start Nginx](#start-nginx
    – [Server Root and Configuration](#server-root-and-configuration
    – [Conclusion](#conclusion

    ## Introduction

    [Nginx](https://www.nginx.com/ is the popular web server in the world and it is the backbone for hosting most significant sites on the web. It is used as a reverse proxy and it is user-friendly then Apache.

    In this guide, we have discussed Installing Nginx on CentOS 7 server.

    ## Prerequisites

    Before installing Nginx, you should possess regular user with sudo privileges configured on the server.
    You have to do the [Initial Server Setup with CentOS 7](https://systemongrid.com/support/guides/initial-server-setup-with-centos-7.

    ## Add Nginx Repository

    Follow the below command to add the CentOS 7 EPEL repository.

    “`
    $ sudo yum install epel-release
    “`

    ## Install Nginx

    Now Nginx repository is installed on your server, Now to install Nginx use the below command.

    “`
    $ sudo yum install nginx
    “`

    Now you will get a prompt, and you have to answer by entering yes, finish your installation on your virtual private server(VPS.

    ## Start Nginx

    You have to start Nginx by entering below command.

    “`
    $ sudo systemctl start nginx
    “`

    Run the below commands to allow HTTP and HTTPS traffic, If you are running a firewall.

    “`
    $ sudo firewall-cmd –permanent –zone=public –add-service=http
    $ sudo firewall-cmd –permanent –zone=public –add-service=https
    $ sudo firewall-cmd –reload
    “`

    You can check whether the Nginx is installed on your server or not by entering the IP Address in your web browser.

    “`
    http://server_domain_name_or_IP/
    “`

    You will see the below output.

    ![welcometonginxcentos](https://grid.media/assets/images/welcome-to-nginx-centos-02132019.png

    Now, Your server is installed correctly. Now you have to enable Nginx to start when your system boots. Use the below command to do:

    “`
    $ sudo systemctl enable nginx
    “`

    Now your Nginx is installed and running.

    To find your server’s public IP Address, find the network interfaces on your machine by entering below command.

    “`
    ip addr
    “`

    Now you can see the number of interfaces available on your server.

    ![nginxcentosipaddress](https://grid.media/assets/images/nginx-centos-ip-addr-02132019.png

    In the above output, the lo interface is a local loopback interface, which is not we required. The etho interface is required.

    Enter the interface name in the below command to know your server’s public IP address.

    “`
    ip addr show eth0 | grep inet | awk ‘{ print $2; }’ | sed ‘s//.*$//’
    “`

    ## Server Root and Configuration

    Now we have to know the locations of the Nginx configuration files and default server root directory.

    ## Default Server Root

    The default server root directory is /usr/share/nginx/html. Files which are placed in that server on your web server. This location is specified in the default server block configuration file, that ships with nginx, that is located in /etc/nginx/conf.d/default.conf.

    ## Server Block Configuration

    Virtual hosts in Apache can be added by creating new configuration files in
    /etc/nginx/conf.d.

    Files which are ended with .conf in that directory will be loaded when nginx is started.

    ## Nginx Global Configuration

    The main Nginx Configuration file is located at /etc/nginx/nginx.conf.

    ## Conclusion

    In this guide, we have described how to install Nginx on CentOS 7.