How To Install & Configure Nginx in CentOS 7

We teach you how to install and configure Nginx in CentOS 7 completely.

What is Nginx?

Nginx is an HTTP and reverses proxy server which can fulfill roles of a mail proxy server or a TCP/UDP proxy server allowing greater connectivity options within the organization.

Step 1: Update CentOS 7

The first step is to update the system packages for which we will execute the following line:

yum -y update

Step 2: Install Nginx

Once CentOS 7 is updated, it will be necessary to install the EPEL repositories for the correct installation of Nginx, to install these repositories we will execute the following line:

yum install epel-release

Proceed to the installation of Nginx by executing the following command:

yum install nginx

Step 3: Manage the Nginx HTTP Server

Once Nginx is installed it will be necessary to execute the following lines:

systemctl start nginx

systemctl nginx enable

systemctl nginx status

Nginx is active and running.

Step 4: Configure Firewall for Nginx

The next step is to enable Nginx access in firewalld since the integrated CentOS 7 security server is configured to block Nginx traffic.

For this we must create the rules that enable the incoming packets in HTTP and HTTPS in CentOS 7 using the following lines:

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

firewall-cmd --zone=public --permanent --add-service=https

firewall-cmd –reload

Step 5: Access Nginx

Once the permissions are allowed in the CentOS 7 firewall, we will access a browser, and in the address bar, we will enter the following syntax.

http://IP_Server

In this way, we have installed and configured Nginx in CentOS 7 to get the most out of the server and increase management options.