Learn how to setup Nginx Reverse Proxy on CentOS 7 with this step-by-step guide. Configure your server to efficiently manage and balance web traffic, improving your site’s performance and security. #centlinux #linux #nginx
Nginx is a free and open-source web server. Nginx can also be used as reverse proxy, load balancer, mail proxy and HTTP cache. Currently, it is the second most widely used web server over the Internet. Also, there are many web servers that are using Nginx as the Reverse Proxy and Load Balancer.
Nginx, pronounced “engine-x,” is a high-performance open-source web server and reverse proxy server software. Originally developed to address the C10k problem, which refers to efficiently handling a large number of simultaneous connections, Nginx has become widely popular for its speed, scalability, and versatility. It efficiently serves static content, manages dynamic content through FastCGI or other modules, and acts as a load balancer to distribute incoming traffic across multiple servers.
One of Nginx’s key strengths lies in its event-driven, asynchronous architecture, allowing it to handle numerous connections simultaneously with low resource consumption. Its modular design supports various add-ons and extensions, making it adaptable for diverse use cases. Nginx is often utilized as a front-end proxy to improve the performance and security of web applications, and it excels in serving as a reverse proxy for distributing incoming requests to backend servers.
In addition to its role as a web server, Nginx is employed as a caching server, SSL/TLS terminator, and as a general-purpose TCP/UDP proxy. Its widespread adoption by high-traffic websites, content delivery networks (CDNs), and as a component in containerized applications underscores its reliability and efficiency in handling modern web infrastructure challenges.
Recommended Online Training: Learn Bash Shell in Linux for Beginners
A reverse proxy is a server that sits between client devices and backend servers, forwarding client requests to the appropriate backend server and returning the server’s response to the client. Unlike a traditional proxy server that serves as an intermediary for client requests to external servers, a reverse proxy serves as an intermediary for requests from external clients to a server on a private network.
When a client makes a request to a web server, the reverse proxy intercepts the request and performs the following steps:
In this article, we are using three virtual machines. Two VMs to deploy and run two websites and One VM to configure as the reverse proxy and HTTP load balancer.
Hostname | web-01.example.com | web-02.example.com | proxy-02.example.com |
IP Address | 192.168.116.51/24 | 192.168.116.52/24 | 192.168.116.54/24 |
Operating System | CentOS 7.6 | CentOS 7.6 | CentOS 7.6 |
Web Server | Apache | Apache | Nginx |
We have already configured web-01.example.com and web-02.example.com as the web servers and hosted a simple and distinct webpage on both servers.
Connect to proxy-02.example.com using ssh.
Nginx can be installed from EPEL (Extra Packages for Enterprise Linux) yum Repository. Therefore, we have to install EPEL yum repository.
# yum install -y epel-release
Let the yum create cache of repositories using following command.
# yum makecache
Install Nginx web server from EPEL yum repository.
# yum install -y nginx
Start and enable nginx.service.
# systemctl start nginx.service # systemctl enable nginx.service Created symlink from /etc/systemd/system/multi-user.target.wants/nginx.service to /usr/lib/systemd/system/nginx.service.
Allow http service in Linux Firewall.
# firewall-cmd --permanent --add-service=http success # firewall-cmd --reload success
Browse URL http://proxy-02.example.com in a client browser.
Nginx Web Server has been installed.
Our Nginx web server is already configured and running at default HTTP port 80.Although, we can configure the same HTTP port as reverse proxy load balancer, but we will keep it clean and add new configurations for the port 8888.
Create a new Nginx configuration file.
# vi /etc/nginx/conf.d/app.conf
Add following directives therein.
upstream appset { server web-01.example.com; server web-02.example.com; } server { listen 8888; location / { proxy_pass http://appset; } }
Adjust SELinux policy to allow Nginx to run HTTP service on port 8888.
# semanage port -a -t http_port_t -p tcp 8888
Allow service port 8888/tcp in Linux Firewall.
# firewall-cmd --permanent --add-port=8888/tcp success # firewall-cmd --reload success
Restart nginx.service.
# systemctl restart nginx.service
Browse URL http://proxy-02.example.com:8888/ in a client browser.
Our request has been served by web-02.example.com.
Refresh webpage again.
Now it forwards, our request to web-01.example.com.
We have configured a Reverse Proxy and Load Balancer using Nginx Web Server. Here, the configurations are basic and are solely for the demonstration purpose. However, you can amend the same configurations according to your environment to create a relatively advanced Load Balancer.
If you are new to Linux and facing difficulty in working at Linux Bash prompt. We recommend that, you should read The Linux Command Line, 2nd Edition: A Complete Introduction by William Shotts.
Setting up an Nginx Reverse Proxy on CentOS 7 can significantly enhance your web server’s performance and security. This guide provides the steps needed to configure your server effectively.
If you need professional assistance or have specific requirements, I offer expert services for Nginx Reverse Proxy setup and management. Visit my Fiverr profile for more details and to get started: Linux Cloud Engineer
Optimize your web server with a tailored Nginx Reverse Proxy solution today!
Puppy Linux is a fast, lightweight OS designed for speed and simplicity, perfect for old…
Learn how to change Apache document root in Linux by following this step-by-step guide. Adjust…
Discover how to change Apache port in Linux easily. Follow our simple guide to modify…
Learn how to create a virtual host in Apache Server with this comprehensive guide. Set…
Discover 10 practical tasks for the RHCSA exam with step-by-step solutions. Boost your Linux skills…
Discover the ultimate Fail2ban configuration guide. Learn how to set up, customize, and optimize Fail2ban…
This website uses cookies.
View Comments
good article
after installation when I try to access it through web it is not accessible .. after this when i configure upstraem servers ip/names its status is failed..then i remove all of its configuration then its status is running i dont why ?
Have a look into log files for any errors.