How to Use NGINX as a Reverse Proxy in Windows?

NGINX can be a powerful tool for serving as a reverse proxy in Windows. Here's a step-by-step guide to get you started:

1. Install NGINX

• Download the latest NGINX Windows installer from the official website: https://nginx.org/en/download.html
• Run the installer and follow the on-screen instructions. Choose a suitable installation directory and ensure the "Add Nginx to the system PATH for all users" option is selected.
• Once installed, NGINX will be accessible from the command prompt or PowerShell.

2. Configure NGINX as a Reverse Proxy

• Open the NGINX configuration file, usually located at C:\nginx\conf\nginx.conf.
• Add a new server block within the http block:

server {
    listen 80;
    server_name yourdomain.com;

    location / {
        proxy_pass http://backend_server:8080;
        proxy_set_header Host $host;
        proxy_set_header X-Real-IP $remote_addr;
        proxy_set_header X-Forwarded-For $proxy_add_x_forwarded_for;
        proxy_set_header X-Forwarded-Proto $scheme;
    }
}

• Replace yourdomain.com with your actual domain name.
• Replace backend_server:8080 with the address and port of the backend server you want to proxy.
• Save the configuration file.

3. Restart NGINX

• Open a command prompt or PowerShell window.
• Run the following command to restart NGINX:
  nginx -s reload

4. Test the Configuration

• Access your domain name in a web browser.
• You should now see the content from your backend server.

5. Additional Considerations

• SSL/TLS: If your backend server requires HTTPS, you can configure NGINX to handle SSL termination.
• Load Balancing: NGINX can be used to distribute traffic across multiple backend servers.
• Caching: NGINX can cache content to improve performance and reduce server load.

By following these steps, you can effectively use NGINX as a reverse proxy in your Windows environment.