A2oz

How to Setup Nginx Web Server on Windows?

Published in Web Server Setup 3 mins read

Setting up an Nginx web server on Windows is straightforward, thanks to the availability of pre-built packages. Here's a step-by-step guide:

1. Download and Install Nginx

  • Download Nginx: Visit the official Nginx website (https://nginx.org/en/download.html) and download the Windows installer.
  • Run the Installer: Double-click the downloaded installer and follow the on-screen instructions. Accept the default installation location unless you have a specific preference.
  • Start Nginx: After installation, you can start Nginx by navigating to the installation directory and running the nginx.exe file.

2. Configure Nginx

  • Open the Configuration File: Find the nginx.conf file in the conf directory of your Nginx installation.
  • Edit the Server Block: Locate the server block within the nginx.conf file. This block contains settings for your website.
  • Set the Root Directory: Specify the directory where your website files are located using the root directive. For example: root /var/www/html;
  • Define Server Listen Port: Use the listen directive to specify the port on which your website will listen. The default is port 80. For example: listen 80;
  • Configure Virtual Hosts (Optional): If you want to host multiple websites on the same server, you can create additional server blocks for each website.
  • Save and Restart Nginx: Save the nginx.conf file and restart Nginx for your changes to take effect.

3. Verify Installation

  • Open a Web Browser: Type http://localhost in your web browser.
  • Success: You should see the default Nginx welcome page, indicating that your installation was successful.

4. Deploy Your Website

  • Move Website Files: Copy your website files (HTML, CSS, images, etc.) to the root directory specified in your nginx.conf file.
  • Reload Nginx: Restart or reload Nginx to make the changes effective.

5. Access Your Website

  • Public IP Address: If you want to access your website from the internet, you'll need to configure your router to forward traffic to your server's public IP address.
  • Domain Name: For a more user-friendly approach, you can register a domain name and point it to your server's IP address.

Conclusion

Setting up an Nginx web server on Windows is a simple process that involves downloading, installing, configuring, and deploying your website. By following these steps, you can quickly and easily launch your website.

Related Articles