In this section, we will cover how to start, stop, and restart the NGINX server. These are fundamental operations that you will frequently perform while managing your NGINX server. We will also discuss how to check the status of the NGINX service.
Key Concepts
- Starting NGINX: Initiating the NGINX service.
- Stopping NGINX: Halting the NGINX service.
- Restarting NGINX: Stopping and then starting the NGINX service.
- Reloading NGINX: Applying configuration changes without stopping the service.
- Checking NGINX Status: Verifying if the NGINX service is running.
Prerequisites
- Ensure NGINX is installed on your system.
- You should have administrative privileges to manage services.
Commands Overview
| Operation | Command |
|---|---|
| Start NGINX | sudo systemctl start nginx |
| Stop NGINX | sudo systemctl stop nginx |
| Restart NGINX | sudo systemctl restart nginx |
| Reload NGINX | sudo systemctl reload nginx |
| Check Status | sudo systemctl status nginx |
Starting NGINX
To start the NGINX service, use the following command:
Explanation
sudo: Executes the command with administrative privileges.systemctl: The command used to interact with the systemd system and service manager.start: The action to start the service.nginx: The name of the service.
Practical Example
After running this command, NGINX will start, and you can access your web server through your browser.
Stopping NGINX
To stop the NGINX service, use the following command:
Explanation
stop: The action to halt the service.
Practical Example
This command will stop the NGINX service, making your web server unavailable.
Restarting NGINX
To restart the NGINX service, use the following command:
Explanation
restart: The action to stop and then start the service.
Practical Example
This command is useful when you want to apply changes that require a full restart of the service.
Reloading NGINX
To reload the NGINX configuration without stopping the service, use the following command:
Explanation
reload: The action to reload the service configuration.
Practical Example
This command is useful for applying configuration changes without downtime.
Checking NGINX Status
To check the status of the NGINX service, use the following command:
Explanation
status: The action to display the current status of the service.
Practical Example
This command will show you whether NGINX is running, stopped, or if there are any issues.
Practical Exercise
- Start NGINX: Ensure NGINX is not running and then start it.
- Stop NGINX: Stop the running NGINX service.
- Restart NGINX: Restart the NGINX service.
- Reload NGINX: Make a minor change in the configuration file and reload NGINX.
- Check Status: Verify the status of NGINX after each operation.
Solution
-
Start NGINX:
sudo systemctl start nginx -
Stop NGINX:
sudo systemctl stop nginx -
Restart NGINX:
sudo systemctl restart nginx -
Reload NGINX:
- Edit the configuration file (e.g.,
/etc/nginx/nginx.conf). - Reload NGINX:
sudo systemctl reload nginx
- Edit the configuration file (e.g.,
-
Check Status:
sudo systemctl status nginx
Common Mistakes and Tips
- Permission Issues: Ensure you use
sudoto avoid permission errors. - Configuration Errors: Always check your configuration file for errors before reloading or restarting NGINX using
nginx -t. - Service Not Found: Ensure NGINX is installed and the service name is correct.
Conclusion
In this section, you learned how to start, stop, restart, reload, and check the status of the NGINX service. These operations are essential for managing your NGINX server effectively. In the next module, we will explore how to use NGINX as a web server to serve static content.