Setting Up an NGINX Web Server on Azure and Local Machine: My DevOps Stage 0 Experience

Introduction

As part of my DevOps Stage 0 Intership, I was tasked with setting up and configuring NGINX on a fresh Ubuntu Server. This Challenge aimed to test my ability to install and configure a web server while demonstrating and understanding of basic System Administration. In this blog, I document my approach, the challenges I faced and the lessons learned from the Task.
Approach to Completing the Task
For me to successfully configure NGINX, I followed a structured approach:
I register as a new user on Azure so that I will be able to access the Cloud Infrastructure and create a new/fresh Ubuntu Server.

After Create a new/fresh Ubuntu Server and selected all the necessary things I need to make the server work better.

• Preparing the Server
  I used MobaXterm to connect to the Server using IP address, my Admin Username and the Password I set. Before installing NGINX, I updated my server to ensure all system packages were current
  sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y

• Installing NGINX
  I installed NGINX using:
  sudo apt install nginx -y
  After the installation, I check to know if NGINX is running using command sudo systemctl status nginx it shows

It shows Active and Running and I enable and start nginx using sudo systemctl enable nginx sudo systemctl start nginx

• Configuring Default Page
  I then customized the default web page by modifying the index.html file located at at /var/www/html/index.html. Using the nano text editor, I added the required message needed. sudo nano /var/www/html/index.html and I replaced the content in it with
  `
  

  
  
  Welcome to HNG DevOps Internship
  

  Welcome to DevOps Stage 0- Bolarinwa Gbolahan/Bolarinwa

  
  
  
After writing the code I save with Ctrl X then Y and Press Enter. I restart the NGINX using command sudo systemctl restart nginx`.

• Verifying the Configuration
  
  I check if everything was working correctly, I tested the setup in a web browser by using my IP address and it works perfectly both on Local Machine and Azure Ubuntu Server

Challenges Faces and How I Overcame them

1. NGNIX Not starting after installation I encountered an issue where NGINX wouldn't start. Checking the service status with sudo netstat -tulnp | grep :80
2. Firewall Blocking HTTP Requests After configuring NGINX, I realized my webpage wasn't accessible from a web browser. So I troubleshoot this by sudo ufw status

How this task contribute to my DevOps Learning

The task reinforced my understanding of Ubuntu System Administration, Web Server, NGINX Server, and networking.

References

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