Introduction
Deploying a web server is one of the foundational skills for any DevOps engineer. As part of the HNG DevOps Internship (Stage 0), I was tasked with setting up and configuring NGINX on a fresh Ubuntu server. This hands-on project allowed me to explore key aspects of server management, web server configuration, and troubleshooting.
The Task Overview
- Install and configure NGINX on a fresh Ubuntu server.
- Serve a custom HTML page with the message: “Welcome to DevOps Stage 0 - [Your Name]/[SlackName]”.
- Document the process in a blog post, reflecting on challenges, solutions, and personal growth.
My Approach to Completing the Task
Step 1: Setting Up the Ubuntu Server on DigitalOcean
I started by creating a fresh Ubuntu server on DigitalOcean. Here’s how I did it:
1. Sign in to DigitalOcean:
If you don’t have an account, you can create one at DigitalOcean.
2. Create a New Droplet:
- Go to the Create section and select Droplets.
- Choose Ubuntu 20.04 (or any preferred version).
- Select the smallest plan (it’s sufficient for this task).
- Add your SSH key for secure access (or use a password).
You can generate an ssh key-pair on your local machine wih:
ssh-keyen. The directories where your public and private keys are saved will be displayed,catinto your public key and copy.
- Choose a data center region close to your location for faster access.
- Click Create Droplet.
3. Access the Droplet:
Once the droplet was created, I connected to it via SSH on my local machine:
ssh root@your_droplet_ip
Step 2: Installing NGINX
Next, I installed NGINX using Ubuntu’s package manager, apt. Here’s how I did it:
1. Update the Server:
Before installing NGINX, I updated the server to ensure all packages were up to date:
sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y
2. Install NGINX:
I installed NGINX with the following command:
sudo apt install nginx -y
3. Start and Enable NGINX:
After installation, I started the NGINX service and enabled it to run on boot:
sudo systemctl start nginx
sudo systemctl enable nginx
4. Verify NGINX Installation:
To confirm that NGINX was running, I opened my browser and visited http://<your_droplet_ip>. The default NGINX welcome page appeared, indicating a successful installation.
Step 3: Configuring the Custom HTML Page
The task required serving a custom HTML page as the default page. Here’s how I configured it:
1. Navigate to the Web Directory:
I moved to the default directory for web content:
cd /var/www/html
2.Create the Custom HTML File: I opened the index.html file with a text editor (I used
nano):
sudo nano /var/www/html/index.html
3. Add the Custom Message:
I added the following HTML code to the file:
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
<meta charset="UTF-8">
<meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0">
<title>Welcome</title>
<style>
body {
font-family: Arial, sans-serif;
background-color: #2C3E50;
text-align: center;
padding: 50px;
}
h1 {
color: #4CAF50;
font-size: 2.5em;
}
h3 {
color: white;
font-size: 1.5em;
}
p {
color: #333;
font-size: 1.2em;
}
</style>
</head>
<body>
<h1>Welcome to DevOps Stage 0</h1>
<p><h3>[Your Name]/[SlackName]</h3></p>
</body>
</html>
I replaced [Your Name] and [SlackName] with my actual name and Slack username.
4. Save and Exit:
I saved the file and exited the editor (CTRL+X, then Y, then Enter).
5. Restart NGINX:
To apply the changes, I restarted NGINX:
sudo systemctl restart nginx
6. Access the Custom Page:
I revisited http://<your_droplet_ip> in my browser, and the custom HTML page was displayed with the correct message.
Challenges I Faced
1. Permission Issues
When I first tried to edit the /var/www/html/index.html file, I ran into permission issues. I resolved this by using sudo to gain the necessary privileges: sudo nano /var/www/html/index.html
2. Task Requirements
To meet the task requirements, I added the index.html file located at /var/www/html/index.html.
References
As part of this task, I referenced the following resources to deepen my understanding of DevOps roles:
These links provided insights into the responsibilities, skills, and career paths for DevOps professionals.
Final Thoughts
Completing this task provided a good foundation in web server setup and configuration, key skills for any DevOps engineer. More importantly, it highlighted the power of hands-on experience in learning.
For anyone starting in DevOps, I highly recommend working on similar projects. The process of troubleshooting and fixing issues will help you develop confidence and critical thinking skills.
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