Mastering Web Server Setup: A Step-by-Step Guide to Installing and Configuring NGINX on a Fresh Ubuntu System

#cloudcomputing #devops #webserver #aws

As part of my journey into DevOps, I recently completed the HNG DevOps Stage 0 - NGINX Configuration task. This experience provided hands-on exposure to setting up a web server, configuring it, and troubleshooting issues in a cloud environment. Below, I share my approach, challenges, and the impact this task had on my learning and career development.

Approach to Completing the Task

To complete the task, I followed these structured steps:

Launching an AWS EC2 Instance

I logged into the AWS Management Console and launched an Ubuntu EC2 instance.

Configured the security group to allow HTTP (port 80) and SSH (port 22) access

Connected to the instance via SSH using the command:

2. Installing and Configuring NGINX

update package repositories and installed NGINX

3. Creating a Custom HTML Page

Modified the default index.html page to display:

Restarted NGINX to apply changes:

4. Testing the Configuration

Opened a browser and accessed http://13.60.55.194 to verify that the webpage was correctly served.

Challenges and How I Overcame Them

Security Group Misconfiguration

Initially, I couldn't access the webpage from my browser. After troubleshooting, I realized that the security group settings didn’t allow HTTP traffic. To fix this, I updated the AWS security group rules to allow port 80 (HTTP) from all sources.

How This Task Contributes to My Learning and Career Goals

This task was a foundational step in my DevOps journey. By working with AWS EC2 and NGINX, I gained

Practical cloud deployment experience, which is essential for roles like Cloud Engineer (HNG Cloud Engineers).
Web server configuration skills, a key competency for DevOps Engineers (HNG DevOps Engineers).
Problem-solving abilities, as I learned to troubleshoot and resolve real-world server issues.

This experience has reinforced my passion for cloud computing and DevOps, bringing me one step closer to my professional goal of becoming a skilled Cloud & DevOps Engineer.

Conclusion

Setting up NGINX on AWS EC2 was a rewarding challenge. It provided valuable hands-on experience with cloud infrastructure, web server configuration, and troubleshooting. I look forward to applying these skills in more complex DevOps environments and real-world cloud projects.

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