Overview

Nginx is a high-performance web server known for its speed and efficiency, particularly well-suited for sites with high static content or environments with limited memory. For more details on Nginx, visit the Nginx Wiki.

Using Nginx

Once Nginx support is configured, you can manage virtual servers similar to Apache:

  • Virtual server creation: When creating a new virtual server, select Nginx website enabled under Enabled features, instead of Apache website enabled.
  • CLI API: Use --virtualmin-nginx flag instead of --web for non-SSL websites and --virtualmin-nginx-ssl instead of --ssl for SSL-enabled sites.
  • Remote API: Use the virtualmin-nginx= parameter instead of web=.

Configuring Nginx support in Virtualmin

Clean installation as LEMP stack

  • Automated installation: During Virtualmin installation, use the --bundle LEMP option with the virtualmin-install.sh script. This sets up a LEMP (Linux, Nginx, MariaDB, PHP) stack. For more information, see the LAMP vs. LEMP documentation.

Manual webserver switch

Warning!
Manual switching requires advanced configuration and is typically not recommended for most users because of its technical complexity.
Manual switch from Apache to Nginx
  1. Disable Apache: Disable Apache.
    • Debian and derivatives
      systemctl disable --now apache2
    • EL systems
      systemctl disable --now httpd
  2. Disable Apache website feature for all existing virtual servers
    virtualmin disable-feature --all-domains --web --ssl --status --virtualmin-awstats

    Note: Dependent features such as status and virtualmin-awstats must also be disabled, as they rely on the webserver feature. Depending on your setup, there may be others. Adjust the command flags as needed.

  3. Disable Apache and dependent Virtualmin global features
    virtualmin set-global-feature --disable-feature web --disable-feature ssl --disable-feature virtualmin-htpasswd

    Note: Dependent features such as virtualmin-htpasswd must also be disabled, as they rely on the webserver feature.

  4. Install Nginx and dependencies: Install Nginx and Nginx Virtualmin modules from your repository.
    • Debian and derivatives
      apt-get install nginx-full webmin-virtualmin-nginx webmin-virtualmin-nginx-ssl
    • EL systems
      dnf install nginx webmin-virtualmin-nginx webmin-virtualmin-nginx-ssl
  5. Configure Virtualmin for Nginx
    virtualmin-config-system --include Nginx
  6. Enable Nginx as Virtualmin global feature
    virtualmin set-global-feature --enable-feature virtualmin-nginx --enable-feature virtualmin-nginx-ssl

    Note: Dependent features such as virtualmin-htpasswd should also be re-enabled if they were previously enabled and needed.

  7. Enable Nginx website feature for all existing virtual servers
    virtualmin enable-feature --all-domains --virtualmin-nginx --virtualmin-nginx-ssl

    Note: You may also need to re-enable other features that were disabled in step 2, depending on your configuration.

Switching from Nginx to Apache
  1. Disable Nginx: Disable Nginx.
    • EL systems and Debian derivatives
      systemctl disable --now nginx
  2. Disable Nginx website feature for all existing virtual servers
    virtualmin disable-feature --all-domains --virtualmin-nginx --virtualmin-nginx-ssl --status --virtualmin-awstats

    Note: Dependent features such as status and virtualmin-awstats must also be disabled, as they rely on the webserver feature. Depending on your setup, there may be others. Adjust the command flags as needed.

  3. Disable Nginx and dependent Virtualmin global features
    virtualmin set-global-feature --disable-feature virtualmin-nginx --disable-feature virtualmin-nginx-ssl --disable-feature virtualmin-htpasswd

    Note: Dependent features such as virtualmin-htpasswd must also be disabled, as they rely on the webserver feature.

  4. Install Apache: Install the Apache package along with necessary modules.
    • Debian and derivatives
      apt-get install apache2 libapache2-mod-fcgid apache2-suexec-custom
    • EL systems
      dnf install httpd mod_fcgid mod_ssl mod_http2
  5. Configure Virtualmin for Apache
    virtualmin-config-system --include Apache
  6. Enable Apache as Virtualmin global feature
    virtualmin set-global-feature --enable-feature web --enable-feature ssl

    Note: Dependent features such as virtualmin-htpasswd should also be re-enabled if they were previously enabled and needed.

  7. Enable Apache website feature for all existing virtual servers
    virtualmin enable-feature --all-domains --web --ssl

    Note: You may also need to re-enable other features that were disabled in step 2, depending on your configuration.