How to Set Up Nginx, PHP, and MySQL on Your VPS Print

Setting up a robust server stack is crucial for hosting websites or web applications. Nginx, PHP, and MySQL provide a reliable combination for serving dynamic content. This guide explains how to set up Nginx, PHP, and MySQL on a Linux VPS step by step.

Prerequisites

Before you begin, ensure you have:

1. A VPS: Choose a reliable VPS provider like Hosteons.

2. Linux OS: Use Ubuntu 20.04 or Debian 11 for best results (other distributions may require adjustments).

3. Root Access: Ensure administrative privileges on your VPS.

Step 1: Update Your Server

Start by updating your server to ensure all packages and security patches are up-to-date:

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y

Step 2: Install Nginx

Nginx is a lightweight, high-performance web server. Install it using:

sudo apt install nginx -y

After installation, start and enable Nginx:

sudo systemctl start nginx
sudo systemctl enable nginx

You can verify the installation by visiting your VPS’s IP address in a web browser. You should see the Nginx welcome page.

Step 3: Install MySQL

MySQL is a popular database management system. Install it with:

sudo apt install mysql-server -y

Secure the installation by running:

sudo mysql_secure_installation

Follow the prompts to set a root password, remove test databases, and configure other security settings.

Step 4: Install PHP

PHP is a server-side scripting language used to generate dynamic web content. Install PHP along with necessary extensions:

sudo apt install php-fpm php-mysql -y

Step 5: Configure Nginx to Use PHP

By default, Nginx doesn’t process PHP files. Configure it to pass PHP requests to PHP-FPM:

1. Edit the default Nginx server block configuration:

sudo nano /etc/nginx/sites-available/default

2. Modify the file to include:

server {
    listen 80;
    server_name your_domain_or_IP;
    root /var/www/html;

    index index.php index.html index.htm;

    location / {
        try_files $uri $uri/ =404;
    }

    location ~ \.php$ {
        include snippets/fastcgi-php.conf;
        fastcgi_pass unix:/run/php/php-fpm.sock;
        fastcgi_param SCRIPT_FILENAME $document_root$fastcgi_script_name;
        include fastcgi_params;
    }

    location ~ /\.ht {
        deny all;
    }
}

3. Save the file and test the Nginx configuration:

sudo nginx -t

4. Reload Nginx:

sudo systemctl reload nginx

Step 6: Test PHP

To verify PHP is working:

1. Create a test file:

sudo nano /var/www/html/info.php

2. Add the following content:

<?php
phpinfo();
?>

3. Save the file and visit http://your_server_ip/info.php in a web browser. You should see a PHP information page.

Step 7: Secure Your Server

1. Remove the PHP Info File: Once tested, delete the file to prevent unauthorized access:

sudo rm /var/www/html/info.php

2. Set Up a Firewall: Allow HTTP and HTTPS traffic:

sudo ufw allow 'Nginx Full'
sudo ufw enable

3. Enable SSL: Secure your server with HTTPS using Let’s Encrypt:

sudo apt install certbot python3-certbot-nginx -y
sudo certbot --nginx -d your_domain

Follow the prompts to set up SSL certificates.

Conclusion

You now have a fully configured server stack with Nginx, PHP, and MySQL, ready to host your websites or applications. This setup provides a powerful and efficient foundation for your web hosting needs. Hosteons’ VPS solutions ensure reliable performance and support to keep your applications running smoothly.