NGINX Mastery

Name: NGINX Mastery
Rating: 4.1 (36 reviews)

Install NGINX, set up virtual hosts, locations and logs, run PHP and MariaDB as a LEMP stack, plus Vagrant and Git labs

Created byVitalii Shumylo

Last updated 10/2026

English

English [Auto],

What you'll learn

Install NGINX and troubleshoot the service on an older Linux system
Learn the important files, folders and commands
Read the NGINX configuration file with confidence
Configure virtual hosts, add files to the root directory and set up locations
Configure logs and use them to troubleshoot NGINX
Install PHP, then MariaDB, and see a LEMP stack working
Build a lab with Vagrant: single and multiple virtual machines, base boxes and networking
Learn Git basics: installation, the first commit, remote repositories, cloning, gitignore and branches

Course content

2 sections • 35 lectures • 2h 43m total length

Installing NGINX1:28
Set up a vagrant ubuntu environment, then update packages, install nginx, and start the nginx service.
Troubleshooting NGINX service (on older Linux system)7:29
Troubleshoot the Engine X nginx web server on an older linux system by installing, starting, and restarting the service, diagnosing port 80 conflicts, and inspecting status and logs.
NGINX Important Files and Forders3:04
Explore nginx files and directories on Linux, including the main configuration file, mime types, fastcgi, proxy settings, and sites-available and sites-enabled configurations, plus log monitoring.
NGIMX Important Commands1:25
Learn to control the Engine X service on Linux using systemctl commands, manage root privileges with sudo, start and stop Engine X, and view status with or without a pager.
Mastering the NGINX Configuration File4:03
Explore engine X's main configuration file, understanding directives and blocks, including user, worker_connections, worker processes auto, pid file, include directives, sites enabled, and events and http blocks.
Virtual Host Configuration in NGINX9:09
Configure a demo nginx site by removing the default site, creating a new server block that listens on port 80 for the domain, and validating with syntax test and curl.
Virtual Host Configuration in NGINX. Part 22:39
Configure nginx to serve multiple sites by using the default_server on listen and setting the server_name; specify index.html, test with nginx -t, then reload and verify on localhost.
Add files to the root directory2:40
Replace the default html with your files, create css and javascript folders, link a css file for styling, and clone the GitHub repo into the web root to configure nginx.
Configure locations4:04
Explore configuring Nginx with location directives to route requests via exact, prefix, and regex matches, using URI and root, and serving custom 404 and 500 error pages.
Configure logs and troubleshoot NGINX6:18
Configure nginx access and error logs for a virtual host and its locations to monitor requests and troubleshoot issues, then test and reload the configuration.
Install PHP on NGINX5:28
Install php-fpm and php-mysql on the nginx stack and configure fastcgi_pass to enable dynamic PHP pages. Verify PHP installation with a PHP info page and ensure secure, efficient request handling.
Install MariaDB on NGINX and LEMP stack demonstration10:21
Install MariaDB on the nginx and php stack, secure the database, create an admin user and the appointments database, and deploy a PHP app that lists appointments using mysqli.

Installing Vagrant4:15
Install VirtualBox and Vagrant on Linux, Windows, and macOS using apt commands on Ubuntu or standard installers; verify installations with VirtualBox and vagrant --version, and reboot when required.
Working with s single VM in Vagrant. Section Overview0:58
Learn the basics of using vagrant to manage a single vm, including boxes, power control, suspend and resume, and host-vm integration with port forwarding, folder mapping, and networking.
Importing and using base boxes in Vagrant8:51
Initialize a vagrant project with a named base box, download it from vagrant cloud if missing, and generate a vagrant file to define virtual machine settings, provisioning, and synchronized folders.
Managing Vagrant boxes. Part 13:38
Learn to manage vagrant boxes with vagrant box sub commands, list and remove, while vagrant up handles downloads, networking, port forwarding, shared folders, and provisioning with Puppet or Ansible.
Managing Vagrant boxes. Part 29:41
Destroy and recreate vagrant environments from a base box configuration file and provisioning files, then connect via vagrant ssh, configure port forwarding and synced folders, and apply provisioning tools.
Managing Vagrant boxes. Part 34:36
Learn to manage Vagrant boxes with add, list, outdated, update, remove, and status commands, using name, force, clean, and provider flags, plus global status to view all boxes.
Working with multiple VMs in Vagrant. Section Overview1:25
Learn to work with multiple virtual machines in a single Vagrant project to test distributed architectures locally, configuring distinct names, IPs, base boxes, provisioning, and shared folders.
Defining and connecting to multiple virtual machines in Vagrant4:41
Define and connect to multiple virtual machines with Vagrant by configuring per-VM settings, naming each VM, and using SSH port mappings to access them from the host.
Networking the multiple virtual machines in Vagrant3:46
Configure and run two Vagrant virtual machines on a private network with predefined IP addresses, enabling direct machine-to-machine communication and conflict-free networking through Vagrant networking options.
Building Lab Environment with Vagrant12:02
Set up and manage a multi-VM lab using vagrant and VirtualBox, configure with Ansible, provision ubuntu vms, verify connectivity, and control via vagrant commands and port forwarding.
Introduction to Git1:54
Discover Git as a distributed version control system that tracks project history and enables offline work for collaborative teams. Understand Git vs. GitHub and prepare for installation and first commands.
Git: Getting installed1:23
Learn to install git on Ubuntu, Windows, or macOS, verify the installation with git --version, use git bash, and set global configuration settings for your workflows.
Git: A few important configuration settings2:47
Explore global git configuration by setting your user name and email, enabling color output, and editing the .gitconfig file, then verify with git config --list.
Git: Creating a project. The first commit6:06
Create and initialize a git repository in a project directory, track changes with git status and git add, commit with messages, and copy files to a remote repository for collaboration.
Git: Working with remote repositories3:36
Create a remote GitHub repository and push your local project by configuring origin and using git push -u origin master.
Git: Cloning a project from the remote repository2:26
Learn how to clone a remote repository with git clone, create and modify files, add and commit changes, and push or pull updates with origin master.
Git: Configuring .gitignore file3:46
Configure the dot git ignore file in the repository root to prevent git from tracking files you don't want tracked. Add items and commit them, and verify with git status.
Git: Git important commands. Viewing commits' history4:11
Learn essential git commands for tracking changes, viewing diffs, staging, and committing, and explore history with git log and git show using short commit hashes.
Branches in Git. Creating, deleting and renaming branches5:36
Learn to create and switch branches in git, manage remote and local branches, rename branches, and safely delete them using commands like git branch and git checkout.
Creating an IIS website on Nano Server with PowerShell7:54
Create and configure an IIS website on a nano server using PowerShell, set binding to port 80, and verify with Get-Website after importing WebAdministration.
Introduction to PowerShell Key Concepts3:17
Master the basics of PowerShell, navigate directories, use aliases and common cmdlets, explore pipelines and variables, and access help and command discovery for script creation.
Intro to WMI and CIM8:06
Explore WMI and CIM as DMTF standards, compare WMI and CIM implementations, and note WMI repository access, PowerShell support, and remote management capabilities.
Bonus Lecture: What to Learn Next0:18

Requirements

General familiarity with server administration
Willingness to work in a Linux command line
A Linux machine or virtual machine

Description

NGINX serves a large part of the web, and its configuration file is shorter than it looks once you know the building blocks. In this course you install NGINX on Linux, learn how it is configured, and finish with a working web stack, with every step shown on screen so you can repeat it.

Inside the course

The course is organised into these sections: Getting Started; Additional Materials. Lectures you will find include: NGINX Important Files and Forders; NGIMX Important Commands; Mastering the NGINX Configuration File; Virtual Host Configuration in NGINX; Add files to the root directory; Configure logs and troubleshoot NGINX; Install PHP on NGINX; Install MariaDB on NGINX and LEMP stack demonstration; Working with s single VM in Vagrant. Section Overview; Importing and using base boxes in Vagrant; Managing Vagrant boxes; Working with multiple VMs in Vagrant. Section Overview; Defining and connecting to multiple virtual machines in Vagrant; Networking the multiple virtual machines in Vagrant; Building Lab Environment with Vagrant; Introduction to Git; Git: Getting installed; Git: A few important configuration settings; Git: Creating a project. The first commit; Git: Working with remote repositories; Git: Cloning a project from the remote repository; Git: Git important commands. Viewing commits' history; Branches in Git. Creating, deleting and renaming branches; Creating an IIS website on Nano Server with PowerShell; Introduction to PowerShell Key Concepts; Intro to WMI and CIM.

The course runs about 2.7 hours in 35 lectures. It is a focused introduction to NGINX, so it does not cover load balancing, reverse proxy tuning or security hardening in depth. The Vagrant and Git sections are additional material that supports the labs.

Who this course is for:

System administrators who need to run a web server on Linux
DevOps technicians who want to understand NGINX configuration
Beginners who want a first practical NGINX course
Automation technicians who need a LEMP stack

NGINX Mastery

What you'll learn

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Course content

Getting Started12 lectures • 58min

Additional Materials23 lectures • 1hr 45min

Requirements

Description

Who this course is for: