Migrate from Apache to Nginx for WordPress

This article describes how to easily migrate from the Apache web server to an Nginx web server for running WordPress.

Many websites today are powered by Apache, as it is the default choice for most Linux distributions. It is typically selected to run websites hosted by providers that use cPanel or similar management tools.

Nginx is a web server that has gained popularity over time. It is easy to manage, lightweight, and fast. While most web administrators may not need to switch, some might find Nginx more advantageous than Apache in specific situations.

This guide helps users transition from Apache to Nginx on Ubuntu for running WordPress.

Install Nginx

While many web servers can be installed on a Linux system, only one can run at the same time on any selected standard port.

For instance, if you’re running a web server on ports [80 or 443], you can only have one web server active at a time. If you try to start a second web server on the same port, it will be blocked because the port is already in use, and the second server will fail to start.

To install Nginx, run the commands below.

sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install nginx

To manage the Nginx web server after installation, you can use the following commands to start, stop, and enable the Nginx service to automatically start whenever the server boots.

sudo systemctl stop nginx.service
sudo systemctl start nginx.service
sudo systemctl enable nginx.service

If Apache web server is already in use, Nginx will fail to start. That’s is normal.

Install Nginx PHP-FPM

Unlike Apache2, Nginx delegates PHP processing to a dedicated PHP handler such as PHP-FPM. Therefore, if you are operating PHP-based websites like WordPress or other content management systems, it is essential to install PHP-FPM or another PHP handler.

To do that, run the commands below.

sudo apt-get install php-fpm

Access the default PHP-FPM configuration file at the location below. Ensure the correct PHP version is referenced by replacing the highlighted version number.

sudo nano /etc/php/8.3/fpm/php.ini

Then, find [cgi.fix_pathinfo] parameter under Paths and Directories and change the line to:

cgi.fix_pathinfo=0

Next, open the file below from this location:

sudo nano /etc/php/8.3/fpm/pool.d/www.conf

Then make sure the line reads

listen = /run/php/php8.3-fpm.sock

After that, please save the file and close it.

Configure Nginx Website Settings

Next, open the Nginx default configuration file from the location below:

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

Then make sure the settings look like the content below:

server {
    listen 80;
    listen [::]:80;
    root /var/www/wordpress;
    index  index.php;
    server_name  wordpress.example.com;

    access_log /var/log/nginx/example.com.access.log;
    error_log /var/log/nginx/example.com.error.log;   
    
    location / {
        try_files $uri $uri/ /index.php?$args;
    }

    location ~ .php$ {
         include snippets/fastcgi-php.conf;
         fastcgi_pass unix:/var/run/php/php8.3-fpm.sock;
         fastcgi_param SCRIPT_FILENAME $document_root$fastcgi_script_name;
         include fastcgi_params;
    }
}

Finally, save the configuration file and continue to switch.

Make the Switch

After configuring the Nginx settings above, run the commands below to stop the Apache webserver and start Nginx.

sudo systemctl stop apache2.service
sudo systemctl start nginx.service

Test your server’s hostname or IP address. Hopefully, your website is still up. If it is not, switch Apache2 back on and stop Nginx. Then, validate your Nginx configuration settings again.

When Nginx is functioning properly, you can execute the following commands to remove the Apache package. Although it is optional, you may choose to do so.

sudo apt-get remove apache2 apache2-utils apache2.2-bin apache2.2-common libapache2-mod-php

That should do it!

Conclusion:

Migrating from Apache to Nginx can provide several advantages for your WordPress site. Here are the key takeaways from this migration guide:

• Performance Improvement: Nginx is lightweight and can handle a higher number of simultaneous connections compared to Apache, improving overall performance.
• Efficient Resource Usage: Nginx uses less memory and CPU resources, making it ideal for servers with limited resources.
• Asynchronous Processing: Nginx’s event-driven architecture allows it to manage connections efficiently, reducing latency and improving loading times.
• More Control: Nginx provides more granular control over request handling and configuration, giving you the ability to customize your server setup effectively.
• Scalability: Nginx is better suited for high-traffic websites, enabling them to scale more easily without requiring additional resources.
• Future-Proofing: By adopting Nginx, you align your WordPress hosting environment with modern web standards, ensuring better compatibility with new technologies.

Overall, if you are looking for improved performance, resource efficiency, and scalability for your WordPress website, switching to Nginx can be a significant advantage.