How to Install Nginx with HTTP/2 Support on Ubuntu ⋆ ALexHost SRL

⏰ November 1st, 2024 📒

Nginx is a powerful web server known for its performance and efficiency. Enabling HTTP/2 support can enhance website performance by allowing multiplexing of requests, reducing latency, and improving loading times. This guide will walk you through the steps to install Nginx with HTTP/2 support on Ubuntu 18.04/20.04.

1. Prerequisites

Before starting, ensure you have the following:

A server running Ubuntu 18.04 or Ubuntu 20.04 .
Sudo privileges to install packages.

2. Updating the Package Index

Start by updating the package index to ensure you have the latest information on available packages:

sudo apt update

3. Installing Nginx

Step 1: Install Nginx

To install Nginx, run the following command:

sudo apt install nginx

Step 2: Start Nginx

Once installed, start the Nginx service:

sudo systemctl start nginx

Step 3: Enable Nginx to Start on Boot

To ensure Nginx starts automatically at boot, run:

sudo systemctl enable nginx

4. Installing OpenSSL

To use HTTP/2, you need to have SSL/TLS enabled. You can install OpenSSL using:

sudo apt install openssl

5. Obtaining an SSL Certificate

You can obtain a free SSL certificate from Let’s Encrypt. First, install Certbot, which helps in obtaining and managing SSL certificates:

sudo apt install certbot python3-certbot-nginx

Step 1: Obtain the SSL Certificate

Run the following command to obtain a certificate for your domain:

sudo certbot --nginx

Follow the prompts to set up your SSL certificate. Certbot will automatically configure Nginx to use the certificate and enable HTTPS.

6. Configuring Nginx for HTTP/2

Once you have an SSL certificate, you can enable HTTP/2 in the Nginx configuration.

Step 1: Edit the Nginx Configuration File

Open the default Nginx configuration file:

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

Step 2: Update the Server Block

Find the server block for your HTTPS configuration (usually defined with listen 443 ssl;). Update it to include http2 like this:

server { listen 443 ssl http2; server_name your_domain.com; # Replace with your domain ssl_certificate /etc/letsencrypt/live/your_domain.com/fullchain.pem; # Adjust as necessary ssl_certificate_key /etc/letsencrypt/live/your_domain.com/privkey.pem; # Adjust as necessary location / { # Your site configuration } }

Step 3: Save and Exit

Save the changes and exit the editor (CTRL + X, then Y, then Enter).

7. Testing Nginx Configuration

Before restarting Nginx, check for syntax errors in the configuration:

If everything is okay, you will see a confirmation message.

8. Restarting Nginx

To apply the changes, restart the Nginx service:

sudo systemctl restart nginx

9. Verifying HTTP/2 Support

To check if HTTP/2 is enabled, you can use an online tool like tools.keycdn.com/http2-test or use a browser with developer tools.

Step 1: Using Browser Developer Tools

Open your website in a web browser.
Right-click and select Inspect or press F12 to open Developer Tools.
Go to the Network tab and reload the page.
Click on the requests and check the Protocol column to see if HTTP/2 is being used.

10. Conclusion

Installing Nginx with HTTP/2 support on Ubuntu 18.04/20.04 is a great way to improve your website’s performance. By following this guide, you can enable HTTP/2, which enhances loading times and user experience. Regularly monitor your server and keep your software updated to maintain optimal performance and security.

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