NGINX
Nginx is a web server, as well as a mail, reverse and TCP/UDP proxy server. It works with Unix-like operating systems, including: OpenBSD, FreeBSD, Linux, Mac OS X, Solaris, as well as on Windows. It is a productive and resource-intensive server that can handle many connections simultaneously, with flexible load balancing.
Although Nginx is now owned by F5 Networks, it was originally developed by a Russian programmer and is still used by major Russian web projects, including Rambler and Yandex.
Nginx has a specific approach to data processing, which reduces the load on the RAM and delivers results faster. A working connection is created for each request, within which it is divided into several subtasks. Parts of the query are processed in parallel and faster than the whole. Then the working connection is converted back to the original request and sent to the user. All these operations are performed in a dedicated memory segment that automatically expands depending on the length of the request. This principle of operation makes it possible to use Nginx for various tasks:
- as a dedicated port or IP address to distribute the load on the server;
- as a proxy to cache data and return the result faster in case of repeated page requests;
- as a mail server to redirect an authorized user to mail services;
- for asynchronous, faster request processing.
Nginx can be customized for the tasks of any project. It allows you to assign a main process and additional working processes with limited access. Change settings and update executables without interruption. Make the most of useful Linux APIs and other magic to increase request processing performance.
In high-load projects, Nginx is used in conjunction with a more powerful and complex server, such as Apache or others. Significantly lower system resource requirements, high speed, and flexible configuration make Nginx an excellent front-end server. It will receive requests and decide whether it can efficiently process them on its own or whether they need to be redirected to the backend. Most often, Nginx handles static content, while Apache handles dynamic content, such as video or heavy graphics.
Nginx can do everything you need from a web server. It has tools for serving static requests, reverse proxy with caching, and load balancing. It is a fault-tolerant modular system with compression, paging, image conversion filters, and much more. Nginx supports SSL/TLS and several methods of authentication with redirection, as well as a set of other tools to protect against DDoS attacks.
As a mail and TCP/UDP proxy server, Nginx not only distributes the load, but also allows you to customize control parameters. In particular, you can limit access and the number of simultaneous connections, as well as perform other functions depending on the client's address.
Nginx is a productive and popular web server that can be scaled and customized to meet the requirements of any project. According to Netcraft statistics, a quarter of all the most loaded websites in 2021 use it, both separately and in conjunction with other servers.
Nginx is one of the best solutions on the market for deploying HTTP and proxy servers. It is ideal for working together with Apache and other powerful but resource-hungry backend servers to ensure maximum performance and stability of your project.