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What is Nginx – Beginner’s Guide

Nginx is a web server and more; it has various uses in addition to its primary purpose, all of which are related to improving the performance of sites that require high performance and resource demand. We will explore all that Nginx can do, how it works, and in what situations it can be used to improve the response of your website, including how to combine it with other web servers if necessary.

What is Nginx?

As we have said before, Nginx is a web server; it is pronounced “engine-ex” and is an open-source software, so it can be installed on any server without having to pay any license.

There is a paid option called Nginx Plus, but the free version is the most widely used.

We have also commented that it is a web server, “…and more” and that is that Nginx has other functions for use. These are the most common: web server, reverse proxy for HTTP and HTTPS, and load balancer between servers.

One of the most important qualities of Nginx as a web server is that it is capable of supporting multiple simultaneous connections, something that other web servers cannot support.

When there is a lot of traffic on a website and many concurrent connections, Nginx can serve them much more easily than other web servers, which are unable to do so when concurrent connections reach a certain limit.

Nginx is capable of working with more than 10 thousand concurrent connections, so websites that have this demand use Nginx as a server.

Companies such as Apple, Netflix, and Cloudflare make use of Nginx in some of their sections, as they are sites that have to manage many requests at the same time and Nginx works very well in situations of high demand and availability.

Nginx’s RAM memory consumption is really low, which is another point in favor of Nginx, since current websites, with all the dynamism that users like so much, are true RAM gobblers.

This is achieved by working asynchronously, rather than synchronously. If a server works synchronously, it can only handle one request at a time; that is, each time the web browser makes a request, the server receives it and processes it to respond, and when it finishes with one request, it continues with another and so on.

By working asynchronously, Nginx can service multiple requests at the same time, greatly improving concurrent requests from multiple tasks. From a master process, it can manage different work processes or threads and serve the same information to the threads that are requesting the same thing, speeding up the process and being able to manage thousands of requests without reducing the performance of the server due to request saturation.

This also helps you to quickly manage the static content of a website, such as images, videos, HTML, CSS, etc., something that can be used as a reverse proxy.

Load balancing is another of Nginx’s qualities, since it can be configured to distribute requests among different servers that share the same information, so if one server is very saturated, it can send the request to another that has more available resources.

Nginx can also be used as a proxy for IMAP and POP as well as SMTP and can work with IP versions: IPv4 and IPv6.

Is Nginx or Apache better?

There is a debate about whether it is better to use Nginx or Apache as a web server. Apache is an old acquaintance in web servers, being powerful, reliable, and having many years and a large user community behind it.

It is also the most compatible web server available. Until recently, Apache had the highest market share, with developers and users preferring to rely on its experience over other types of web servers.

According to W3techs‘ statistics, Nginx currently slightly surpasses Apache in terms of usage, making it the most used web server at the moment.

Its great performance and its open-source character have convinced many users to install it on their servers, which is why it is so popular.

On the other hand, can you imagine configuring a hosting without an .htaccess file? Nginx does not have an .htaccess file, nor any other additional configuration file, making it more complex to configure a web application such as WordPress, which makes intensive use of .htaccess.

However, this does not mean it cannot be configured; the configuration changes are made from the server’s configuration files. This is one of the reasons why Nginx is so good at times of high performance, as it does not accept external configuration files.

Apache with Nginx as Reverse Proxy

Nginx has been shown to be an effective web server for high requests and static web content, but it is not as user friendly as Apache because it does not support configuration files such as htaccess.

To take advantage of both, many people choose to use Apache and Nginx together. Apache is used as the web server and Nginx’s reverse proxy feature is used to serve the static web content, which speeds up the content delivery process.

A reverse proxy acts as an intermediary between the browser or application request and the server, using the cache to serve the non-dynamic content, freeing the web server from that action and allowing it to deliver the content faster.

Apache is still used to configure the application installed on the server, such as WordPress, and the .htaccess file is still used. This combination is popular and can greatly improve the performance of the sites, but it requires extensive knowledge to configure it correctly.

If your website has high demand for processes and requires high performance, Nginx is a great option to consider. It is unmatched in its ability to manage multiple simultaneous connections and its RAM memory consumption is very low, resulting in a lower investment in server resources. However, if you need more compatibility or need to use the htaccess file configuration, you can use a combination of Apache and Nginx with its reverse proxy feature to take advantage of its ability to handle multiple concurrent connections and static content delivery.

Conclusion

However, if you need more compatibility or need to use the .htaccess file configuration, you can use a combination of Apache and Nginx with its reverse proxy feature to take advantage of its ability to handle multiple concurrent connections and static content delivery.

Subdomain vs. Subfolder: Which Is Better for SEO

Subdomains and subfolders are two methods of organizing content on a website. Both have their own advantages and disadvantages when it comes to search engine optimization (SEO). In this blog post, we’ll discuss what subdomains and subfolders are, and explore the pros and cons of each option to help you determine which is better for your website’s SEO.

What are Subdomains?

A subdomain is a separate section of a website that is set up as a subdomain of the main domain. For example, if the main domain of a website is “example.com” a subdomain might be “blog.example.com” or “support.example.com”.

Subdomains are typically used to organize content into distinct sections or categories. For example, a company might use a subdomain for their blog, another subdomain for customer support, and another for their online store.

One advantage of using subdomains is that they allow you to separate content into distinct areas, which can be useful for organizing large websites. However, there are also some potential downsides to using subdomains for SEO.

What are Subfolders?

A subfolder, also known as a subdirectory, is a folder within the main directory of a website. For example, if the main directory of a website is “example.com“ a subfolder might be “example.com/blog“ or “example.com/support”.

Subfolders are often used to organize content into categories or sections, much like subdomains. The main difference is that subfolders are considered to be part of the main domain, rather than separate entities.

One advantage of using subfolders is that they are considered to be part of the main domain, which can be beneficial for SEO. However, there are also some potential drawbacks to using subfolders.

How to Create a Subfolder/Subdirectory in cPanel

Creating a subdirectory in cPanel is an important part of managing your website’s content. Subdirectories allow you to organize your website’s content and keep related information together. This makes it easier for visitors to find what they are looking for, and it can increase your search engine rankings. Fortunately, creating a subdirectory in cPanel web hosting control panel is a fairly simple process.

The first step is to log into your cPanel account. Once you’re in, you’ll see a section labeled “Files”. Click on “File Manager” to open the file manager. This is where you’ll be creating your new subdirectory.

The next step is to navigate to the directory where you want to create your subdirectory. You’ll see a list of the existing directories and files on the left side of the screen. Click on the directory where you’d like to create your new subdirectory.

Once you’ve selected the directory, you’ll see a menu of options at the top of the screen. Click on the “New Folder” icon to create a new subdirectory. A box will appear where you can enter the name for your

Subdomains vs. Subfolders: Which is Better for SEO?

So, which is better for SEO: subdomains or subfolders? The answer is not cut and dry, as both options have their own pros and cons when it comes to SEO.

One potential advantage of using subdomains is that they allow you to separate content into distinct sections, which can be helpful for organizing large websites. This can also make it easier for users to find the content they are looking for.

However, subdomains are treated as separate entities by search engines, which means that they may not receive as much “link juice” (the value passed through links from one page to another) as subfolders. This can make it more difficult for subdomains to rank well in search engine results.

On the other hand, subfolders are considered to be part of the main domain, which can be beneficial for SEO. This means that they may receive more link juice and have an easier time ranking in search results.

Additionally, subfolders may be easier for users to understand and navigate, as they are part of the main domain and do not require an additional level of hierarchy (e.g. blog.example.com). This can improve the user experience and make it more likely that users will spend more time on the site.

There are also some potential drawbacks to using subfolders for SEO. For example, if a website has a large number of subfolders, it can become difficult for users to navigate and find the content they are looking for. Additionally, it can be more difficult for search engines to crawl and index a large number of subfolders, which can impact the website’s SEO.

Ultimately, the decision of whether to use subdomains or subfolders will depend on the specific needs and goals of your website. Here are a few things to consider when deciding which option is best for your website’s SEO:

Size and organization of your website: If you have a large website with a lot of content, subdomains may be a good option for organizing that content into distinct sections. On the other hand, if your website is smaller or more focused, subfolders may be a better choice.

Link juice and ranking: As mentioned above, subfolders may receive more link juice and have an easier time ranking in search results than subdomains. This is because subfolders are considered to be part of the main domain, rather than separate entities.

User experience: Consider how easy it will be for users to navigate your website and find the content they are looking for. Subfolders may be easier for users to understand and navigate, as they do not require an additional level of hierarchy.

Crawlability: If your website has a large number of subfolders, it may be more difficult for search engines to crawl and index all of that content. This can impact your website’s SEO.

In conclusion, both subdomains and subfolders have their own advantages and disadvantages when it comes to SEO. The best option for your website will depend on your specific needs and goals. Consider the size and organization of your website, the potential for link juice and ranking, the user experience, and crawlability when deciding which option is best for your website.

How to point Godaddy Domain to Siteground

So you’ve bought a GoDaddy domain and are now looking to connect it to Siteground? Great choice! Siteground is one of the most popular and reliable hosting companies out there, and connecting your domain is a simple process. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to do it.

Step 1: Log Into GoDaddy

The first step is to log into your GoDaddy account. Once logged in, click on the ‘Manage’ button next to the domain you’d like to connect to Siteground.

godaddy domain

Step 2: Find Your DNS Settings

On the next page, you’ll see a list of different DNS settings. Scroll down until you find the ‘Nameservers’ section.

Step 3: Change the Nameservers

In the ‘Nameservers’ section, you’ll see a list of the current nameservers that are associated with your domain. To connect the domain to Siteground, you’ll need to change these nameservers to the ones provided by Siteground.

Step 4: Save Your Changes

Once you’ve entered the new nameservers, click on ‘Save Changes’. This will save the changes to your domain and you’ll be ready to connect it to Siteground.

Step 5: Log Into Siteground

The next step is to log into your Siteground account. Once logged in, click on the “Domains” tab and then on the “Add Domain” button.

Step 6: Add Your Domain

On the next page, you’ll be asked to enter the domain name that you want to add. Enter the domain name that you just changed the nameservers for and click on “Add Domain”.

Step 7: Connect Your Domain

Once you’ve added the domain, you’ll see a page with the domain’s DNS settings. Scroll down to the “Nameservers” section and enter the nameservers that you changed in Step 3. Once done, click on “Save”.

And that’s it! You’ve now successfully connected your GoDaddy domain to Siteground. It’s a simple process that shouldn’t take more than a few minutes.

Happy Deploy!!