Nextcloud Nginx Installation and Configuration Guide

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Installing Nextcloud with Nginx is a great way to get started with this powerful file syncing and sharing service. You can install Nginx on most Linux distributions, including Ubuntu and CentOS.

To begin, you'll want to update your package list and install Nginx using the package manager. On Ubuntu, this can be done with the command `sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install nginx`.

The next step is to configure Nginx to serve Nextcloud, which involves creating a new server block and specifying the correct settings. This includes setting the server name, document root, and other important parameters.

For more insights, see: Ubuntu Nextcloud

Prerequisites

To set up Nextcloud with Nginx, you'll need to have a few things in place first.

You'll need to install LEMP stack on Ubuntu 20.04, as Nextcloud is written in PHP programming language. I recommend checking out a tutorial on how to do this if you haven't already.

A domain name is also necessary, so you can enable HTTPS to encrypt the HTTP traffic. I registered my domain name from NameCheap because the price is low and they give whois privacy protection free for life.

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You can install Nextcloud on your home server or a VPS, but keep in mind that you'll need to port forward ports 80 and 443 on your router.

Here's a rundown of the prerequisites:

  • Ubuntu 20.04 installed and running with all necessary scripts
  • A registered or otherwise hosted domain
  • Ports 80, and 443 port forwarded on your router
  • A DNS record from your domain to your public IP address

Installation

To install NextCloud with Nginx, start by installing the Nginx web server on your Ubuntu 20.04 server.

You can do this by logging in to the server and updating the repository, then installing Nginx using the apt command. After installation, start the Nginx service and enable it to launch every time at system boot using systemctl.

Next, you'll need to create a database and database user for Nextcloud, which you can do by logging in to mysql with the mysql command.

Install Webserver

To install a web server, you'll need to start by installing Nginx, which is a popular choice for its speed and reliability.

First, update the repository on your server to ensure you have access to the latest packages. This is a crucial step before making any installations.

For your interest: Nextcloud Server

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Next, install Nginx using the apt command. This will download and install the necessary files for the web server.

After installation, start the Nginx service to get it up and running. This will make your server accessible to the outside world.

Finally, enable the Nginx service to launch every time your system boots. This will ensure your web server is always available, even after a reboot.

Install PHP7.4-FPM

Ubuntu 20.04 comes with PHP 7.4 as the default version.

To get started, you'll need to install the PHP and PHP-FPM packages using the apt command.

The installation process is straightforward, and once complete, you'll need to configure the php.ini files for php-fpm and php-cli.

Head to the '/etc/php/7.4' directory to make the necessary changes.

Edit the php.ini files using vim, and don't forget to uncomment the 'date.timezone' line and update the value with your own timezone.

Next, move on to editing the php-fpm pool configuration 'www.conf', where you'll need to uncomment specific lines.

After making these changes, restart the PHP7.4-FPM service and enable it to launch every time the system boots.

To verify that PHP-FPM is up and running, use the provided command.

Configuration

Credit: youtube.com, Nextcloud Nginx Proxy Manager in 10 Minutes!

To configure Nextcloud with Nginx, you need to create a virtual host file for Nextcloud in the '/etc/nginx/sites-available' directory.

The virtual host configuration for Nextcloud should be created with a file named 'nextcloud', and you should enable and test the configuration to ensure there are no errors.

You'll also need to restart the PHP7.4-FPM service and Nginx service using the systemctl command to apply the changes.

To enable memory caching for Nextcloud, you can use Redis, which requires installing the Redis server and the PHP extension for interfacing with Redis.

In the Redis configuration, you'll need to add a PHP extension to the file '/usr/share/nginx/nextcloud/config/config.php'.

Create MariaDB Database and User

To create a MariaDB database and user for Nextcloud, start by logging into the MariaDB database server with the command `sudo mysql`. Since MariaDB is using the unix_socket plugin for authentication, you won't need to enter the MariaDB root password.

Create a new database user with a preferred name and password, replacing "your-password" with your chosen password. You can use any name you like for this user.

Grant this user all privileges on the nextcloud database, ensuring they have the necessary permissions to manage the database.

To enable auto-start at boot time, use the command to enable it.

Curious to learn more? Check out: Connections - Oracle Fusion Cloud Applications

Create Config File

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To create a config file, you'll need to open the file vi /usr/share/nginx/nextcloud/config/config.php and add specific lines to the file.

You'll need to add lines to the config.php file, which is a crucial step in the NextCloud configuration process.

Next, you need to restart the nginx and php-fpm services to apply the changes.

This is a critical step that ensures your NextCloud setup is properly configured for optimal performance.

To create a nextcloud.conf file, you'll need to use a command-line text editor like Nano and copy the following text into the file.

Replace nextcloud.example.com with your own preferred sub-domain and create a DNS A record for this sub-domain in your DNS zone editor.

If you don't have a real domain name, you can buy one from NameCheap, which offers low prices and free whois privacy protection for life.

Save and close the file by pressing Ctrl+O, then Enter to confirm, and Ctrl+X to exit.

You'll also need to test Nginx configuration to ensure everything is working correctly.

If the test is successful, reload Nginx for the changes to take effect, which is an essential step in the configuration process.

Setting Up PHP to Query System Environment Variables

Credit: youtube.com, How to set PHP (system environment variable)

Setting up PHP to query system environment variables is a crucial step in configuring your server. You'll need to edit the www.conf file to make this happen.

To edit the www.conf file, you can use a text editor or run a command to uncomment a specific line. If you're using the command, save and close the file, then reload Nginx for the changes to take effect.

Then, you'll need to restart PHP-FPM to ensure everything is running smoothly. You can check if PHP-FPM is running and auto-start is enabled by looking for a screenshot that shows it's running and auto-start is enabled. If it's not running, you can execute a command to start it.

After making these changes, you may need to restart Nginx and PHP-FPM to ensure everything is working properly.

A fresh viewpoint: Azure File Sync Agent

Security

Security is a top priority for any Nextcloud installation. To ensure your data is protected, enable HTTPS to establish a secure connection.

Credit: youtube.com, Effortlessly Install and Secure Nextcloud with Portainer and NGINX Proxy Manager | Docker Series

You'll need to obtain a free TLS certificate from Let's Encrypt, which can be done using the Certbot client. To install Certbot, run the command: `python3-certbot-nginx`. Then, obtain a free TLS certificate by running the command with the following flags: `--nginx --agree-tos --redirect --hsts --staple-ocsp --email --d`.

If you encounter issues with Certbot adding the HSTS header to your Nginx config file, you can manually add the line `add_header Strict-Transport-Security "max-age=31536000";` to the SSL server block.

If you have a static public IP address, you can create an IP whitelist in the Nginx config file to restrict access to the /login URL. To do this, add the following lines to the SSL server block: `allow 78.56.34.12; deny all;` (replace `78.56.34.12` with your own IP address).

For your interest: Ingress Nginx Azure

Generate SSL Letsencrypt

To generate an SSL certificate for your Nextcloud installation, you can use Let's Encrypt. You can either use a domain name or generate a Self-Signed certificate using OpenSSL if you don't have a domain name or are installing Nextcloud on your local computer.

Credit: youtube.com, Create an SSL Certificate Without Ports 80 and 443 (Certbot/LetsEncrypt)

To generate the SSL certificate for your domain name, you'll need to use the Certbot command line. The command to generate the certificate for a domain name 'nextcloud.hakase-labs.io' is shown in Example 1.

You'll be asked for an email address, which will be used for renewal notifications. You'll also need to agree to the Let's Encrypt terms of service by typing 'A'. If you don't want to share your email address, you can type 'N'.

Here are the options you can use with the Certbot command:

  • –nginx: Use the Nginx authenticator and installer
  • –agree-tos: Agree to Let’s Encrypt terms of service
  • –redirect: Enforce HTTPS by adding 301 redirect
  • –hsts: Enable HTTP Strict Transport Security
  • –staple-ocsp: Enable OCSP Stapling
  • –email: Email used for registration and recovery contact
  • -d flag is followed by a list of domain names, separated by comma

Note that you can add up to 100 domain names to the command.

Preventing Malicious Logins

Having a static public IP address can be a security risk if not managed properly.

You can create an IP whitelist in the Nginx config file to prevent malicious login attempts.

This involves adding specific lines to the SSL server block to restrict access to sensitive URLs, such as the login page.

For example, adding lines like "allow 78.56.34.12" will only allow access to the /login URL from that specific IP address.

Replace 78.56.34.12 with your own IP address to make this restriction effective.

Discover more: Find Mac Address

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the maximum file size for Nextcloud NGINX?

The maximum file size for uploads in Nextcloud NGINX is 512MB, but can be increased up to the limits of your filesystem and operating system, which is less than 2GB on 32-bit OS architectures.

What is NGINX virtual host?

NGINX virtual host is also known as a server block, allowing you to host multiple websites on a single server. This feature enables efficient management of multiple domains from a single server.

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