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Nginx Setup: Migrating Your WordPress Site from Apache to Nginx

What Will You Learn in This Guide?​

In this guide, you will learn how to migrate a WordPress site running on Apache to Nginx and PHP-FPM architecture.
The aim is to achieve lower resource usage and high traffic endurance.

🧠 Technical Summary​

Main Technical Topic:
Migrating WordPress from Apache to Nginx on Ubuntu server.

Solved Problem:
Apache's increased resource consumption under high traffic.

Steps Followed:

  • Nginx and PHP-FPM installation
  • PHP-FPM security settings
  • Nginx server block configuration
  • Disabling Apache service

1️⃣ Nginx and PHP-FPM Installation​

sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install nginx php5-fpm
  • This command installs the Nginx web server and PHP handler.

2️⃣ PHP-FPM Security Configuration​


sudo nano /etc/php5/fpm/php.ini
  • This file is opened to edit PHP execution behavior.

cgi.fix_pathinfo=0
  • This setting prevents incorrect PHP files from being executed.

sudo nano /etc/php5/fpm/pool.d/www.conf
  • This file determines the connection method of PHP-FPM with Nginx.

listen = /var/run/php5-fpm.sock
  • This setting allows PHP-FPM to communicate faster over the socket.

sudo service php5-fpm restart
  • This command activates PHP-FPM configuration changes.

3️⃣ Creating an Nginx Server Block​


sudo nano /etc/nginx/sites-available/default
  • This file opens Nginx's default site configuration.

server {
    listen 80;
    root /var/www;
    index index.php index.html index.htm;

    server_name ornek.com www.ornek.com;

    location / {
        try_files $uri $uri/ /index.php?q=$uri&$args;
    }

    location ~ \.php$ {
        try_files $uri =404;
        fastcgi_pass unix:/var/run/php5-fpm.sock;
        fastcgi_index index.php;
        include fastcgi_params;
    }

    location ~ /\. {
        deny all;
    }
}
  • This configuration defines secure and optimized Nginx rules for WordPress.

4️⃣ Migrating from Apache to Nginx​

1. Nginx cannot use port 80 while Apache is running.


sudo service apache2 stop
sudo service nginx start
  • This command stops Apache and starts Nginx.

5️⃣ Uninstalling Apache Packages (Optional)​


sudo apt-get remove apache2*
  • This command removes Apache and associated packages from the system.

sudo apt-get autoremove
  • This command cleans up dependencies that are no longer used.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)​

1. Will my site speed up when I switch to Nginx? It provides a significant performance increase in high concurrent traffic.

2. Do .htaccess files work? No, the rules must be moved to the Nginx configuration.

3. Why does PHP-FPM use socket? Provides lower processing load on local connections.

4. What if I get a 502 Bad Gateway error? Check that the PHP-FPM socket path and Nginx settings match.

🎯 Result​

Your WordPress site now runs more stable and efficiently on Nginx. This transition provides a serious advantage in high-traffic projects. You can safely use this architecture on the GenixNode infrastructure 🚀