How to Check if Nginx is Installed in Ubuntu

Learn how to check if Nginx is installed on your Ubuntu system, and understand the importance of verifying web server installations. …

Learn how to check if Nginx is installed on your Ubuntu system, and understand the importance of verifying web server installations.

Checking if Nginx is installed on an Ubuntu system is a straightforward process that can be completed in a few simple steps. In this article, we will cover the concept of Nginx installation verification, its importance, and provide a step-by-step guide on how to check if Nginx is installed on your Ubuntu system.

What is Nginx?

Nginx (pronounced “engine-x”) is a popular open-source web server software that can also be used as a reverse proxy, load balancer, and HTTP cache. It is known for its high performance, scalability, and reliability, making it a favorite among web developers and system administrators.

Why Check if Nginx is Installed?

Verifying if Nginx is installed on your Ubuntu system is crucial for several reasons:

1. Web Server Configuration: Before configuring Nginx as a web server or reverse proxy, you need to ensure that it is installed and running correctly.
2. Troubleshooting: If you are experiencing issues with your website or web application, checking if Nginx is installed can help you identify potential problems.
3. Security: Verifying the installation of Nginx can also help you detect any security vulnerabilities or misconfigurations.

How to Check if Nginx is Installed in Ubuntu

Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to check if Nginx is installed on your Ubuntu system:

Step 1: Open the Terminal

Open the terminal application on your Ubuntu system. You can do this by searching for “Terminal” in the dash or using the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+Alt+T.

Step 2: Use the dpkg Command

The dpkg command is used to manage packages on Debian-based systems, including Ubuntu. To check if Nginx is installed, run the following command:

dpkg -l | grep nginx

This command will list all installed packages and pipe the output to the grep command, which searches for the string “nginx”.

Step 3: Check the Output

If Nginx is installed, you should see a line that starts with “ii” followed by the package name “nginx”. The “ii” indicates that the package is installed.

Example output:

ii  nginx       1.18.0-0ubuntu1        amd64        small, powerful, scalable web/proxy server

If you don’t see any output or an error message, it means that Nginx is not installed on your system.

Step 4: Verify the Service Status (Optional)

If you want to verify that the Nginx service is running and enabled, you can use the following command:

sudo systemctl status nginx

This command will show you the current status of the Nginx service. If it’s running and enabled, you should see a message indicating that the service is active.

Example output:

● nginx.service - A high performance web server and a reverse proxy server
   Loaded: loaded (/lib/systemd/system/nginx.service; enabled; vendor preset: enabled)
   Active: active (running) since Thu 2023-03-16 14:30:00 UTC; 1h 30min ago
     Docs: man:nginx(8)
           man:nginx.conf(5)
 Main PID: 1234 (nginx)
    Tasks: 2 (limit: 1136)
   CGroup: /system.slice/nginx.service
           ├─1234 nginx: master process /usr/sbin/nginx -g daemon off;
           └─1235 nginx: worker process

Conclusion

In this article, we covered the importance of verifying Nginx installation on Ubuntu systems and provided a step-by-step guide on how to check if Nginx is installed. By following these simple steps, you can ensure that your web server or reverse proxy is running correctly and troubleshoot any issues that may arise.

Summary

• Use the dpkg command to list installed packages and search for “nginx”.
• Verify the package installation status using the “ii” indicator.
• Optionally, check the Nginx service status using systemctl.

By following these steps, you can easily verify if Nginx is installed on your Ubuntu system.