[Technical tips] EB-336x Series Install Debian 11 and Build Nginx Web Server

This article will show you how to Build a Nginx Web Server under Debian 11.

What is Nginx?

Nginx is an open source web server that can be used for a variety of web services, including HTTP servers, reverse proxy servers, mail proxy servers, etc. Nginx was designed to handle the demands of highly concurrent, high-traffic web services.

What is Web Server?

The term web server has two meanings:

A computer is responsible for delivering web pages, mainly constructed in various programming languages, to a client (usually a web browser) via the Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP).
A server program that provides web pages.

Web Server Framework

Static Site
Dynamic Site

Tips to prepare in advance

Window PC x1 pcs (Window 10 or higher)
USB drive x1 pcs (1GB at least)
EBOX Mini PC x1 pcs
32-bit Image debian-11.4.0-i386-netinst.iso for Vortex86DX3 Series
64-bit Image debian-11.4.0-amd-netinst.iso for Intel Braswell Series
Tool Rufus

Installation Procedure Video

Use tool Rufus to create Debian 11 installer

Click Rufus to activate
Connect USB drive to PC
Select debian-11.4.0-netinst.iso Image
Click start
ISOHybrid image detected, select Write in ISO Image mode and click OK.
A warning message appear, click OK to continue with this operation.
Remove USB drive after Debian 11 installer created.

Install Debian 11 on EBOX

Select Graphical Install
Select a language
Select your location and click continue
Set debian as Hostname
Click continue and skip domain name
Set up user name
Click continue and skip root and password
Select use entire disk
Select the storage to install
Select Yes and click continue to install GURB boot loader
Debian 11 installation completed

Nginx Server installation

Step1: Reboot EBOX with internet connected, then enter Debian 11 desktop

Click terminal and Install Nginx Server by executing command
Run command:
```
$sudo apt update
```
```
$sudo apt upgrade
```
To install Nginx server, execute
Run command:
```
$sudo apt install nginx
```
By default, the Nginx server will start on Debian 11 and it can be verified with the netstat command/ss command and ps command

Run command:

$ ps aux | grep nginx

$ pgrep nginx

$ sudo apt install net-tools

Use the netstat command as follows to verify if port 80 is open
Run command:
```
$ netstat -tulpn | grep :80
```

Step2: Test the Nginx Sever

Open up a web browser and type url: http://your-domain/
Or find the public IP address using the ip/ifconfig Run command:
```
$ ip a
```
Open web broswer and enter http://your-domain/ or your IP address directly.
Enter IP address: http://192.168.4.174
If you see below page, the nginx web server is successfully installed and working.

Step3: Configure Nginx Server
In Nginx, all HTML, CSS and Image files are stored by default in the /var/www/html directory, known as the web server's root. The default directory can be modified in the /etc/nginx/sites-enabled/default config file. User can edit it with nano command.

Execute following vim command/nano command to setting the web server default file
Run Command:
```
$ sudo nano /etc/nginx/sites-enabled/default
```
The /etc/nginx/nginx.conf is your main nginx config file and /etc/nginx/sites-enabled/default is the default config file.
To create a Virtual Host named “dmpdemo”, execute:

Run command:

$ sudo nano /etc/nginx/sites-available/dmpdemo

Input the code below in “dmpdemo”:

server {
listen 80;
listen [::]:80;
server_name dmpdemo;
root /home/dmp/www;
index index.html;
location / {
try_files $uri $uri/ =404;
}
}

Let the file synchronize with:

Run command:

$ sudo ln -s /etc/nginx/sites-available/dmpdemo /etc/nginx/sites-enabled/

Remove the default file with:

Run command:

$ sudo rm /etc/nginx/sites-enabled/default

Remove the default file with:

Run command:

$ sudo rm /etc/nginx/sites-enabled/default

Establish the path for the web page location and create the webpage.

Run command:

$ sudo mkdir ~/www

$ sudo nano ~/www/index.html

Type the following website code to the index.html:

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
<title>Welcome to Icop Tech</title>
<style>
    body {
        width: 35em;
        margin: 0 auto;
        font-family: Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif;
    }
</style>
</head>
<body>
<h1>Welcome to ICOP Tech</h1>
<p>This is a test for Nginx web server.</p>
 
<p><em>Hello world.</em></p>
</body>
</html>

Press “Ctrl + O” to Write Out and “Ctrl +X” to exit; Reload Nginx server and re-start browser.
Run command:
```
$ sudo systemctl reload nginx
```

Enter the IP address to display the web page (~/www/index.html) from the Nginx web server. Web page is now successfully created!

Main features of EB-3362-L2C2:

DM&P 32-bit x86 Vortex86DX3 Dual Core 1.0GHz SoC
2GB DDR3-1600MHz onboard
SD card slot x1 (SD, SDXC), 1 Gbps LAN x1, 10 / 100 Mbps LAN x1, USB x4 (Front x2, Rear x1, Internal x1), Line out x1, RS-232 x2
Auto Power On support
PXE Diskless boot support
DC +8V ~ +24V
Operation Temperature: 0~+60°C

For more info and sample request, please write to info@icop.com.tw, call your nearest ICOP Branch, or contact our Worldwide Official Distributor.