3 Ways to install NGINX on Windows

Introduction

NGINX, pronounced as ‘Engine-X’, is a powerful web server known for its high performance, stability, simple configuration, and low resource consumption. Although it’s originally developed for Linux, it’s possible to run NGINX on Windows systems as well. There are multiple ways you can install NGINX on Windows, each with its approaches and use cases. This guide provides a comprehensive look at several solutions for installing NGINX on a Windows environment.

Approach 1: Official NGINX Windows Binary

NGINX offers an official pre-built Windows binary that is suitable for development and testing purposes. The official NGINX binaries are provided by the NGINX team and are compiled for Windows.

Steps:

1. Download the Windows version of NGINX from the official website, which can be found at nginx.org.
2. Unzip the downloaded file to the desired location on your Windows machine.
3. Open a Command Prompt with administrative privileges.
4. Navigate to the directory where you unzipped NGINX and run the command start nginx.
5. Confirm NGINX is running by accessing http://localhost in a web browser.

Notes: The Windows version of NGINX is intended for development and not recommended for production due to several known issues like limited feature support and lower performance when compared to Linux counterparts.

Approach 2: Cygwin Environment

Install NGINX using the Cygwin environment, which emulates Linux on Windows. Cygwin is a POSIX-compatible environment that runs on Windows, essentially providing a Linux-like layer to Windows users.

Steps:

1. Download and install Cygwin from the official website, cygwin.com.
2. During the setup, ensure to select the ‘nginx’ package under the ‘Web’ category for installation.
3. After installation, launch Cygwin and use Linux-like commands to manage NGINX such as nginx -s start.
4. To verify, open your browser and go to http://localhost.

Notes: Cygwin provides a more Unix-like experience, and running NGINX under it adds another layer of abstraction which can affect performance. This method is also best suited for development environments.

Approach 3: Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL)

Install NGINX on the Windows Subsystem for Linux to use native Linux binaries on Windows 10. WSL enables you to run a GNU/Linux environment directly on Windows without the overhead of a virtual machine.

Steps:

1. Enable WSL on your Windows 10 machine through the Turn Windows features on or off dialog, or via PowerShell.
2. Install your preferred Linux distribution from the Microsoft Store (e.g., Ubuntu).
3. Launch the Linux distribution and update the package manager.
4. Run the command sudo apt install nginx (for Debian-based distributions) to install NGINX.
5. Start NGINX with sudo service nginx start.
6. Access NGINX by visiting http://localhost in your web browser.

Notes: WSL offers close to native Linux performance and is suitable for more advanced development and testing, potentially even for production scenarios with the WSL2 upgrade which offers even better system call compatibility.

Conclusion

In conclusion, installing NGINX on Windows can be done through various means, each tailored to different levels of performance and ease of use. The official NGINX binary provides the quickest way to run NGINX on Windows, suitable for basic development or testing. Cygwin emulates a Linux environment for more Unix-likeness. And the Windows Subsystem for Linux offers the best possible performance by allowing native Linux binaries to execute on a Windows machine, making it the most favorable option for a production-like environment. Be sure to pick the method that aligns best with your specific needs and environment.