Understanding Nginx Reverse Proxy (Nginx Reverse Proxy Configuration Example)

In the web world, there seems to be an endless labyrinth, and Nginx is like a smart guide that can help us traverse this maze and reach our destination. Rather than being a high-performance web server, Nginx is more like a savvy traffic commander. With Nginx reverse proxying, we can get client requests to start in one place and end up in another, just like a traffic cop skillfully guiding traffic on a busy city road.

Role of the proxy server

Imagine that you are standing in front of a busy restaurant, trying to get in to enjoy your meal, and the restaurant is full and there are no empty seats. At that moment, the waiter sees you and immediately directs you to another branch outside the restaurant where you can enjoy your meal. This scenario is akin to the role of the Nginx reverse proxy, which plays the role of a waiter, receiving requests from clients and then forwarding those requests to the right place to ensure that the client gets the service it needs.

Configuration Example: Routing Requests

Imagine a busy street with a lot of traffic, each car has a different destination, Nginx is like a traffic light on this street, it configures the routing rules, so that each car drives smoothly to the right destination. For example, when someone types www.example.com时 into a browser, Nginx can be configured to route the request to a server on the internal network, thus enabling reverse proxying. This is like Nginx becoming a traffic cop who is well versed in the rules of the road, guiding every car to a safe passage.

Configuration Example: Load Balancing

Life is like a stage, everyone plays a different role on the stage, and Nginx is like the behind-the-scenes workers behind this performance, through the configuration of load balancing, so that each actor can get a fair chance to show their talents. In practice, Nginx through the load balancing policy, the client's request will be distributed to multiple servers, just like the stage staff will be lighting, sound and other resources reasonably distributed to each actor as well, to ensure that the stability of the entire system and efficient operation.

Configuration Example: Cache Acceleration

The good moments in life are always memorable, like a good cup of tea, the longer the more fragrant. Nginx can be accelerated through the cache function, the static resources are cached to improve the speed of access to the site, like a fine wine in the polishing of time to become more mellow. This caching mechanism is like Nginx is a chef who carefully preserves the delicious cuisine, retaining every delicious, so that guests in the future again taste, can still feel the original mellow flavor.