How to determine the Nginx version

Nginx is one of the most popular web servers in the world, used for serving static content, proxying requests, and load balancing. If you are involved in server administration or web application development, knowing which version of Nginx you are using can be critical to the security and performance of your website. In this article, I will share with you a few ways to determine the Nginx version based on my personal experience.

Why is it important to know the version of Nginx?

Knowing the Nginx version is necessary for several reasons:

1. Security: Each new version of Nginx contains vulnerability fixes and security improvements. Knowing your version will help you understand how secure your server is.
2. Compatibility: Different versions may have different features and settings. This may affect the performance of your application.
3. Support: Older versions may not have new features that may be useful for your project.

Ways to determine the Nginx version

Now let's look at a few ways you can find out the version of your Nginx.

1. using the command in the terminal

The easiest and fastest way to find out the Nginx version is to use a command in the terminal. Open an SSH session on your server and enter the following command:
nginx -vThis command will output the version of Nginx installed on your server. For example, you might see something like:

nginx version: nginx/1.24.0

If you want more details about the configuration, you can use:
nginx -VThis will give you version information as well as the modules that were included when Nginx was built.

2. Checking HTTP Headers

Another way to find out the version of Nginx is to check the HTTP headers sent by the server. To do this, you can use the curl command. Run the following command in the terminal:
curl -I http://yourdomain.comIn the output, you will find a line starting with Server, which will show the Nginx version. For example:

Server: nginx/1.24.0

This method can be useful if you do not have access to a terminal, but can make HTTP requests to the server.

3. using the package manager

The next way of determining the Nginx version will be suitable for slightly more experienced people.

On Debian and Ubuntu operating systems, you can use the dpkg package manager to find the version of Nginx:
dpkg -l nginx
It is possible to have more than one version in the output, the installed version of the package can be identified by the "ii" option on the left.

You can also use the command interface for the apt package manager. The command will look like this:
apt list nginx
To determine the installed version, look at the installed option on the right.

And on RHEL systems, like Almalinux, you can use the rpm package manager:
rpm -q nginx

4. using the control panel

If you use a control panel such as cPanel, ISPmanager or Plesk, the Nginx version can be displayed in the server status section or in Nginx settings. This is a handy way to determine the Nginx version if you don't want to delve into the command line or logs.

Practical tips for upgrading Nginx

Knowing your version of Nginx is only the first part of the job. If you find that you're using an outdated version, it's worth considering upgrading. Here are some tips:

1. Backup: Always back up your configuration files and data before upgrading.
2. Check compatibility: Make sure your applications are compatible with the new version of Nginx.
3. Test on local server: If possible, test the new version on a local server before deploying it to a production environment.
4. Keep a close eye on security: Make sure your new version contains all necessary security patches.

Conclusion

Determining the version of Nginx is an important step in managing your web server. Using one of the methods described above, you can easily find out what version of Nginx you are using and take the necessary steps to improve the security and performance of your site. I hope you find these tips useful in your work with Nginx.