Related

Start Nginx

nginx

Start the Nginx web server using systemd or SysV.

Stop Nginx

nginx

Stop the running Nginx web server service.

Reload Nginx Configuration

nginx

Reload the Nginx service configuration without interrupting connections.

nginx/restart

Restart Nginx

Restart the Nginx service to apply configuration changes or recover from issues.

nginx
service
management
restart

Command

sudo systemctl restart nginx

Explanation

Restarting Nginx ensures all configuration files are reloaded and active worker processes are replaced with new ones. It’s typically used after modifying `nginx.conf` or adding new site configurations in `/etc/nginx/sites-available`. A restart momentarily interrupts service connections.

Common Use Cases

  • •Apply configuration changes after editing files
  • •Recover from Nginx process failure
  • •Refresh server state without manual stop/start

Best Practices

  • ✓Run `sudo nginx -t` before restarting to prevent downtime
  • ✓Prefer reload for seamless configuration updates
  • ✓Monitor uptime with `systemctl status nginx` post-restart

Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • ⚠Restarting without validating configuration (`nginx -t`)
  • ⚠Restarting during high-traffic hours

Troubleshooting

Problem: Nginx fails to restart

Solution: Check configuration syntax and logs at `/var/log/nginx/error.log`.

Problem: Downtime observed during restart

Solution: Use `reload` instead for zero-downtime changes.

Examples

Restart Nginx using systemd

sudo systemctl restart nginx

Restart Nginx using SysV

sudo service nginx restart

More

Check Nginx Status

nginx

Display the current running status of the Nginx service.

Test Nginx Configuration

nginx

Test the Nginx configuration for syntax errors

Show Nginx Version

nginx

Display the Nginx version and configuration options