how can i change nginx Configuration file path

Question

i have installed nginx in ubuntu16.04, and check that Configuration file location is /etc/nginx/conf/nginx.conf

$ /usr/sbin/nginx -V 2>&1 | grep --colour=auto conf

then Show Configuration file path:

 --conf-path=/etc/nginx/nginx.conf

I am working on Install openam nginx Webagent link, this nginx_agent have one nginx.conf file

nginx_web_agent install path:

   /opt/nginx_agent

nginx_web_agent nginx.conf path:

   /opt/nginx_agent/conf/nginx.conf

nginx_web_agent use that nginx.conf file,

How can i change nginx default nginx.conf file to nginx_web_agent nginx.conf file

for example:

nginx Configure use /opt/nginx_agent/conf/nginx.conf instead of /etc/nginx/nginx.conf

Suggest me How can i do that?

Answer 1

/usr/sbin/nginx -V shows the initial configure script parameters, not necessarily the actual parameters that are running.

To use an alternative configuration file, instead on the default one, you can set the -c flag (man nginx) :

/usr/sbin/nginx -c /opt/nginx_agent/conf/nginx.conf

Ubuntu 16.04 uses systemd to manage services, so you will need to change systemd parameters for nginx service :

1. Edit /lib/systemd/system/nginx.service

2. Add -c flag where required :

   ExecStartPre=/usr/sbin/nginx -t -c /opt/nginx_agent/conf/nginx.conf -q -g 'daemon on; master_process on;'
   ExecStart=/usr/sbin/nginx -c /opt/nginx_agent/conf/nginx.conf -g 'daemon on; master_process on;'
   ExecReload=/usr/sbin/nginx -c /opt/nginx_agent/conf/nginx.conf -g 'daemon on; master_process on;' -s reload
   

3. Reload the systemd manager configuration : systemctl daemon-reload

4. Start nginx service :

   service nginx start
   

5. Check nginx service parameters :

   systemctl status nginx.service
   
   ...
   2411 nginx: master process /usr/sbin/nginx -c /opt/nginx_agent/conf/nginx.conf -g daemon on; master_process on
   ...
   

This is the way i would do it.