How can you configure Nginx to handle server-side SSL/TLS termination?

In order to configure Nginx to handle server-side SSL/TLS termination, you will need to follow the steps below:

Step 1: Install Nginx

First, make sure Nginx is installed on your server. If it's not, you can install it using the package manager for your Linux distribution:

sudo apt update
sudo apt install nginx

Step 2: Generate or Obtain SSL/TLS Certificates

You will need SSL/TLS certificates to enable HTTPS on your server. You can either generate self-signed certificates for testing purposes or obtain certificates from a trusted SSL certificate authority like Let's Encrypt.

Step 3: Configure Nginx

Open the Nginx configuration file in a text editor:

sudo nano /etc/nginx/nginx.conf

Find the server block that is listening on port 443 (default HTTPS port) and add the following configuration:

server {
    listen 443 ssl;
    server_name example.com;
    ssl_certificate /path/to/ssl_certificate.crt;
    ssl_certificate_key /path/to/ssl_certificate.key;

    # Other SSL/TLS configuration options
    ...
}

Replace example.com with your actual domain name. Set the paths to the SSL/TLS certificates using ssl_certificate and ssl_certificate_key directives.

You can also configure other SSL/TLS options, such as enabling HTTP/2 support, selecting a specific SSL/TLS protocol version, customizing ciphers, etc. These settings can improve security and performance, so it's recommended to explore the available options and tailor them to your needs.

Step 4: Test and Reload Nginx Configuration

Check if there are any syntax errors in your Nginx configuration:

sudo nginx -t

If the syntax is valid, reload Nginx to apply the new configuration:

sudo systemctl reload nginx

Step 5: Verify SSL/TLS Termination

Visit your website using HTTPS (e.g., https://example.com) and check if the SSL/TLS connection is successfully established. You can use a web browser and look for the padlock icon indicating a secure connection.

Additionally, you can use online SSL/TLS verification tools such as SSL Labs' SSL Server Test to check the overall security configuration of your server.

Congratulations! You have successfully configured Nginx to handle server-side SSL/TLS termination.