How to change Default Document root of Nginx Webserver

How to change Default Document root of Nginx Webserver

The Default document root is the default directory path where the user need to place index.html file to server the web page content for any site. It is imperative for the files to be saved in the appropriate directory for a website to function properly. This tutorial covers the configuration procedure of changing the default document root in Nginx server.

Configuration procedure

To start the configuration procedure, install the Nginx by enabling the epel repository by executing the following command.

[root@node2 ~]# yum install epel-release -y
Loaded plugins: fastestmirror, refresh-packagekit, security
Setting up Install Process
Loading mirror speeds from cached hostfile
 * base: centos.excellmedia.net
 * epel: epel.mirror.angkasa.id
 * extras: centos.excellmedia.net
 * updates: centos.excellmedia.net
Package epel-release-6-8.noarch already installed and latest version
Nothing to do
[root@node2 ~]# yum remove epel-release -y
Loaded plugins: fastestmirror, refresh-packagekit, security
Setting up Remove Process
Resolving Dependencies
-->  Running transaction check
--->  Package epel-release.noarch 0:6-8 will be erased
-->  Finished Dependency Resolution
.
.
.
Installed size: 22 k
Downloading Packages:
Running rpm_check_debug
Running Transaction Test
Transaction Test Succeeded
Running Transaction
  Erasing    : epel-release-6-8.noarch                                                                                                                                  1/1
  Verifying  : epel-release-6-8.noarch                                                                                                                                  1/1
Removed:
  epel-release.noarch 0:6-8                                                                                                                                                 
Complete!

Now install the Nginx server by running the following command and press y to continue with the installation process.

[root@node2 ~]# yum install nginx -y
Loaded plugins: fastestmirror, refresh-packagekit, security
Setting up Install Process
Loading mirror speeds from cached hostfile
 * base: centos.excellmedia.net
 * epel: epel.mirror.angkasa.id
 * extras: centos.excellmedia.net
 * updates: centos.excellmedia.net
Resolving Dependencies
-->  Running transaction check
--->  Package nginx.x86_64 0:1.10.2-1.el6 will be installed
-->  Processing Dependency: nginx-filesystem = 1.10.2-1.el6 for package: nginx-1.10.2-1.el6.x86_64
-->  Processing Dependency: nginx-all-modules = 1.10.2-1.el6 for package: nginx-1.10.2-1.el6.x86_64
-->  Processing Dependency: nginx-filesystem for package: nginx-1.10.2-1.el6.x86_64
-->  Running transaction check
--->  Package nginx-all-modules.noarch 0:1.10.2-1.el6 will be installed
-->  Processing Dependency: nginx-mod-stream = 1.10.2-1.el6 for package: nginx-all-modules-1.10.2-1.el6.noarch
-->  Processing Dependency: nginx-mod-mail = 1.10.2-1.el6 for package: nginx-all-modules-1.10.2-1.el6.noarch
.
.
.
nginx-mod-http-geoip.x86_64 0:1.10.2-1.el6               
  nginx-mod-http-image-filter.x86_64 0:1.10.2-1.el6           nginx-mod-http-perl.x86_64 0:1.10.2-1.el6           nginx-mod-http-xslt-filter.x86_64 0:1.10.2-1.el6         
  nginx-mod-mail.x86_64 0:1.10.2-1.el6                        nginx-mod-stream.x86_64 0:1.10.2-1.el6            
Complete!

[root@node2 ~]# service nginx start
Starting nginx:                                            [  OK  ]
[root@node2 ~]# chkconfig nginx on
[root@node2 ~]# iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport 80 -j ACCEPT
[root@node2 ~]# service iptables save
iptables: Saving firewall rules to /etc/sysconfig/iptables:[  OK  ]
[root@node2 ~]# service iptables restart
iptables: Setting chains to policy ACCEPT: filter          [  OK  ]
iptables: Flushing firewall rules:                         [  OK  ]
iptables: Unloading modules:                               [  OK  ]
iptables: Applying firewall rules:                         [  OK  ]

[root@node2 ~]# mkdir /myroot
[root@node2 ~]# chcon -Rt httpd_sys_content_t /myroot/

[root@node2 ~]# vim /myroot/index.html
This is new documentroot

[root@node2 ~]# vim /etc/nginx/conf.d/default.conf

root /myroot 

[root@node2 ~]# service nginx restart
Stopping nginx:                                            [  OK  ]
Starting nginx:                                            [  OK  ]