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You can connect Nginx UI to an existing Nginx server, but the right setup depends on where Nginx runs. For a native Linux installation, the official guide recommends installing Nginx UI directly on the host. For Nginx in a separate container, share its configuration and log paths and give Nginx UI access to Docker. If Nginx UI itself runs in Docker while Nginx is installed on the host, use Host via SSH.

Choose the connection method for your Nginx setup

Where Nginx runs Recommended connection How Nginx UI accesses files and controls the service
Installed natively on Linux Install Nginx UI on the Linux host using its installation script. Nginx UI runs as a service on the host and can manage the host installation. Nginx UI getting-started guide
In a different Docker container Set ContainerName to the Nginx container and provide Docker socket access. Docker access routes service commands; matching configuration and log mounts let Nginx UI read and write files. Nginx UI Docker configuration guide
Installed natively on the same host where Nginx UI runs in Docker Select Preferences → Nginx → Host via SSH and use the setup wizard. SSH/SFTP or host bind mounts provide file access; SSH runs the supported host-side commands. Nginx UI host-management guide

Connect Nginx UI to native Linux Nginx

If Nginx is installed directly on a Linux host and you want Nginx UI to manage that host service, use the Linux installation script rather than assuming the standard Nginx UI Docker image will control it. The official getting-started guide describes the script as Linux-only; it installs Nginx UI as a service and detects the host service manager. Its Docker image includes Nginx, and the guide recommends another installation method when the goal is managing host Nginx. See the getting-started guide.

Install and complete first-run setup

  1. Check whether the default Nginx UI listening port, 9000, and HTTP challenge port, 9180, are available. These are defaults documented for the installation script; account for any changes you make to its configuration. Nginx UI installation guide

  2. Run the Linux installation script as described in the official guide. The script installs Nginx UI as a service and detects the service manager.

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  3. Open Nginx UI at the host address and configured port. During the initial setup window, enter the one-time web setup secret printed at first startup. If needed, the default config directory is /usr/local/etc/nginx-ui; the secret can be read from .install_secret there. The secret is removed when setup completes or expires. Nginx UI getting-started guide

Connect to Nginx in a separate Docker container

Use this path when Nginx UI and the Nginx server run in different containers. Nginx UI needs two distinct kinds of access: Docker socket access to route status and control commands to the Nginx container, and filesystem access to that container’s configuration and logs.

  1. Set Nginx UI’s ContainerName setting to the name of the container running Nginx.

  2. If you use the official Nginx UI container, map the host Docker socket into it, commonly /var/run/docker.sock.

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  3. Mount the Nginx configuration directory and log directory into both containers at identical paths. Make the configuration mount writable in Nginx UI so it can manage configuration; it can be read-only in the Nginx container if that suits your setup.

The Docker socket and container-name setting handle service commands, but they do not make the Nginx files available inside Nginx UI. The shared mounts provide that file access. Nginx UI Docker configuration guide

Connect Dockerized Nginx UI to host-installed Nginx

When Nginx UI runs in Docker but Nginx is installed natively on the same physical or virtual machine, choose Preferences → Nginx → Host via SSH and open the setup wizard. This is a same-machine host-management mode, not a general connection method for a remote Nginx server.

Check platform and service requirements

The host-management guide documents the supported arrangements and required privileges.

Run the host-management wizard

  1. Configure the SSH target, then trust the host key and test the connection. Treat a changed trusted host key as security-sensitive: confirm it is expected before accepting it.

  2. Let the wizard detect the platform and Nginx paths.

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  3. Choose SFTP or mounted file access. Apply the generated host and container settings for the method you select.

  4. Run verification and resolve any reported connection, permissions, path, or service issues.

The wizard checks SSH connectivity and whether nginx -t reports valid configuration. It also checks platform and service state, config writability, log readability, PID presence, and required sudo availability and coverage. Nginx UI host-management guide

Choose between SFTP and mounted access

Access method How it works Trade-offs
SFTP Nginx UI reads and writes host configuration and log files over SSH/SFTP, without host directory mounts. It cannot watch host files. Changes made outside Nginx UI and certificate indexes may take up to 30 seconds to appear. Its certificate scan cannot find certificates that exist only on the host. Nginx UI host-management guide
Mounted access Bind mounts expose host directories to Nginx UI. It is faster, but applying the generated mounts requires recreating the Nginx UI container. Persist /etc/nginx-ui so the trusted host-key allow-list survives rebuilds. Nginx UI host-management guide
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Make sure Nginx UI can work with your Nginx configuration layout

Nginx UI’s site editor follows the Debian web-server convention: it puts new site files in sites-available and enables sites through symlinks in sites-enabled. Before using the editor, confirm the actual configuration path and the include directives in the target server’s Nginx configuration. If the configuration does not include the expected directories, adjust the relevant include directives to match your layout.

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For example, the Nginx UI guide shows including both /etc/nginx/conf.d/*.conf and /etc/nginx/sites-enabled/* inside the http context. Do not copy that example blindly: verify the target’s existing configuration and include pattern before editing. Nginx UI configuration guide

Apply and verify configuration changes

Saving a configuration file does not by itself make NGINX use the change. The official NGINX Beginner’s Guide states: “Changes made in the configuration file will not be applied until the command to reload configuration is sent to nginx or it is restarted.”

Reloading asks NGINX to check the new configuration. If it is valid, NGINX starts new workers and gracefully shuts down the old ones. If the configuration is invalid, NGINX rolls back and keeps using the previous configuration. Use Nginx UI’s verification and service controls to catch syntax or access problems before relying on a change; on host-via-SSH setups, the wizard’s verification includes an nginx -t check. Nginx UI host-management guide

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