Nginx Proxy Manager - Adding a New Proxy Host

Prerequisites

Before you begin, ensure you have Nginx Proxy Manager installed and accessible. You should also have a domain name ready to be directed towards your Nginx Proxy Manager installation.

Step 1: Access Nginx Proxy Manager

1. Open your web browser and navigate to your Nginx Proxy Manager's admin interface, typically available at http://<your-server-ip>:81. Log in with your administrator credentials.

Step 2: Navigate to Proxy Hosts

1. Once logged in, you'll find yourself on the dashboard. Look for the "Proxy Hosts" tab on the left-hand navigation menu and click on it. This page displays all your configured proxy hosts.

Step 3: Add a New Proxy Host

1. Click on the "Add Proxy Host" button, which will open a new form where you can enter the details for your new proxy host.

Step 4: Configure Proxy Host Details

1. Fill out the form with the necessary details for your new proxy host:

   1. Domain Names: Enter the domain name(s) for this proxy host. You can specify multiple domains by separating them with a comma.

   2. Scheme: Choose the scheme used by your backend service, usually http or https.

   3. Forward Hostname/IP: Enter the hostname or IP address of the backend service you want to proxy to.

   4. Forward Port: Specify the port on which your backend service is running.

   5. Websockets Support: Enable this option if your service uses WebSockets.

   6. Block Common Exploits: Enabling this can help protect your service against some common web exploits.

Step 5: Set Up SSL

1. Navigate to the "SSL" tab in the same form:

   1. Choose how you want to handle SSL for this domain. Options include "None," "Request a new SSL Certificate" with Let's Encrypt, or "Use a custom SSL certificate" if you have one.

   2. If using Let's Encrypt, ensure your domain is correctly pointed at your server and accessible from the internet.

Step 6: Advanced Settings (Optional)

1. The "Advanced" tab allows you to configure custom Nginx directives if needed. This is optional and typically not required for basic setups.

Step 7: Save Your Configuration

1. After filling out the form, click the "Save" button. Nginx Proxy Manager will now route traffic coming to the specified domain to your backend service.

Step 8: Verify the Setup

1. It's a good idea to test the setup by navigating to your domain in a web browser. If everything is configured correctly, you should see your backend service being served through the new proxy host.

The next article covers how to add SSL Certificates using Cloudflare API for DNS verification.