Nginx UI — Web-Based Management Interface for Nginx

Introduction

Nginx UI provides a browser-based dashboard for managing Nginx server configurations. It replaces manual file editing with a visual interface that includes syntax highlighting, auto-completion, and built-in certificate management.

What Nginx UI Does

• Provides a visual editor for Nginx configuration files with syntax highlighting
• Automates SSL certificate issuance and renewal via Let's Encrypt
• Shows real-time access and error log streaming in the browser
• Monitors server performance including CPU, memory, disk, and network usage
• Manages multiple Nginx instances from a single dashboard

Architecture Overview

Nginx UI is a single Go binary that serves a Vue 3 frontend. It reads and writes Nginx config files directly on the host filesystem and communicates with the Nginx process for reloads and testing. Certificate management uses the ACME protocol. The application stores its own settings in an SQLite database.

Self-Hosting & Configuration

• Install via the provided shell script, Docker image, or manual binary download
• Default web port is 9000; configurable via the settings file
• Requires read/write access to the Nginx config directory (typically /etc/nginx)
• TLS for the UI itself can be configured in the application settings
• Supports two-factor authentication for admin access

Key Features

• Code editor with Nginx directive auto-completion and validation
• One-click Let's Encrypt certificate provisioning with auto-renewal
• Config file diff and history for tracking changes
• Dark mode and responsive layout for mobile management
• ChatGPT integration for generating and explaining Nginx configurations

Comparison with Similar Tools

• Nginx Proxy Manager — focused on reverse proxy with a simpler UI; Nginx UI covers full config editing
• Webmin — general-purpose server admin; Nginx UI is purpose-built for Nginx
• Manual vim/nano editing — no validation or visual feedback; Nginx UI adds syntax checking and auto-complete
• Caddy — has its own simpler config; Nginx UI brings visual management to existing Nginx setups
• Portainer — container management; Nginx UI is specifically for Nginx configuration

FAQ

Q: Does Nginx UI modify my existing config files? A: Yes, it reads and writes directly to your Nginx config directory. Back up before first use.

Q: Can I manage multiple servers? A: Yes, Nginx UI supports managing remote Nginx instances through its cluster feature.

Q: Is authentication built in? A: Yes. It includes username/password login with optional two-factor authentication.

Q: Does it work with OpenResty? A: It is designed for standard Nginx but can work with OpenResty for basic configuration tasks.

Sources

• https://github.com/0xJacky/nginx-ui
• https://nginxui.com/