How to proxy web app with Nginx

Here’s my situation. I have a CentOS server running an Angular Web App on port 4200, and I want to reach it at http://MY_SERVER instead. So how do I get there? I use Nginx as a proxy. Let me show you the steps.

1. Install Nginx

$ sudo yum install nginx

2. Start Nginx

$ sudo systemctl start nginx

3. Enable Nginx

$ sudo systemctl enable nginx

4. Open the HTTP/HTTPS firewall

$ sudo firewall-cmd --permanent --zone=public --add-service=http 
$ sudo firewall-cmd --permanent --zone=public --add-service=https
$ sudo firewall-cmd --reload

5. Test Nginx

Open http://MY_SERVER in your browser. You should see the Nginx Welcome Page.

6. Add the proxy pass to nginx.conf

Now point Nginx at your app by adding a location block to nginx.conf:

server {
...
  listen       80 default_server;
  ...
  location / {
    proxy_pass http://127.0.0.1:4200;
  }
...
}

7. Restart Nginx

$ systemctl restart nginx

8. Test the proxy

Open http://MY_SERVER again. This time you should see your Angular Web App.

Reference: https://nginx.org/en/docs/