How to Host Multiple Websites on Single VPS

In this guide, we'll walk through the process of hosting multiple websites on an Ubuntu VPS using NGINX. By the end of this tutorial, you'll have several websites hosted on a single VPS with NGINX serving as the web server.

Step 1: Access Your Remote Server

Syntax:

ssh -p PORT USERNAME@HOSTIP

Example:

ssh -p 22 abhi@203.32.44.92

Step 2: Install NGINX on Your Server

First, ensure that your server has NGINX installed. Open a terminal and run the following commands:

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade
sudo apt install nginx

Verify NGINX is installed:

nginx -v

Check if NGINX is running:

sudo service nginx status

Step 3: Copy Project from Local Machine to Remote Server or VPS

There are two ways to do it:

I. Using Command Prompt

• On Local Windows Machine Make Your Project Folder a Zip File using any of the software e.g. winzip
• Open Command Prompt
• Copy Zip File from Local Windows Machine to Linux Remote Server

Syntax:

scp -P Remote_Server_Port Source_File_Path Destination_Path

Example:

scp -P 1034 codebhaiya.zip abhi@203.32.44.92

• Copied Successfully
• Get Access to Remote Server via SSH

Syntax:

ssh -p PORT USERNAME@HOSTIP

Example:

ssh -p 22 abhi@203.32.44.92

• Unzip the Copied Project Zip File

Syntax:

unzip zip_file_name

Example:

unzip codebhaiya.zip

II. Using Github

• Open Project on VS Code then add .gitignore file (If needed)
• Push your Poject to Your Github Account as Private Repo
• Make Connection between Remote Server and Github Repo via SSH Key
• Generate SSH Keys

Syntax:

ssh-keygen -t ed25519 -C "your_email@example.com"

If Permission Denied then Own .ssh then try again to Generate SSH Keys

Syntax:

sudo chown -R user_name .ssh

Example:

sudo chown -R abhi .ssh

Open Public SSH Keys then copy the key

cat ~/.ssh/id_ed25519.pub

• Go to Your Github Repo
• Click on Settings Tab
• Click on Deploy Keys option from sidebar
• Click on Add Deploy Key Button and Paste Remote Server's Copied SSH Public Key then Click on Add Key
• Clone Project from your github Repo using SSH Path It requires to setup SSH Key on Github

Syntax:

git clone ssh_repo_path

Example:

git clone git@github.com:abhinayjangde/codebhaiya.git

Step 4: Configuring NGINX

Create Virtual Host File

Syntax:

sudo nano /etc/nginx/sites-available/your_domain

Example:

sudo nano /etc/nginx/sites-available/codebhaiya.com

Write following Code in Virtual Host File

Syntax:

server{
    listen 80;
    listen [::]:80;
    server_name your_domain www.your_domain;
    root /var/www/project_folder_name;
    index index.html;
    location / {
        try_files $uri $uri/ =404;
    }
}

Example:

server{
    listen 80;
    listen [::]:80;
    server_name codebhaiya.com www.codebhaiya.com;
    root /var/www/project_folder_name;
    index index.html;
    location / {
        try_files $uri $uri/ =404;
    }
}

Enable Virtual Host or Create Symbolic Link of Virtual Host File

Syntax:

sudo ln -s /etc/nginx/sites-available/virtual_host_file /etc/nginx/sites-enabled/virtual_host_file

Example:

sudo ln -s /etc/nginx/sites-available/codebhaiya.com /etc/nginx/sites-enabled/codebhaiya.com

Check Configuration is Correct or Not

sudo nginx -t

Conclusion

By following these steps, you can host multiple websites on your Ubuntu VPS using NGINX. Each website has its own configuration, and you can easily add more by repeating the process. Happy hosting!