Control Commands
Master Nginx service control operations including graceful reloads, configuration testing, and process management. Learn to manage Nginx without downtime and troubleshoot startup issues.
12 commands
Pro Tips
Always test configuration with `nginx -t` before reloading to avoid breaking a running server.
Use `nginx -s reload` for graceful reloads that finish existing requests before applying new config.
Check Nginx version and compile-time options with `nginx -V` (capital V) for debugging module issues.
Monitor Nginx master and worker processes with `ps aux | grep nginx` to verify proper operation.
Common Mistakes
Never use `nginx -s stop` in production - it terminates connections immediately. Use `reload` or `quit` for graceful shutdowns.
If `nginx -t` fails, the reload command will not apply changes and Nginx continues with the old configuration.