SoFunction
Updated on 2025-03-03

Methods for configuring HTTP2 protocol in Nginx

In today's era of rapid development of the Internet, the performance and user experience of websites have become crucial. It’s like in a fierce racing game, the performance and configuration of the vehicle determine who can cross the finish line first. In the world of websites, the HTTP2 protocol is like a high-performance modification of the website's "race car", which can greatly improve the loading speed and responsiveness of the website. So how can we configure the HTTP2 protocol in a powerful Nginx server to make our website more powerful? Let me tell you slowly.

1. Introduction to HTTP2 protocol

The HTTP2 protocol is a major upgrade to the HTTP protocol, which brings a series of significant performance improvements. To use a figurative metaphor, if HTTP1.1 is compared to a single-way road and vehicles (data) can only drive one after another, then HTTP2 is a multi-lane highway, and vehicles (data) can drive in parallel at the same time, greatly improving the efficiency of traffic (data transmission).

The main advantages of the HTTP2 protocol include:

  • Multiplexing: No longer requires requests and responses in sequence like HTTP1.1. Multiple requests and responses can be performed simultaneously on the same connection, just like multiple data streams are transmitted in parallel in one pipeline without interfering with each other.
  • Header compression: Compresses the request and response headers, reducing unnecessary data transfer. This is like compressing a large package into a small package, saving transportation space.
  • Server push: The server can actively push resources to the client without requiring the client to request first. Imagine that the waiter put the tableware and seasonings you might need on the table before you even opened your mouth. Isn’t it very considerate?

2. Prerequisites for Nginx to support HTTP2 protocol

To configure the HTTP2 protocol in Nginx, you must first make sure that your Nginx version supports HTTP2. Generally speaking, Nginx 1.10.0 and above support the HTTP2 protocol. It's like if you want to drive the latest sports car, you have to make sure your license is sufficient.

At the same time, you need to have a valid SSL certificate because HTTP2 usually runs on an HTTPS connection. An SSL certificate is like your website’s ID card, proving that your website is safe and reliable. Without this certificate, it is like a person without an ID card, which is difficult to be trusted in the online world.

3. Dependencies required for installation

Before we start configuring, we also need to install some dependencies to make sure everything is ready. It's like preparing materials such as bricks, cement and steel before building a house.

For common Linux distributions, you can install the required dependencies using the following command:

sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install build-essential libpcre3 libpcre3-dev zlib1g zlib1g-dev openssl libssl-dev

4. Compile and install Nginx and enable HTTP2 support

Next, we want to compile and install Nginx and enable HTTP2 support. It's like assembling a car, every part must be installed in place and every setting must be accurate.

First, download the Nginx source code:

wget /download/nginx-1.20.

Then unzip and enter the directory:

tar xzf nginx-1.20.
cd nginx-1.20.1

Next, configure the compilation options and enable HTTP2 support:

./configure --with-http_ssl_module --with-http_v2_module

Finally, compile and install:

make
sudo make install

After installation, Nginx already has the ability to support the HTTP2 protocol, just like a brand new sports car that has been assembled, waiting to show its style on the track.

5. Configure Nginx to enable HTTP2

After the installation is complete, we need to configure Nginx to make it truly enable the HTTP2 protocol. This is like setting appropriate parameters for a sports car to achieve optimal performance.

Open Nginx's configuration file (usually located in/usr/local/nginx/conf/),existserverAdd the following content to the block:

listen 443 ssl http2;
ssl_certificate /path/to/your/;
ssl_certificate_key /path/to/your/;

here,443It is the default port of HTTPS.ssl_certificateandssl_certificate_keySpecify the paths to your SSL certificate and private key respectively.

At the same time, you can also configure other SSL-related parameters as needed, such as encryption suites, session caches, etc. to improve security and performance.

6. Test whether the HTTP2 configuration is successful

After the configuration is completed, we need to test whether HTTP2 is configured successfully. It's like having a test drive before a racing race to make sure everything is working properly.

You can use online tools such as/http2-testTo test whether your website supports the HTTP2 protocol.

Alternatively, you can open the developer tool in your browser to view the protocol version of the network request. In Chrome, you can pressF12Open the Developer Tools and view the requested protocol version in the Network tab.

If everything is configured correctly, you should be able to see that the website is using the HTTP2 protocol, which means you have successfully configured the HTTP2 protocol in Nginx, just like your sports car has successfully sprinted on the track!

7. Optimize HTTP2 configuration

Successfully configuring HTTP2 is only the first step. In order to obtain better performance, we also need to optimize the configuration. This is like adjusting a sports car so that it can perform best under different road conditions.

  • Adjust the buffer size: Adjust appropriately according to your server performance and traffic.bufferandclient_body_buffer_sizeand other parameters to improve data processing efficiency.
  • Enable caching: Configure cache policies rationally to reduce duplicate requests and data transfers.
  • Compress static resources: Enable Gzip compression to reduce the amount of data transmitted.

8. Frequently Asked Questions and Solutions

You may encounter some problems while configuring HTTP2. Here are some common problems and solutions:

  • Certificate error: If your certificate is configured incorrectly, it may cause the browser to prompt a certificate error. Please make sure that the certificate path, validity period and domain name matching are correct.
  • Unable to enable HTTP2: Checks whether the Nginx version is supported and whether the compilation option is enabled correctly.
  • The performance improvement is not obvious: Other factors may affect the performance, such as server hardware, network bandwidth, website code, etc. Comprehensive analysis and optimization are required.

9. Summary

Through the above steps, we successfully configured the HTTP2 protocol in Nginx and optimized it, laying a solid foundation for website performance improvement. Just like an experienced racer, through continuous adjustment and optimization, your car can run faster and more stably on the track.

In this digital age, every detail can affect the user's experience and the success of the website. Hopefully, you can provide your website users with a faster and smoother access experience by correctly configuring the HTTP2 protocol, allowing your website to stand out in the highly competitive Internet world!

This is the article about how to configure HTTP2 protocol in Nginx. For more information about Nginx configuration HTTP2 protocol, please search for my previous articles or continue browsing the following related articles. I hope everyone will support me in the future!