Game Development Reference
In-Depth Information
Using a Fast PHP Web
Server and Database
Working with nginx
Nginx, pronounced as engine x, is a lightweight HTTP server. It also has
modules that allow it to work as a reverse proxy and mail server without
installing any other dependencies. You can find out more information by
visiting
http://wiki.nginx.org/
.
The Raspberry Pi does not have too much RAM to spare, and nginx is specially
designed to use the least amount of resources but deliver content at higher speeds.
You can tweak Apache, but it is still very bulky; this will not be discussed in this
topic because even the best optimized Apache server is not as good as the normal
nginx installation.
Nginx streamlines input and output processes using the shortest route possible,
where Apache relies on other modules to do the work, even if it is to serve a simple
file. These modules in Apache take up unnecessary RAM and CPU power.
According to Netcraft, a company that provides web server market share
analysis, nginx served roughly 15 percent of traffic for the top busiest sites
during October 2013, and this number is growing yearly.
