Nginx Proxy Manager Docker Setup Guide

In today’s self-hosting world, managing multiple web services (like Nextcloud, Plex, or Home Assistant) can quickly lead to a “port-forwarding nightmare.” Nginx Proxy Manager (NPM) is the ultimate solution, providing a clean web interface to manage reverse proxies and SSL certificates without touching a single line of Nginx configuration files.

1. Prerequisites

Before we dive in, ensure you have the following:

• Docker & Docker Compose installed on your Linux machine.
• Ports 80 and 443 open on your firewall (and forwarded on your router if you want external access).
• A Domain Name (e.g., example.com) with DNS records pointing to your server’s IP.

2. Installing Nginx Proxy Manager via Docker

The most efficient way to run NPM is using a docker-compose.yml file. This ensures all data is persisted and the setup is easily reproducible.

Step 1: Create the directory structure

Open your terminal and create a folder for your NPM installation:

mkdir ~/nginx-proxy-manager && cd ~/nginx-proxy-manager

Step 2: Create the Docker Compose file

Create a new file named docker-compose.yml:

nano docker-compose.yml

Paste the following configuration:

services:
  app:
    image: jc21/nginx-proxy-manager:latest
    container_name: nginx-proxy-manager
    restart: unless-stopped
    ports:
      - 80:80   # Public HTTP Port
      - 443:443 # Public HTTPS Port
      - 81:81   # Admin Web Port
    volumes:
      - ./data:/data
      - ./letsencrypt:/etc/letsencrypt
    environment:
      TZ: Europe/Copenhagen # Your local timezone
      DISABLE_IPV6: true # If you don't use IPv6
    networks:
      - intern
networks:
  intern:
    external: true

Step 3: Launch the container

Run the following command to pull the image and start the service:

docker compose up -d

3. Initial Configuration

Once the container is running, you can access the management dashboard:

1. Open your browser and go to http://<your-server-ip>:81.
2. Log in with the default credentials:
   • Email: admin@example.com
   • Password: changeme
3. Immediately update your details. You will be prompted to change your name, email, and password.

4. Setting Up Your First Virtual Host

Let’s say you have a service (like a dashboard) running on your server at port 8080, and you want to access it via dashboard.example.com.

Step 1: Add a Proxy Host

1. Click on Hosts > Proxy Hosts in the top menu.
2. Click the Add Proxy Host button.

Step 2: Details Tab

• Domain Names: Enter dashboard.example.com.
• Scheme: Select http.
• Forward Hostname / IP: Enter your server’s local IP address (or the Docker container name if they share a network).
• Forward Port: 8080.
• Block Common Exploits: Enable this for extra security.

Step 3: SSL Tab (Optional but Recommended)

To secure your site with HTTPS:

1. Click the SSL tab.
2. Select Request a new SSL Certificate from the dropdown.
3. Toggle Force SSL and HTTP/2 Support.
4. Enter your email for Let’s Encrypt and agree to the Terms of Service.
5. Click Save.

NPM will now communicate with Let’s Encrypt, generate a certificate, and automatically configure Nginx to handle the secure connection.

Conclusion

You now have a professional-grade reverse proxy running in a lightweight container. This setup not only organizes your web traffic but also automates the headache of SSL renewals.