Nginx · December 19, 2023

Nginx Tip - Use the proxy_busy_buffers_size directive for busy buffer size tuning

Nginx Tip - Use the proxy_busy_buffers_size directive for busy buffer size tuning

Nginx is a popular web server and reverse proxy server that is known for its high performance, scalability, and efficiency. It is widely used by many websites and web applications to handle a large number of concurrent connections and deliver content quickly. One of the key features of Nginx is its ability to act as a reverse proxy, which allows it to distribute incoming requests to multiple backend servers.

When using Nginx as a reverse proxy, it is important to optimize its performance to ensure smooth and efficient operation. One aspect of performance tuning in Nginx is adjusting the buffer sizes used for handling incoming and outgoing data. In particular, the proxy_busy_buffers_size directive can be used to fine-tune the buffer size for busy connections.

Understanding the proxy_busy_buffers_size directive

The proxy_busy_buffers_size directive in Nginx allows you to specify the size of the buffer that is used to store data for busy connections. A busy connection is defined as a connection that is actively transferring data between the client and the backend server. By default, Nginx allocates a buffer of 8KB for each busy connection.

However, in some cases, this default buffer size may not be sufficient to handle the amount of data being transferred, especially for high-traffic websites or applications. In such scenarios, increasing the buffer size can help improve performance by reducing the number of buffer overflows and subsequent disk I/O operations.

Tuning the proxy_busy_buffers_size directive

To tune the proxy_busy_buffers_size directive, you need to modify the Nginx configuration file. The configuration file is usually located at /etc/nginx/nginx.conf or /etc/nginx/conf.d/default.conf. Open the file in a text editor and locate the http block.

Within the http block, you can add or modify the proxy_busy_buffers_size directive. The value specified for this directive should be in bytes. For example, to set the buffer size to 16KB, you can use the following configuration:

http {
    ...
    proxy_busy_buffers_size 16k;
    ...
}

After making the changes, save the configuration file and restart Nginx for the changes to take effect. You can do this by running the following command:

sudo service nginx restart

Conclusion

The proxy_busy_buffers_size directive in Nginx is a powerful tool for optimizing the buffer size used for busy connections. By adjusting this buffer size, you can improve the performance and efficiency of your Nginx reverse proxy server, especially in high-traffic scenarios. Experiment with different buffer sizes to find the optimal value for your specific use case.

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