Got locked out of droplet after installing nginx

Hey,

It seems like you might have inadvertently changed some settings that are now preventing you from accessing your server. Let’s try to troubleshoot this step-by-step.

Firstly, the inability to connect via SSH and web console suggests a possible issue with the firewall settings. When you install NGINX, it listens on port 80 (HTTP) and 443 (HTTPS). If your firewall is not configured to allow traffic on these ports, or if it was somehow misconfigured, that could be the reason for the issue.

Here’s what you can do to regain access:

1. Access via Recovery Console: DigitalOcean provides a Recovery Console that you can use to access your droplet if you’re locked out. Log into your DigitalOcean account, go to the Droplets page, select your droplet, and use the “Access” section to launch the Recovery Console.

2. Check Firewall Settings: Once you’re in, check your firewall settings. The command sudo ufw status will show you the current status of your firewall. Ensure that SSH (port 22) is allowed. If it’s not, you can enable it using sudo ufw allow 22.

3. Review NGINX Installation: It’s also a good idea to verify that NGINX was installed correctly and is running. Use systemctl status nginx to check its status. If there are any issues, the output should give you some clues.

4. Reconfigure if Necessary: If you find that NGINX or the firewall settings were misconfigured, reconfigure them as needed. The tutorial you followed is generally reliable, but always make sure to follow the prerequisites listed in the beginning of the tutorials, in your case, mainly this one: Initial server setup guide for Ubuntu 20.04.

Preventing Future Issues:

• If you make any firewall changes, always make sure to allow access on port 22 so that your SSH connection does not get locked out.

• If possible, test significant changes on a staging server. This helps you avoid affecting your live environment.

• Keep a record of the changes you make. This can be invaluable for troubleshooting future issues or repeating the setup process.

• Understanding how firewalls work and how to configure them (especially UFW - Uncomplicated Firewall, on Ubuntu) is crucial:

https://www.digitalocean.com/community/tutorials/how-to-set-up-a-firewall-with-ufw-on-ubuntu-20-04

If you need further assistance, the DigitalOcean community is always here to help!

Best,

Bobby