There are quite a few guides out there that will give you the configs you need for nginx, so you will not longer use .htaccess.
I am currently going through this process myself and having a hard time with the configs even though there are tutorials.
The lead dev, Nacin, has already written a lengthy reply for a similar question about a week back.
For your #Q2: htaccess files can be handled by try_files directive or rewrite directive. There is no automatic way to create these (like .htaccess file).
For your #Q3: I have not got any issue when setting up the test environment of WP Multisite. I have no production server experience, yet! That’s why I linked Nacin’s reply.
Update: For #Q1: You may follow the instructions found in http://wiki.nginx.org/WordPress. Again, I’m speaking only from my test environment knowledge. Thanks.
Is there any way to test it locally? I mean is there any stack like WAMP?
I had success installing Nginx in Linux locally. Not sure, if there is any stack that support Nginx in Windows.
Missing “Ipstenu” and her experience in this area 🙁 But we have some experienced users like “Pothi Kalimuthu” 🙂
I’m looking for a Windows solution.
Interestingly .htaccess can be used in Engine-X if we configure it as a front-end proxy to Apache.
Anyone is using it along with Apache?
I’m using Apache and know sod all about nginx, which is why I had nothing to say. (When I don’t reply, it’s because (1) I don’t know or (2) I can’t be nice 😉 )
I know both of these, that you are using Apache and having a quiet little experience with engine-x at this time. What I meant was, I’m missing your guidance in this topic as you are not not that familiar with it. And ya I know your rules btw 🙂
Don’t do Windows either 🙂
To be somewhat topical, when you asked ‘What issues will I face’ the biggest is support.
By far, most of us use apache on linux for WordPress, and even more use it for Multisite. Totally made up numbers (gut feelings here): 70% of WP users use Linux, and 90% of Mutlisite users use linux.
I do know, personally, 2 people who use nginx, one of them being wpmuguru.
It seems another misinterpretation 🙂
I’m using Debian on my server. When i said “I’m looking for a Windows solution.”, I was talking about My “Local System” to test NGINX on Windows . 🙂
Obviously I’m a member of LAMP family, but want to join LEMP now 😛
And ya I agree, support is the biggest issue!
That’s why I’m looking for a proxy solution, like configuring it as a front-end proxy to Apache. So that unsupported requests will be handled by Apache thus we can use .htaccess and minimize all those migration issues.
Would it be a good idea?
Double I don’t do windows then 🙂 I do use a Windows PC when I must, but my localhost is all MAMP.
I’m gonna ask what Nacin would (he’s on vacation).
Why do you think you need nginx?
From my understanding,
NGINX is more beneficial under requests based heavy load instead of process based load. OR simply, it’s beneficial for those who are running high-traffic(having/expecting) websites on VPS.
Because Apache is heavier, slower and it consumes more CPU usage.
Where NGINX:
# improves “First Byte Time”.
# “Scalability” as it’s asynchronous (event-based) server.
# Engine-X helps to save resources (RAM, CPU) and improves overall performance.
It seems Nginx can handle much more traffic as compared to Apache on same H/W configuration. 🙂
Yeah, but … are you having that load where you need it?
I haven’t pegged out apache yet, and I can take 40k hits in n hour without a glitch. On a VPS.
I’m using 512mb RAM & my VPS restarts at least 1 to 2 times a day due to heavy load. I optimized my site in order to reduce the processing based load AMSP.
Ya, a little more memory could have fixed this problem easily, But I’m expecting more high traffic in near future.
And last reason, but not the least, my nickname describes myself 🙂
Okay. What server side caching do you have?
I have an 800mb RAM box, though it’s on a cloud/burst setup right now, so it’s usage is weird. When I was on traditional VPS, though, I had 512mb and never used more than 60% on a big day. THAT SAID.
httpd.conf is generally NOT optomized for WordPress. Your min and max servers, plus child settings, often need to be heavily tweaked. On top of that, I found that installing some sort of caching for PHP was critical. I use APC (it’s built into PHP) and it took my average load from 75% memory to 40%. Also I turned off Clam and ClamAV (which have never actually helped me), as well as things like Entropy chat and other Cpanel/WHM features that cause bloat.
You can also use nginx as a front end caching proxy server to apache. Now THAT is fun. 🙂
