nginx only runs the master process as root, but the actual worker processes already run under a low-privileged account called http. If you want to run the master process as well as non-root, you can follow the instructions here: https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/nginx#Running_unprivileged_using_systemd
To restrict access to files, you’d be editing the nginx config file, you can read on how to do that in the nginx documentation, or check ServerFault etc.
But the modern Linux world revolves around containers. There’s an official Docker image for nginx that you could use if you’d like, and that’d make it a much more secure - and portable option.
Also, I’d recommend checking the Arch Wiki first for anything Linux related - the wealth of knowledge and documentation there is unmatched, and is useful even if you’re not running Arch.
Okay so that’s different.
nginx only runs the master process as root, but the actual worker processes already run under a low-privileged account called
http. If you want to run the master process as well as non-root, you can follow the instructions here: https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/nginx#Running_unprivileged_using_systemdTo restrict access to files, you’d be editing the nginx config file, you can read on how to do that in the nginx documentation, or check ServerFault etc.
But the modern Linux world revolves around containers. There’s an official Docker image for nginx that you could use if you’d like, and that’d make it a much more secure - and portable option.
Also, I’d recommend checking the Arch Wiki first for anything Linux related - the wealth of knowledge and documentation there is unmatched, and is useful even if you’re not running Arch.