Return JSON error response

Custom JSON body for rate-limit or error responses

error_page 429 /429.json;
location = /429.json {
  default_type application/json;
  return 429 '{"error":"rate_limited"}';
}

More nginx commands

Force HTTPS redirect

server { listen 80; return 301 https://$host$request_uri; }

Permanent redirect all HTTP traffic to HTTPS
Show active connections

curl -s http://localhost/stub_status

Built-in nginx status page: active, reading, writing, waiting
Block IP range

deny 192.168.1.0/24; deny 10.0.0.1; allow all;

Block a subnet and specific IP in nginx location/server block
Proxy WebSocket

location /ws/ { proxy_pass http://backend; proxy_http_version 1.1; proxy_set_header Upgrade $http_upgrade; proxy_set_header Connection 'upgrade'; }

WebSocket proxy with required Upgrade headers
Test configuration

nginx -t

Validate nginx.conf without reloading