# Nginx reload vs restart

**URL:** <https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/nginx-reload-vs-restart/224428>\
**Category:** NGINX\
**Created:** [November 11, 2012, 8:15pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/nginx-reload-vs-restart/224428 "2012-11-11T20:15:07Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![aris](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/258eb7/32.png) [@aris](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/aris)\
**Post date:** [November 11, 2012, 8:15pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/nginx-reload-vs-restart/224428/1 "2012-11-11T20:15:07Z")

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Hello all I am new to nginx and wanted to confirm if my understanding is  
correct. To retart nginx like any other service would cause downtime. If  
I  
change nginx configurations I can do a reload to cause the new  
configurations to take effect without any downtime to my site is that  
correct?

Posted at Nginx Forum:

> **[nginx reload vs restart](https://forum.nginx.org/read.php?2,232706,232706#msg-232706)**
>
> Hello all I am new to nginx and wanted to confirm if my understanding is correct. To retart nginx like any other service would cause downtime. If I change nginx configurations I can do a reload to cause the new configurations to take effect without...

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**Author:** ![MarkA](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/m/b38774/32.png) [@MarkA](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/MarkA)\
**Post date:** [November 11, 2012, 8:26pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/nginx-reload-vs-restart/224428/2 "2012-11-11T20:26:49Z")

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You can send a kill with a HUP to reload the configs its documented on  
the  
nginx wiki

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![MarkA](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/m/b38774/32.png) [@MarkA](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/MarkA)\
**Post date:** [November 11, 2012, 8:47pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/nginx-reload-vs-restart/224428/3 "2012-11-11T20:47:15Z")

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Hello!

On Sun, Nov 11, 2012 at 02:14:21PM -0500, MarkA wrote:

> Hello all I am new to nginx and wanted to confirm if my understanding is  
> correct. To retart nginx like any other service would cause downtime. If I  
> change nginx configurations I can do a reload to cause the new  
> configurations to take effect without any downtime to my site is that  
> correct?

Yes. More details about controlling running nginx may be found  
here:

> **[Controlling nginx](http://nginx.org/en/docs/control.html)**

This, in addition to configuration reload, includes nginx  
executable upgrade without downtime.

–  
Maxim D.

> **[F5 NGINX: Built for cloud-native apps. Ready for AI traffic.](https://www.f5.com/products/nginx)**
>
> Deliver modern applications with NGINX. Explore high-performance load balancing, API gateways, and web server solutions trusted by top global enterprises.