How to Install NGINX FastCGI Cache Purge Module Without Reinstalling NGINX on Ubuntu (Latest Versions)

Overview

NGINX FastCGI caching significantly improves web performance by reducing Time to First Byte (TTFB). However, the open-source version of NGINX does not include built-in cache purging. The ngx_cache_purge module allows cache purging, but it requires compilation with NGINX.

Instead of recompiling NGINX on a production server, we will build the module separately on a development server and load it dynamically without downtime.

Step 1: Check Installed NGINX Version and Configuration

On the production server, run:

nginx -V

This command will output the installed NGINX version and configuration arguments, which look like this:

nginx version: nginx/1.24.0 (Ubuntu)
configure arguments: –prefix=/etc/nginx –modules-path=/usr/lib/nginx/modules –with-http_ssl_module –with-http_v2_module …

Copy these arguments as they are required for compiling the module later.

Step 2: Set Up a Development Server

Use a separate development server (e.g., a temporary cloud instance) to avoid installing unnecessary software on the production system.

Switch to the /tmp directory and download the NGINX source code matching the production version:

cd /tmp
wget http://nginx.org/download/nginx-1.24.0.tar.gz

Step 3: Download the NGX Cache Purge Module

Download the latest version of the cache purge module:

wget http://labs.frickle.com/files/ngx_cache_purge-2.3.tar.gz

Extract the files:

tar -xzf nginx-1.24.0.tar.gz
tar -xzf ngx_cache_purge-2.3.tar.gz

Step 4: Install Dependencies for Compilation

Ensure required libraries are installed:

apt update && apt install -y build-essential libpcre3-dev libssl-dev zlib1g-dev libxml2-dev libxslt1-dev libgd-dev libgeoip-dev

Step 5: Add Cache Purge Module to NGINX

Navigate to the NGINX source directory:

cd nginx-1.24.0

Run the configure script with the same arguments from Step 1, plus the new cache purge module:

./configure –add-dynamic-module=../ngx_cache_purge-2.3 –with-cc-opt=’-g -O2 -fdebug-prefix-map=/build/nginx-1.24.0=. -fstack-protector-strong -Wformat -Werror=format-security -fPIC -Wdate-time -D_FORTIFY_SOURCE=2′ –with-ld-opt=’-Wl,-Bsymbolic-functions -Wl,-z,relro -Wl,-z,now -fPIC’ –prefix=/etc/nginx –modules-path=/usr/lib/nginx/modules –with-http_ssl_module –with-http_v2_module

Once configured, compile the module:

make modules

This will generate the ngx_http_cache_purge_module.so file in the objs directory.

Step 6: Enable Cache Purge Module on Production Server

Copy the compiled module to the production server:

scp objs/ngx_http_cache_purge_module.so user@your-production-server:/usr/lib/nginx/modules/

On the production server, load the module by adding the following line to /etc/nginx/nginx.conf:

load_module modules/ngx_http_cache_purge_module.so;

Alternatively, create a separate configuration file:

echo ‘load_module modules/ngx_http_cache_purge_module.so;’ | sudo tee /etc/nginx/modules-enabled/cache-purge.conf

Then, reload NGINX:

nginx -t && sudo systemctl reload nginx

Conclusion

We successfully added the NGX Cache Purge module to NGINX without reinstalling it or causing downtime. Now, you can purge cache dynamically using FastCGI.

For additional automation, consider integrating this with a reverse proxy like Varnish or configuring NGINX cache control headers.

Would you like help setting up an automated cache purge system?

Information reviewed and updated: August 28, 2026.

Published by: REVOLD BLOG – blog.revold.us
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Author: Roman Kravchina