fastcgi_store_access in Nginx

Introduction to the fastcgi_store_access Module in Nginx

The ngx_http_fastcgi_module is one of the key modules in Nginx designed for interaction with FastCGI servers. This module enables us to send requests to FastCGI backend programs.

One of the prominent features of this module is fastcgi_store_access, which allows you to manage access to the cached files. Simply put, when you cache a file or data, this feature determines which users or groups can access this data.

This feature particularly applies when you want to cache sensitive data or specific information but restrict access to them. For example, suppose you have a web page that contains specific user information; by using this option, you can allow only certain users access to that data.

Using fastcgi_store_access for security and access management on web servers is very important and gives you the assurance that only authorized individuals can access sensitive content. Here, we will show you how to use this feature.

How to Use fastcgi_store_access

To utilize this feature, you can add the following code in your Nginx configuration file:

location /path {
    fastcgi_pass 127.0.0.1:9000;
    fastcgi_index index.php;
    include fastcgi_params;
    fastcgi_store on;
    fastcgi_store_access user:rw group:rw all:r;
}

Here, fastcgi_store on; is used to enable caching and fastcgi_store_access determines the access rules.

Code Explanation

The above code has several key sections that define each function:

• location /path: This section specifies which URL address the settings apply to.


• fastcgi_pass 127.0.0.1:9000;: This line instructs Nginx where to send the requests. In this example, it connects to a local FastCGI server.


• fastcgi_index index.php;: This tells Nginx the default file to process requests.


• include fastcgi_params;: This line includes default parameters for FastCGI, which helps in processing requests correctly.


• fastcgi_store on;: This option enables caching so that responses are stored.


• fastcgi_store_access user:rw group:rw all:r;: This directive sets access to the cached files. Specifically, users and groups can read and write, while others have read-only access.