Nginx in Plesk cannot be started: Not starting nginx as it is disabled in Plesk.

Symptoms

• nginx fails to start:

  # systemctl status nginx
  * nginx.service - Startup script for nginx service
  Loaded: loaded (/usr/lib/systemd/system/nginx.service; enabled; vendor preset: disabled)
  Drop-In: /usr/lib/systemd/system/nginx.service.d
  `-limit_nofile.conf
  Active: failed (Result: exit-code) since Wed 2022-05-11 12:04:22 CEST; 4s ago
  Process: 44106 ExecStartPre=/bin/sh -c [ '${NGINX_ENABLED}' = 'yes' ] || { echo Not starting nginx as it is disabled in Plesk. Run 'plesk sbin nginxmng -e' to enable nginx in Plesk.; exit 1; } (code=exited, status=1/FAILURE)

  May 11 12:04:22 publicamedia.net systemd[1]: Starting Startup script for nginx service...
  May 11 12:04:22 publicamedia.net sh[44106]: Not starting nginx as it is disabled in Plesk. Run 'plesk sbin nginxmng -e' to enable nginx in Plesk.
  May 11 12:04:22 publicamedia.net systemd[1]: nginx.service: control process exited, code=exited status=1
  May 11 12:04:22 publicamedia.net systemd[1]: Failed to start Startup script for nginx service.
  May 11 12:04:22 publicamedia.net systemd[1]: Unit nginx.service entered failed state.
  May 11 12:04:22 publicamedia.net systemd[1]: nginx.service failed.

• Websites show default page

Cause

With disabled nginx, the service will continue to be inactive.

Resolution

Properly restart nginx by disabling and re-enabling it:

1. Connect to the server via SSH.

2. Disable nginx:

   # plesk sbin nginxmng -d

3. Enable nginx:

   # plesk sbin nginxmng -e