Unable to open website pages except .php when nginx is enabled in a server with Plesk: Error 403 Forbidden

Symptoms

• Unable to open website pages except .php when nginx is enabled. The following error is shown in a browser:

  PLESK_INFO: 403 Forbidden

• The following options are enabled at Plesk > Domains > example.com > Apache & Nginx Settings.

  • Restrict the ability to follow symbolic links
  • Smart static files processing

Cause

This is a Plesk bug with ID PPPM-5348, which will be fixed in future product updates.

nginx is unable to access files with default permissions if the option Restrict the ability to follow symbolic links is enabled.

Resolution

Log in to Plesk web interface and apply one of the following workarounds:

1. Disable the option Restrict the ability to follow symbolic links at Plesk > Domains > example.com > Apache & Nginx Settings.
   

2. Disable the option Smart static files processing at Plesk > Domains > example.com > Apache & Nginx Settings.