This example uses a simple Hello World module to show how to update the source for a module and load it into NGINX Plus. The “Hello World” module implements a simple directive (hello_world) that responds to requests with a simple message.

Determine the NGINX Open Source version that corresponds to your NGINX Plus installation. In this example, it’s NGINX 1.11.5.

''$ **nginx -v**nginx version: nginx/1.11.5 (nginx-plus-r11)''

Download the corresponding NGINX Open Source package at nginx.org/download:

''$ **wget https://nginx.org/download/nginx-1.11.5.tar.gz** $ **tar -xzvf nginx-1.11.5.tar.gz**''

Obtain the source for the ‘Hello World’ NGINX module from GitHub:

''$ **git clone https://github.com/perusio/nginx-hello-world-module.git**''

The config shell file for a module defines how it is built, and its format is different for dynamic modules than for modules being built statically into an NGINX Open Source binary.

Modify the file nginx-hello-world-module/config to contain the following:

''ngx_addon_name=ngx_http_hello_world_module
if test -n "$ngx_module_link"; then
    ngx_module_type=HTTP
    ngx_module_name=ngx_http_hello_world_module
    ngx_module_srcs="$ngx_addon_dir/ngx_http_hello_world_module.c"

    . auto/module
else
    HTTP_MODULES="$HTTP_MODULES ngx_http_hello_world_module"
    NGX_ADDON_SRCS="$NGX_ADDON_SRCS $ngx_addon_dir/ngx_http_hello_world_module.c"
fi''

For detailed information about compiling dynamic modules, including instructions on updating a module’s config file from the old format, see the NGINX Wiki.

Compile the module by first running the configure'' script with the –with-compat argument, which creates a standard build environment supported by both NGINX Open Source and NGINX Plus. Then run make modules to build the module:

''$ **cd nginx-1.11.5/** $ **./configure --with-compat --add-dynamic-module=../nginx-hello-world-module**
$ **make modules**''

Copy the module library (.so file) to /etc/nginx/modules:

''$ **sudo cp objs/ngx_http_hello_world_module.so /etc/nginx/modules/**''

To load the module into NGINX Plus, add the load_module'' directive in the top‑level (main) context of your nginx.conf configuration file (not within the http or stream context):

''load_module modules/ngx_http_hello_world_module.so;''

In the http context, add a location block with the hello_world directive provided by the Hello World module. Requests to the location return the response hello world.

''server {
    listen 80;
    location / {
   hello_world;
    }
}''

Reload your NGINX Plus configuration and test it with a simple request:

''$ **nginx -s reload** $ **curl http://localhost/**
hello world''