NGINX startup on Mac OSX El Capitan

homebrew.mxcl.nginx.plist

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<!DOCTYPE plist PUBLIC "-//Apple//DTD PLIST 1.0//EN" "http://www.apple.com/DTDs/PropertyList-1.0.dtd">
<plist version="1.0">
  <dict>
    <key>Label</key>
    <string>homebrew.mxcl.nginx</string>
    <key>RunAtLoad</key>
    <true/>
    <key>KeepAlive</key>
    <true/>
    <key>ProgramArguments</key>
    <array>
        <string>/usr/local/opt/nginx/bin/nginx</string>
        <string>-g</string>
        <string>daemon off;</string>
    </array>
    <key>WorkingDirectory</key>
    <string>/usr/local</string>
  </dict>
</plist>

nginx-startup.md

Install NGINX if it's not yet installed

brew install nginx

Add NGINX launcher to system launch daemons, runnable as root

sudo cp -v /usr/local/opt/nginx/*.plist /Library/LaunchDaemons
sudo chown root:wheel /Library/LaunchDaemons/homebrew.mxcl.nginx.plist

Make sure launcher is set to keep nginx alive (see the example plist)

sudo vim /Library/LaunchDaemons/homebrew.mxcl.nginx.plist
# Ensure this is in the file:
# <key>KeepAlive</key>
# <true/>

Launch NGINX

sudo launchctl load /Library/LaunchDaemons/homebrew.mxcl.nginx.plist

good!

good job!

# Ensure this is in the file:
# <key>KeepAlive</key>
# <true/> 

That is very important

Thanks!

And the file should be copied, not only make a symbol link will work.

For me worked with KeepAlive false. On Catalina 10.15.1

Instead of manually editing it you can update KeepAlive via:

sudo defaults write /Library/LaunchDaemons/homebrew.mxcl.nginx.plist KeepAlive -bool TRUE