How to Install Caddy on Ubuntu 24.04

In this guide, we’ll walk through installing Caddy on Ubuntu 24.04, configuring it to serve a basic web page, and making it accessible via your server’s IP address.

• A fast, modern, and secure web server with automatic HTTPS support, Caddy is a fantastic choice. 
• Unlike traditional web servers like Nginx or Apache, Caddy is built with simplicity
• Simple, readable Caddyfile configuration

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y

Install required dependencies

sudo apt install -y debian-keyring debian-archive-keyring curl gnupg apt-transport-https

Now add the official Caddy GPG key and repository:

curl -1sLf 'https://dl.cloudsmith.io/public/caddy/stable/gpg.key' | sudo gpg --dearmor -o /usr/share/keyrings/caddy-stable-archive-keyring.gpg

curl -1sLf 'https://dl.cloudsmith.io/public/caddy/stable/debian.deb.txt' | \
sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/caddy-stable.list

Update your package index and install Caddy

sudo apt update
sudo apt install caddy -y

Check the installation

caddy version

You should see something like: v2.7.x

Configure Caddy to Serve a Site via IP

Edit the main Caddyfile:-

sudo vim /etc/caddy/Caddyfile

Replace the contents with the following:

:80 {

    root * /var/www/html

    file_server

}

This tells Caddy to listen on 80 and serve files from /var/www/html

 Create a Default Web Page

Create a basic index.html page:

sudo mkdir -p /var/www/html
echo '<h1>Welcome to Caddy on Ubuntu 24.04</h1>' | sudo tee /var/www/html/index.html

Set permissions 

sudo chown -R www-data:www-data /var/www/html

Reload the configuration:

sudo systemctl reload caddy

Or restart completely:

sudo systemctl restart caddy

Test in Browser

Open your browser and visit:

http://IP_address

You should see:

Welcome to Caddy on Ubuntu 24.04

Your site is now being served from your IP address using Caddy.

Conclusion

Caddy is not just a simple web server,it’s a powerful platform capable of handling much more. From acting as a reverse proxy for applications built with Node.js, Django, or even Docker containers, to offering built-in load balancing and seamless PHP support via php-fpm, Caddy can easily scale with your needs. It also provides built-in logging and metrics, making it easier to monitor and optimize your deployments. Whether you’re serving static sites or managing dynamic web applications, Caddy delivers a modern, developer-friendly experience out of the box.

If you encounter any issues or need expert assistance to install Caddy on Ubuntu 24.04, our team of experienced professionals is here to help. Whether it’s configuring Caddy for production, setting up automatic HTTPS, or optimizing your web server environment, Skynats offers reliable Server Management Services and Web Server Optimization Services tailored to your needs.

Get in touch with us today and ensure a smooth, secure, and efficient deployment of your Caddy server.