very simple reverse proxy nginx

apt-get install nginx
unlink /etc/nginx/sites-enabled/default

/etc/nginx/sites-available/tomcat

server {
        listen 80;
        location / {
             proxy_pass http://192.168.1.12:8080/sample/;
        }
}

verification:

marek@lati:~$ sudo nginx -t
nginx: the configuration file /etc/nginx/nginx.conf syntax is ok
nginx: configuration file /etc/nginx/nginx.conf test is successful