Setting Up a Basic Node.js Server

Running a Node.js Server on Ubuntu: A Step-by-Step Guide

In this guide, we will cover the following:

• Installation
  Set up your server environment by installing the necessary software.

• Setup
  Configure your server to run your Node.js application.

We will install and configure the following:

1. Nginx
   A high-performance web server that can also act as a reverse proxy for your Node.js application.

2. Node.js
   A JavaScript runtime built on Chrome’s V8 JavaScript engine, designed to build scalable network applications.

3. Yarn
   A fast, reliable, and secure dependency management tool for JavaScript.

4. PM2
   An advanced process manager for Node.js applications, designed to keep your app running smoothly.

5. MongoDB
   A NoSQL database that provides high performance, high availability, and easy scalability.

6. Git
   A version control system to manage your codebase effectively.

INSTALLATION PART for Linux (Ubuntu System)

1. Install Nginx

    sudo apt-get update
    sudo apt-get install nginx
   

   Reference

2. Install Node.js

    curl -fsSL https://deb.nodesource.com/setup_lts.x | sudo -E bash -
    sudo apt-get install -y nodejs
   

   Reference

3. Install Yarn

    curl -sS https://dl.yarnpkg.com/debian/pubkey.gpg | sudo apt-key add -
    echo "deb https://dl.yarnpkg.com/debian/ stable main" | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/yarn.list
    sudo apt-get update
    sudo apt-get install yarn
   

   Reference

4. Install PM2

    sudo npm install -g pm2
   

   Reference

5. Install MongoDB

    sudo apt-get install -y mongodb
    sudo systemctl start mongodb
    sudo systemctl enable mongodb
   

   Adding an Administrative User:

    mongo
    use admin
    db.createUser({user: "admin", pwd: "password", roles:[{role:"userAdminAnyDatabase", db: "admin"}]})
    exit
   

   Reference

SETUP PART

Node.js Server

1. Run the Server Using PM2

   Navigate to your project directory and start the server:

   pm2 start app.js --name my-node-app
   

Note: Ensure app.js is the entry point of your application.

Your Node.js application will now be accessible at:

http://<SERVER_ADDRESS>:<PORT>

• SERVER_ADDRESS: The IP address or domain name of your server.
• PORT: The port on which your Node.js server is running.

1. Configure Nginx as a Reverse Proxy

   • Create a new Nginx configuration file in /etc/nginx/sites-available/:

    sudo nano /etc/nginx/sites-available/my-node-app
   

   • Add the following configuration:

    server {
        listen 80;
        server_name <SERVER_ADDRESS>;
   
        location / {
            proxy_pass http://localhost:<PORT>;
            proxy_http_version 1.1;
            proxy_set_header Upgrade $http_upgrade;
            proxy_set_header Connection 'upgrade';
            proxy_set_header Host $host;
            proxy_cache_bypass $http_upgrade;
        }
    }
   

   • Enable the configuration by creating a symbolic link:

    sudo ln -s /etc/nginx/sites-available/my-node-app /etc/nginx/sites-enabled/
   

   • Reload and restart Nginx to apply changes:

    sudo systemctl reload nginx
    sudo systemctl restart nginx
   

What did I miss? Let me know in the comments and I’ll add it in!