This guide explains how to create a Node.js app with Express, deploy it with the pm2 process manager, and publish it with an Nginx reverse proxy.
Before you begin:
Deploy a fully-updated Vultr cloud server running Ubuntu 20.04.
SSH to the server, or connect with the Vultr web console.
Update all your dependencies.
$ sudo apt update
Install Node.js
$ sudo curl -sL https://deb.nodesource.com/setup_lts.x | sudo -E bash -
$ sudo apt install -y nodejs nano nginx
Confirm Node.js was installed properly.
$ node -v
This command should say something like v14.x.x
Install pm2.
$ sudo npm i -g pm2
Initialize a new project.
$ mkdir express-website
$ cd express-website
$ npm init -y
Install Express.js
$ npm i express
Create your project's main file.
$ nano index.js
Paste the following into your editor.
const express = require("express"); // Acquire the express package and assign it to a variable called "express"
const app = express(); // Calls the method "express()" and assigns it's output to "app". "express()" will create an express app for you.
app.get("/", (req, res) => { // Creates sort of a listener for when there are "GET" requests to the "/" (root) path. Takes in req (request) and res (response)
res.send("Hello world!"); // For the response, send a string "Hello World!"
});
app.listen(3000, () => { // Tells the app to start on port 3000. This function below is run when
console.log("Server listening on port 3000!"); // Say in the console "Server listening on port 3000!"
})
Save and exit the file.
Run your app:
$ node index.js
If it works, it reports "Server listening on port 3000!". Type CTRL + C to exit.
Daemonize the app with pm2.
$ pm2 start index.js
To verify it has daemonized, run pm2 list.
Create your server block in Nginx.
$ nano /etc/nginx/sites-enabled/express.conf
Paste the following in your nano editor:
server {
listen 80; # Listen on port 80
listen [::]:80; # Listen on port 80 for ipv6
server_name _;
location / {
proxy_pass http://127.0.0.1:3000;
}
}
Save and exit the file.
Remove the default Nginx site.
$ sudo rm /etc/nginx/sites-enabled/default
Restart nginx
$ systemctl restart nginx
Verify it works by entering your server's IP in your browser.