How to Deploy a Node.js Project on CentOS 7

What does deploy mean?

To deploy means to move your app from your computer to a server so everyone can use it. Node.js runs JavaScript on a server. Root is the main admin account on the server.

Steps

1. Connect to your server with SSH as root.
2. Add the Node.js package source. This example uses version 16, the last that works well on CentOS 7:

curl -fsSL https://rpm.nodesource.com/setup_16.x | bash -

This tells the system where to find Node.js packages.

3. Install Node.js:

yum install -y nodejs

This installs Node.js and npm. npm is the tool that downloads code libraries.

4. Check the install:

node -v

This prints the version number.

5. Upload your project to a folder such as /var/www/myapp. You can use SFTP or git.
6. Go into the folder and install the libraries:

cd /var/www/myapp
npm install

This reads package.json and downloads what your app needs.

7. Install PM2. It keeps your app running, even after a crash or restart:

npm install -g pm2

This installs PM2 for the whole system.

8. Start your app:

pm2 start app.js --name myapp

This runs app.js in the background.

9. Make PM2 start on boot:

pm2 startup
pm2 save

This saves your list of apps and restarts them after a reboot.

10. Open the port in the firewall. Replace 3000 with the port your app uses:

firewall-cmd --permanent --add-port=3000/tcp
firewall-cmd --reload

A port is like a numbered door on the server. This opens door 3000.

11. Visit http://your-server-ip:3000 in your browser.

Use a normal web address

Most people put a web server such as Nginx in front of the app. It listens on port 80 and passes visits to your app. This lets visitors use your domain name without a port number.

For help with your server details, check your welcome email or open a support ticket.

Quick recap

• Install Node.js with the NodeSource script and yum.
• Upload your project and run npm install.
• Use PM2 to keep the app running.
• Open the port, or put Nginx in front.