Deploy an Express Web Server with Pm2 and Nginx on Ubuntu 20.04

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Introduction

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.

Prerequisites

Before you begin:

• Deploy a fully-updated Vultr cloud server running Ubuntu 20.04.

1. Install the Dependencies

1. SSH to the server, or connect with the Vultr web console.

2. Update all your dependencies.

   $ sudo apt update
   

3. Install Node.js

   $ sudo curl -sL https://deb.nodesource.com/setup_lts.x | sudo -E bash -
   $ sudo apt install -y nodejs nano nginx
   

4. Confirm Node.js was installed properly.

   $ node -v
   

   This command should say something like v14.x.x

5. Install pm2.

   $ sudo npm i -g pm2
   

2. Project Setup

1. Initialize a new project.

   $ mkdir express-website
   $ cd express-website
   $ npm init -y
   

2. Install Express.js

   $ npm i express
   

3. Add Demo Source Code

1. Create your project's main file.

   $ nano index.js
   

2. 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!"
   })
   

3. Save and exit the file.

4. Test the App

Run your app:

$ node index.js

If it works, it reports "Server listening on port 3000!". Type CTRL + C to exit.

5. Daemonize the App

Daemonize the app with pm2.

$ pm2 start index.js

To verify it has daemonized, run pm2 list.

6. Nginx Reverse Proxy

1. Create your server block in Nginx.

   $ nano /etc/nginx/sites-enabled/express.conf
   

2. 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;
       }
   }
   

3. Save and exit the file.

4. Remove the default Nginx site.

   $ sudo rm /etc/nginx/sites-enabled/default
   

5. Restart nginx

   $ systemctl restart nginx
   

6. Verify it works by entering your server's IP in your browser.

References

• NGINX Documentation
• Express.js
• pm2