NodeJS Setup NodeJS Application on Production with Nginx as reverse proxy Ubuntu 16.04

NodeJS+Nginx as a reverse proxy
NodeJS is an open source JavaScript runtime environment for easily building server side applicaiton. 
Let's setup our application with Nginx as reverse proxy

Prerequisites-

• Ubuntu 16.04 Machine
• A user with Sudo access
• Nginx Installed

Step 1- Install Nginx -

To install Nginx run the following command.

$ sudo apt install nginx

Check Nginx service status

sudo systemctl status nginx.service

Nginx installation completed, Service up and running.

Step 2-Install NodeJS

Install latest NodeJS from GIT repository-

sudo curl -sL https://deb.nodesource.com/setup_9.x | sudo -E bash  -

To Install NodeJS run following command.

sudo apt install nodejs

NodeJs installation has done. Check NodeJS Version

$ sudo nodejs --version
v9.10.0

Node Version 9.10.0 has installed.

Step 3-Create Node.js Application -

We will create a simple node.js application to our test purpose. 

Create app directoy and go to app directory

$ sudo mkdir -p /var/www/myapp && cd /var/www/myapp

Create sample node.js application

$ sudo vi myapp.js

Now appnend follwoing lines

#!/usr/bin/env nodejs
var http = require('http');
http.createServer(function (req, res) {
  res.writeHead(200, {'Content-Type': 'text/plain'});
  res.end('Welcome to Linux How to Guide Blog World\n');
}).listen(8080, 'localhost');
console.log('Server running at http://localhost:8080/');

In the above syntax nodejs app listting on localhsot, Save and Exit from the file.

Node.JS simple applicaiton will work on localhost and will listens port 8080

Step 4- Test application

In order to test application, make it executalble.

sudo chmod a+x myapp.js

Run the myapp.js file.

amar@ubuntu16:/var/www/myapp$ sudo ./myapp.js
Server running at http://localshost:8080/

You will get output - Server running at http://localhost:8080/

Let's browse URL - http://localhost:8080/

Node.JS application is ready and working as expected.

Step 5- Keep running our application in the backgroud.

Node.JS application will work until you terminal is active, let's keep it running in the background.

$ sudo nohup ./myapp.js &

Step 6- Set Up Nginx as a reverse proxy server

Now that your application is running, and listening on ServerIP, you need to set up a way for your users to access it. We will set up the Nginx web server as a reverse proxy for this purpose.

Modify Nginx default Sever block -

$ sudo vi /etc/nginx/sites-available/default

Append following line-

 location / {
        proxy_pass http://localhost:8080;
        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;

Now your Server block should be like this-

Save and exit from the file.

Check Ngnix configuration file:

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

Restart Nginx Service

sudo systemctl restart nginx.service

Step 7- Test Application access with server IP address

All the required configuration made successfully, Now Nginx proxy is ready to work with Nodejs application.

Open your browser and access URL- http://192.168.102.10

Nginx configuration as reverse proxy completed successfully.