Overview

Hosting a Node.js backend on a server is a crucial step towards making your application accessible to users. In this guide, we'll walk through the process of deploying a Node.js backend using PM2, a process manager for Node.js applications. Additionally, we'll enable SSL encryption to enhance the security of your deployment.

Prerequisites

Before you begin, ensure that your Node.js project is production-ready, and any necessary database configurations are in place. Also, make sure Node.js is installed on your server.

Step 1: Install PM2

On your server, install PM2 globally using npm:

npm install -g pm2

Step 2: Start Your Node.js Application

Navigate to your project directory and start your Node.js application using PM2:

pm2 start server.js --name custom_name

Replace server.js with your actual entry file and choose a meaningful custom name.

Step 3: Check Application Status

To ensure your application is running, use the following command:

pm2 list

This will display a list of running PM2 processes, including the one you just started.

Step 4: Enable SSL Certificate

To add SSL encryption, follow these steps:

1. Clone the script for setting up Nginx proxy with SSL:

   wget https://raw.githubusercontent.com/thepwnexperts/advance-things/04c78015ad05c1e0be07dc82592740ac2a308217/linux/vps/nginx-proxy/localhost/nginx-proxy-with-ssl.sh

1. Change script permissions:

   chmod +x ./nginx-proxy-with-ssl.sh

1. Restart Nginx:

   service nginx restart

1. Run the script:

   ./nginx-proxy-with-ssl.sh

1. Follow the prompts to register your domain name.

2. After successful completion, exit the shell.

Conclusion

Congratulations! You've successfully deployed your Node.js backend using PM2 and enabled SSL encryption for added security. Your application is now accessible via HTTPS, providing a secure connection for your users.

Feel free to customize these steps based on your specific project requirements. Happy coding!