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1. Launch and secure the EC2 instance
In the AWS EC2 console, launch an Amazon Linux 2023 instance. Choose an instance size appropriate for your app, select or create an SSH key pair, and ensure the instance has a public DNS name if you need to connect to it directly over the internet. The exact console labels and public-IP behavior can vary; confirm the instance’s connection details after launch.
Attach a security group that allows only the traffic your deployment needs. AWS describes a security group as a virtual firewall, and security groups are stateful: return traffic for an allowed connection is handled automatically.
- SSH, port 22: allow only your administrator IP address or known network range. Do not leave SSH open to every IPv4 or IPv6 address for production.
- HTTP, port 80: allow public access if the site serves HTTP or uses HTTP for a redirect or other web traffic.
- HTTPS, port 443: allow public access if the site serves secure web traffic.
AWS’s Node.js EC2 tutorial calls for SSH, HTTP, and HTTPS security-group rules. Do not open the Node.js application port to the public when a reverse proxy on the same server can forward requests to it.
2. Connect and install Node.js
Use SSH with the key pair selected at launch and the login user documented for the chosen Amazon Linux image. Amazon Linux 2023 commonly uses ec2-user; verify the image’s connection instructions if that login fails. Substitute the instance’s public DNS name or public IP in the command:
ssh -i /path/to/your-key.pem ec2-user@your-instance-public-dnsInstall nvm by following its official installation instructions, then load its shell setup in the session. nvm is tied to shell configuration, so a fresh command-line session may need to load that configuration again before the nvm command is available. Install the current Node.js LTS release through nvm; npm is installed with Node.js.
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nvm install --lts
node --version
npm --versionThe version shown by node --version confirms the runtime available in that shell. Node.js LTS versions change, so use the current LTS line rather than pinning a version from an old tutorial.
3. Put the application on the server and configure it
Transfer the application using a controlled method, such as cloning a private Git repository with appropriately scoped access or copying a release artifact. Avoid putting repository credentials, AWS access keys, or other secrets in the source tree.
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One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware match- Change to the application directory and check that the deployment includes its package lockfile.
- When a lockfile is present, install its exact dependency set with
npm ci. This command is intended for clean, repeatable installs and will fail if the lockfile and package manifest are inconsistent. - Set the required production environment variables outside source control. Use the names and values expected by the app, and restrict access to any file or service holding secrets.
- Run the app’s production start command as defined by its package scripts or deployment documentation. Confirm that the app starts successfully before configuring the proxy.
The app should listen on a private interface or localhost and an internal port, for example port 3000. Do not bind the application directly to a public-facing interface unless your architecture specifically requires it.
4. Put nginx or Apache in front of Node.js
A reverse proxy accepts web requests and forwards them to the Node.js process. This lets the security group expose web ports 80 and 443 while the app uses an internal port. AWS’s Elastic Beanstalk Node.js example also documents nginx or Apache as the reverse-proxy layer; using a proxy does not make a direct EC2 deployment equivalent to Beanstalk, because you still operate the EC2 host.
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Configure nginx or Apache to forward requests to the address and port where the app listens. For nginx, the core of a server configuration forwarding to a local app on port 3000 looks like this:
location / {
proxy_pass http://127.0.0.1:3000;
proxy_http_version 1.1;
proxy_set_header Host $host;
proxy_set_header X-Real-IP $remote_addr;
proxy_set_header X-Forwarded-For $proxy_add_x_forwarded_for;
proxy_set_header X-Forwarded-Proto $scheme;
}This is only the request-forwarding portion of an nginx configuration; the server block, domain name, TLS certificate, and service installation must match your environment. Configure HTTPS and its certificate at the proxy if the public site is to serve secure traffic. Verify the proxy configuration and test the site from outside the instance after both the proxy and app are running.
5. Keep the app running and maintain the host
A successful start in an SSH terminal proves that the app can launch, but it is not by itself a durable production process setup. Configure a process supervisor or service manager to start the app after reboot and restart it if it exits; use the app’s actual start command, working directory, runtime user, and environment settings. Check the service and application logs when requests fail or the process stops.
- Patch the operating system and application dependencies, and monitor for vulnerabilities.
- Review security-group rules periodically and keep administration access limited to the necessary source addresses.
- Use monitoring and logs to detect failed processes, resource pressure, and application errors.
AWS recommends least-permissive security-group rules, patching, and vulnerability monitoring. The operator of a direct EC2 deployment is responsible for the host lifecycle and these ongoing tasks.
6. Give the app AWS permissions safely
If the application calls AWS services, attach an IAM role to the EC2 instance and grant that role only the permissions the app needs. The role provides application credentials without embedding long-lived access keys in the code or deployment files. Do not use broad permissions just to make an integration work; identify the required actions and scope access as narrowly as the use case allows.
7. Make the setup repeatable with an AMI
After validating the runtime and machine configuration, you can create an Amazon Machine Image (AMI) to preserve the configured installation for additional instances. An AMI helps reproduce the server image; it does not remove the need to manage application releases, secrets, permissions, patching, or security-group rules.
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Common deployment failures
- SSH connection times out: confirm the instance is reachable at the public DNS name or IP, that its security group permits port 22 from your current public IP range, and that you are using the correct key and login user.
nvmis not found: load the nvm shell configuration in the current session, then retry. A new CLI session may not have loaded the configuration automatically.- The site cannot reach the app: verify the app is running and listening on the same local address and port configured in the reverse proxy. Check the app and proxy logs, and make sure the proxy is reachable on the web ports allowed by the security group.
- The app works in SSH but stops later: configure a service manager or process supervisor rather than relying on an interactive shell, and inspect logs for the exit reason.
- The app cannot call an AWS service: verify that an instance role is attached and that its policy permits the specific required actions.
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