How to Install Node.js App via HestiaCP

Prerequisites

Before installing Node.js, make sure you have:

• SSH access to your VPS
• Node.js installed
• PM2 installed (process manager)

Step 1: Install Node.js

ssh hxroot@YOUR_SERVER_IP -p 22

curl -fsSL https://deb.nodesource.com/setup_18.x | sudo -E bash -
sudo apt install -y nodejs

Step 2: Install PM2 Globally

npm install -g pm2

Step 3: Upload Your Node.js Application

scp -r /local/node-app/ admin@YOUR_SERVER_IP:/home/admin/web/example.com/public_html/

Step 4: Install Dependencies

cd /home/admin/web/example.com/public_html
npm install

Step 5: Start App with PM2

pm2 start app.js --name "myapp"
pm2 save
pm2 startup

Step 6: Configure Nginx as Reverse Proxy

In HestiaCP, edit domain → Advanced Options:

Add proxy configuration to route traffic to Node.js port (e.g., 3000).

Or manually edit Nginx config:

nano /home/admin/conf/web/nginx.example.com.conf

Add inside server block:

location / {
    proxy_pass http://127.0.0.1:3000;
    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;
}

Step 7: Restart Nginx

systemctl restart nginx

Step 8: Open Firewall Port (If Direct Access Needed)

ufw allow 3000/tcp

PM2 Useful Commands

pm2 list                    # List all apps
pm2 logs myapp              # View logs
pm2 restart myapp           # Restart app
pm2 stop myapp              # Stop app
pm2 delete myapp            # Delete app
pm2 monit                   # Monitor resources