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Deploying a Node.js Application on AWS EC2

Deploying a Node.js Application on AWS EC2

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Nishank Koul
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Table of contents

Deploying a Node.js application on AWS EC2 can initially seem daunting, but following a systematic approach can achieve it efficiently. This guide walks you through deploying a basic Node.js application on an AWS EC2 instance.

Prerequisites

Before we begin, ensure you have the following:

  • An AWS account.

  • Stripe API Keys (refer to the provided document).

Project Overview

We will:

  1. Test the application locally.

  2. Deploy it on AWS EC2.

The repository used in this project is: NodeJS-AWS-EC2.

Step-by-Step Guide

Step 1: Clone the Repository Locally

First, clone the repository to your local machine:

git clone https://github.com/nishankkoul/NodeJS-AWS-EC2.git

Step 2: Create a .env File

Create a .env file to store environment variables. This file is crucial for:

  • Separation of Configuration and Code: Keeping configuration separate from source code.

  • Security: Avoiding hardcoding sensitive information like API keys.

  • Flexibility: Easily switching configurations for different environments.

  • Ease of Deployment: Managing environment variables during the deployment process.

  • Consistency: Ensuring consistent environment variables for all developers.

Create the .env file with the following variables:

  • DOMAIN

  • PORT

  • STATIC_DIR

  • PUBLISHABLE_KEY

  • SECRET_KEY

Step 3: Initialize and Start the Project

Install the dependencies and start the project:

npm install
npm run start

Access the application locally via http://localhost:3000

Step 4: Set Up an EC2 Instance

Launch an EC2 Instance:

  • Choose an Ubuntu Server AMI.

  • Select an instance type (e.g., t2.micro).

  • Configure security group to allow SSH (port 22) and HTTP (port 80) access.

  • Launch the instance and download the key pair for SSH access.

Connect to the EC2 Instance:

ssh -i "your-key-pair.pem" ubuntu@your-ec2-public-dns

Step 5: Deploy the Application on EC2

Clone the Repository:

git clone https://github.com/nishankkoul/NodeJS-AWS-EC2.git
cd NodeJS-AWS-EC2

Create the .env File:

vim .env

Copy and paste the content from the local .env file.

Install Node.js and npm:

sudo apt update
sudo apt install nodejs
sudo apt install npm

Install Dependencies and Start the Application:

npm install
npm run start

Step 6: Configure Security Group

Edit the inbound rules of the EC2 instance's security group to allow traffic on port 3000.

Step 7: Access the Application

Copy the EC2 instance's Public IPv4 address and access the application:

http://your-ec2-public-ip:3000

Congratulations, your Node.js application is now deployed on AWS EC2! For further details and updates, refer to the project repository.

Conclusion

Deploying a Node.js application on AWS EC2 involves setting up the environment, configuring security, and managing environment variables. Following these steps ensures a smooth deployment process, keeping your application secure and flexible for future updates. Happy coding!

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