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Learn how to set up Nginx on Ubuntu, secure your Node.js apps with HTTPS using Certbot, and configure your server for production-ready deployments.
Deploying your Node.js application to a production server requires a solid setup with a reverse proxy and HTTPS. In this guide, we’ll walk through installing Nginx, configuring it for Node.js, and securing it with a free SSL certificate from Let’s Encrypt using Certbot.
Before you start, make sure you have:
Update your packages and install Nginx:
sudo apt update
sudo apt install nginx -y
Start and enable Nginx to run on boot:
sudo systemctl start nginx
sudo systemctl enable nginx
Check the status:
sudo systemctl status nginx
You should seeactive (running).
We’ll route incoming requests to your Node.js app running on port 3000.
sudo vim /etc/nginx/sites-available/myapp.conf
2. Add the following configuration (replace myapp.example.com with your domain):
server {
listen 80;
server_name myapp.example.com;
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;
proxy_set_header X-Real-IP $remote_addr;
proxy_set_header X-Forwarded-For $proxy_add_x_forwarded_for;
}
}
3. Enable the site and reload Nginx:
sudo ln -s /etc/nginx/sites-available/myapp.conf /etc/nginx/sites-enabled/
sudo nginx -t
sudo systemctl reload nginx
Test your domain:
curl http://myapp.example.com
You should see your Node.js app response.
If using UFW:
sudo ufw allow 'Nginx Full'
sudo ufw allow 3000
sudo ufw status
Make sure ports 80 (HTTP) and 443 (HTTPS) are open.
Certbot simplifies getting a free SSL certificate from Let’s Encrypt:
sudo apt install certbot python3-certbot-nginx -y
Run Certbot:
sudo certbot --nginx -d myapp.example.com
Follow prompts to verify your domain and automatically configure HTTPS.
Check certificate status:
sudo certbot certificates
Let’s Encrypt certificates are valid for 90 days. Enable automatic renewal:
sudo systemctl status certbot.timer
Test renewal:\
sudo certbot renew --dry-run
If you want to host multiple apps on the same server:
api.example.com or n8n.example.com.Nginx will handle routing requests to the correct backend service.
Visit your domain in a browser:
https://myapp.example.com
You should see your Node.js app running securely with HTTPS.
Verify HTTPS using tools like SSL Labs to ensure proper configuration.
Now your Node.js application is production-ready with a secure server setup!
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