Deploying a Node.js App on a VPS with PM2 and Nginx

Deploying a Node.js app into production requires more than simply running npm start. You need a process manager, a reverse proxy, SSL support, and a clean deployment workflow. In this tutorial, you'll learn how to deploy a Node.js API or application on a Linux VPS using PM2, Nginx, and free SSL certificates from Let’s Encrypt.

Why This Setup?

• PM2 keeps your app alive, restarts on failure, and supports auto-start on reboot.
• Nginx handles incoming HTTP/HTTPS requests and forwards them to your Node app.
• Let’s Encrypt provides free, auto-renewing SSL certificates.
• Git + PM2 enable simple deployments.

This stack is lightweight, reliable, and production-ready.

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1. Prerequisites

You should have:

• A Linux VPS (Ubuntu 20.04+ recommended)
• A domain name pointed to the server’s IP
• Node.js app ready on GitHub or local machine
• SSH access to the server

Assumptions in this guide:

• App will run internally on port 3000
• Public domain: api.yourdomain.com

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2. Update the Server

SSH into your VPS:

ssh username@your-server-ip

Update packages:

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y

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3. Install Node.js & Git

sudo apt install -y nodejs npm git
node -v
npm -v

(Optional: install via NVM if you prefer full version control.)

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4. Clone Your Project

Navigate to a deployment directory:

cd /var/www\sudo mkdir my-node-app
sudo chown $USER:$USER my-node-app
cd my-node-app

Clone the repo:

git clone https://github.com/your/repo.git .
npm install

Run it locally to confirm:

npm start

Your API should now run at http://localhost:3000.

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5. Install & Configure PM2

sudo npm install -g pm2

Start the app:

pm2 start server.js --name "my-node-app"

Save process list:

pm2 save
pm2 startup

Run the command PM2 prints, then save again:

pm2 save

Your Node.js app now auto-starts after system reboot.

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6. Install & Configure Nginx Reverse Proxy

Install Nginx:

sudo apt install -y nginx

Create a server block:

sudo nano /etc/nginx/sites-available/my-node-app

Add:

server {
    listen 80;
    server_name api.yourdomain.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;
}

}

Enable the config:

sudo ln -s /etc/nginx/sites-available/my-node-app /etc/nginx/sites-enabled/
sudo nginx -t
sudo systemctl reload nginx

Your app is now live at: http://api.yourdomain.com

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7. Secure with Free SSL (Let’s Encrypt)

Install Certbot:

sudo apt install certbot python3-certbot-nginx

Run certificate setup:

sudo certbot --nginx -d api.yourdomain.com

Choose “Redirect to HTTPS.”

Auto-renewal runs automatically, but you can test it:

sudo certbot renew --dry-run

Now your app is live at: https://api.yourdomain.com

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8. Deployment Workflow (Updating Code)

When you push new updates to GitHub:

cd /var/www/my-node-app
git pull origin main
npm install        # if dependencies changed
npm run build      # optional
pm2 restart my-node-app

This takes seconds and is safe for production.

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9. Monitoring the App

PM2 gives useful tools:

• Logs:

pm2 logs my-node-app

• Resource monitor:

pm2 monit

• Restart:

pm2 restart my-node-app

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Conclusion

You now have a fully deployed production-ready Node.js app using:

• PM2 for process management
• Nginx for reverse proxying and load distribution
• HTTPS for security
• Git for easy deployments

This deployment stack powers everything from small APIs to large-scale apps, and is easy to maintain.