DigitalOcean

Question

Need Help with Setting Up a Node.js App on DigitalOcean Droplet

Hi everyone,

I’m currently working on deploying a Node.js application to a DigitalOcean Droplet, and I’m running into a few challenges. I’ve created the droplet and installed Node.js using the official guide, but I’m having trouble getting the app to run in the background and ensuring it stays online after I disconnect from the SSH session.

Here’s what I’ve done so far:

  1. Created a Droplet with Ubuntu 20.04.
  2. Installed Node.js and npm.
  3. Uploaded my app files via SFTP.
  4. Tried running the app using node app.js, but the process stops when I disconnect.

What I need help with:

  • How can I ensure the app runs in the background, even after I close the SSH connection?
  • Should I use something like PM2 to manage the process, or is there a better solution for this?
  • Are there any other best practices for deploying Node.js apps on DigitalOcean?

Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks in advance for your time and support!

Best, Jsoon Hook!

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Bobby Iliev
Site Moderator
Site Moderator badge
• February 16, 2025

Hi there,

Yes, you’ll want to use PM2 to keep your Node.js app running in the background and restart it if the server reboots. Here’s how to set it up on your DigitalOcean Droplet:

  1. Install PM2 globally:

    npm install -g pm2

  2. Start your app with PM2:

    pm2 start app.js --name my-node-app
pm2 save
pm2 startup

This keeps your app running even after you close SSH.

You can also use Git and GitHub to manage your code and deploy updates more easily instead of SFTP.

Also make sure to check out this guide for a more detailed setup: How to Use PM2 to Set Up a Node.js Production Environment.

Hope that this helps!

- Bobby

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