NodeJS

	Note:
	Please note that Nodejs is available via Software Collections, which is the recommended way of using Nodejs on Koozali SME Server.

Node.js® is a platform built on Chrome's JavaScript runtime for easily building fast, scalable network applications. Node.js uses an event-driven, non-blocking I/O model that makes it lightweight and efficient, perfect for data-intensive real-time applications that run across distributed devices.

http://nodejs.org/

[edit]

• For SME 8
• For SME 9

	Skill level: Advanced
	The instructions on this page may require deviations from standard procedures. A good understanding of linux and Koozali SME Server is recommended.

	Warning:
	This procedure requires installation of gcc and could significantly compromise your server's security. Thorough understanding of linux system management is required. Proceed at your own risk

Prerequesites

• Requires Python 2.7 installed as described in Python Altinstall
• git and g++

yum -y install git gcc-c++

Install

mkdir -p /var/git
cd /var/git
RELEASE=$(curl -s http://nodejs.org/download/ |grep Current\ version |awk -F"[><]" '{print $5}')
git clone https://github.com/joyent/node.git
cd /var/git/node
git reset --hard
git checkout $RELEASE
export PYTHON=/usr/local/bin/python2.7
$PYTHON ./configure
make
make install

Updating

NodeJS should be recompiled if the package itself or any of its dependencies is updated.

NodeJS 1.7 dependencies include:

• openssl-devel
• v8-devel
• zlib-devel

The commands below will identify the latest release of nodejs, then download, recompile, and install:

RELEASE=$(curl -s -L http://nodejs.org/download/ |grep Current\ version |awk -F"[><]" '{print $5}')
cd /var/git/node
git reset --hard
git pull origin $RELEASE-release
#
# recompile and install
#
export PYTHON=/usr/local/bin/python2.7
$PYTHON ./configure
make
make install

On SME 9, you can install a reasonably recent version of NodeJS from the EPEL repository:

• Add the epel repository to the configuration db using the SME 9 instructions from Epel
• Update the yum configuration file using

signal-event yum-modify

• Install NodeJS

yum --enablerepo=epel install nodejs

This will install nodejs plus c-ares19, http-parser, libuv and v8 from the epel repo, plus libicu from the base repo.

Updating

• Update using

yum --enablerepo=epel update nodejs c-ares19 http-parser libuv v8

• NodeJS updates are released every 3 - 12 weeks; check for updates regularly.

Node Repo

You can install the latest versions of node direct from their repository.

See this page for to help add the repos to SME: https://wiki.contribs.org/Extrarepositories

yum install smeserver-extrarepositories-node signal-event yum-modify config set UnsavedChanges no

This will add a set of Node repos to your yum_repositories database. Node v4-v11

You can now install a version of node from the repo eg:

yum --enablerepo=node8 install nodejs8.9.4

yum --enablerepo=node11 install nodejs11.8.0

Remember that this installs the base RPM but you can switch versions using the 'n' version manager

npm install -g n

For help:

n -h

For available versions: n ls

Test

node -v

Port Redirect for each application

	Note:

Each Node application you build must run on a different port. This can be configured in app.js

If you want to redirect an external URL to the app port using a reverse proxy you can do the following

a) create that external domain on SME web interface for domain as www.your.externaldomain.tld

b) create a new variable (NodePort) to specify that port

db domains setprop www.your.externadomain.tld NodePort 3003

c) use a custom fragment template file /etc/e-smith/templates-custom/etc/httpd/conf/httpd.conf/VirtualHosts/27ProxyNodeJS with:

{
    use esmith::DomainsDB;
    my $domains = esmith::DomainsDB->open_ro;

    my $nodeport = $domains->get_prop($virtualHost, "NodePort") || "disabled";
    return "    # skipping NodeJS redirect - no NodePort parameter\n" unless not $nodeport eq "disabled";

    $OUT .= "    # NodeJS port redirect\n" unless $nodeport eq 'disabled';
    $OUT .= "    ProxyPreserveHost On\n" unless $nodeport eq 'disabled';
    $OUT .= "    ProxyRequests Off\n" unless $nodeport eq 'disabled';
    $OUT .= "    ProxyPass / http://localhost:$nodeport/\n" unless $nodeport eq 'disabled';
    $OUT .= "    ProxyPassReverse / http://localhost:$nodeport/\n" unless $nodeport eq 'disabled';
 }

Now just expand templates and restart

expand-template /etc/httpd/conf/httpd.conf
/etc/init.d/httpd-e-smith restart

You should be able to access your app externally using http://www.your.externaldomain.tld

It's possible to access using SME with one LetsEncrypt certificate by directory/port

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