Simple Web Server (NodeJs + Express) + Apache2

How to Setting Apache2 using proxy for expose a Nodejs + Express Framework app.

Configuring Apache2 and NodeJS

First, Install apache2 on local (use Linux Ubuntu) or Ubuntu on WSL (Windows):

sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install apache2

You can check whether apache2 is active or not by using the command:

sudo systemctl status apache2

And now u can check on ur browser with http://127.0.0.1

Install NodeJs and npm on local:

sudo apt install nodejs
sudo apt intall npm

Now u can copy your app in directory /var/www/

cd /var/www

Here a repository to my web server app if you want use it:

GitHub — dandiirwanto20/web-server-dengan-configurasi-apache2: Proyek Membangun Web Server dengan…

U can git clone the repository in /var/www

git clone https://github.com/dandiirwanto20/web-server-dengan-configurasi-apache2

you can see the new folder with the name web-server-dengan-configurasi-apache2. Then go into the folder with the command:

cd /web-server-dengan-configurasi-apache2

Now you can run NodeJs app by using command:

npm intall
npm run start

In the command line will display the server is running on the server 0.0.0.0:8000

You can check it on a web browser and it will display the command: “Selamat Datang di Web Server Sederhana”

Configuring Apache for Node.js

We’ll reconfigure the Apache server to listen on port 80 and redirect all requests to the Node application running on port 8000.

For ProxyPass to work, we must enable the proxy and proxy_http modules that act as gateways to allow for the passing of the request.

First u can Enabling the proxy and proxy_http modules:

sudo a2enmod proxy
sudo a2enmod proxy_http

and now u can configure 000-default.conf file in sites-available folder by using command:

cd .. #to back in root directory
cd /etc/apache2/000-default.conf

access files to edit by using commands:

sudo nano 000-default.conf

or

sudo vim 000-default.conf

And now you can add some commands in the file:

ProxyPreserveHost on
ProxyPass / http://localhost:8000/
ProxyPassReverse / http://localhost:8000/

For applying the configuration you can use the command:

sudo systemctl restart apache2

Testing the configuration

To test the configuration is successful or not you can enter the application directory that you save:

cd ..
cd /var/www/web-server-dengan-configurasi-apache2

And run the command:

npm install
npm run start

Then typing http://127.0.0.1 in web browser and NodeJs app with Apache2 configured successfully.

Note: If u use Windows, I recommend using VirtualBox or VMware for easier & useful configuration.

Configuration with different ports

We can set up apache with a different port. we can do this by configuring the ports.conf file in the apache2 folder. in this case, we will change port 80 to 3000.

First go to the apache2 folder: (make sure it’s in the root folder)

cd /etc/apache2
ls

Then open the file with the command:

sudo nano ports.conf

then edit listen 80 to listen 3000

Don’t forget to edit the 000-default.conf file in the <VirtualHost *:80> section to <VirtualHost *:3000>

lastly type the command “sudo systemctl restart apache2” to activate the new configuration.

now you should see your app running on your domain address.

http://127.0.0.1:3000

Thank You!