How to Install a Node.js Server on Ubuntu 24.04 with PM2

Node.js is widely used for building fast, scalable backend services. PM2 keeps your Node.js app alive, restarts it on crashes, and manages it as a system service. This guide installs Node.js properly and runs a production-ready Node server with PM2 — no fluff, no unrelated steps.

Step 1: Update System Packages

Start with a clean system.

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y

Step 2: Install Node.js (Recommended via NodeSource)

Ubuntu repositories are often outdated. Use NodeSource for a modern LTS version.

curl -fsSL https://deb.nodesource.com/setup_20.x | sudo -E bash -
sudo apt install -y nodejs

Verify installation:

node -v
npm -v

Step 3: Create a Simple Node.js Server

Create a project directory:

mkdir node-app && cd node-app

Initialize the project:

npm init -y

Create server.js:

nano server.js

Paste:

const http = require("http");

const server = http.createServer((req, res) => {
  res.writeHead(200, { "Content-Type": "text/plain" });
  res.end("Node.js server is running\n");
});

server.listen(3000, () => {
  console.log("Server running on port 3000");
});

Test it:

node server.js

Visit:

http://server-ip:3000

Stop it with Ctrl + C.

Step 4: Install PM2 Globally

PM2 manages your Node process in production.

sudo npm install -g pm2

Verify:

pm2 -v

Step 5: Run Node App with PM2

Start the app:

pm2 start server.js --name node-server

Check status:

pm2 list

View logs:

pm2 logs node-server

Step 6: Enable PM2 Startup on Boot

Generate startup script:

pm2 startup

PM2 will print a command. Copy and run it exactly (usually starts with sudo env ...).

Save current process list:

pm2 save

Now your Node server will auto-start after reboot.

Step 7: Open Firewall Port (If UFW Is Enabled)

Allow your app port:

sudo ufw allow 3000/tcp
sudo ufw reload

Step 8: Update and Restart the App

When code changes:

pm2 restart node-server

Or reload with zero downtime:

pm2 reload node-server

If you’re running Node.js without PM2 in production, your service will go down eventually. PM2 is not optional — it’s the minimum standard.