Enabling Passenger for Node.js

Node.js is a JavaScript runtime environment used to develop server tools and applications. It uses JavaScript, traditionally a front-end programming language on the server side.

This article describes enabling Node.js to work with Passenger using the DreamHost panel.

Node.js can be installed onto Shared, VPS, and Dedicated Servers.

Yes. You can create a Node.js app and deploy it manually. However, this can be a lot of work, depending on the complexity of your application. Deploying your Node.js app with Passenger is much easier and recommended.

If you choose not to use Passenger, you must find a way to deploy your application manually.

When you enable Node.js in the panel, Passenger knows your website is set up to run a Node.js app and automatically deploys it using Passenger on ports 80 and 443. However, this will only function under these two circumstances:

• The file to load the application is named app.js and is in your site's app directory
• Your .htaccess file has been updated to point to your local version of Node.js

Passenger then loads the app.js file automatically when visiting your URL. In this case, you do not have to bind a port # to the URL or manually start the server. Your configuration would look like this:

app directory: example.com/app.js
web directory: example.com/public

To enable Passenger for Node.js:

1. Navigate to the Manage Websites page.
2. Click the Manage button to open the Domain Settings page, which allows you to adjust various settings for your site.
   • If in Grid view, click the Manage button at the bottom of the website box.
   • If in List view, click the Manage button at the far right of your domain name.
3. Scroll down to the Additional Settings section and click the Modify button on the Web Options row.
4. Enable Passenger by clicking the radio button on the right. The panel adds a /public subdirectory, and the Node JS row appears.

   If you already have a /public directory in the current Web directory, clicking OK will only switch the 'Web directory' to this new /public folder. Nothing in it is removed.

   If you do not already have a /public directory, the panel creates it for you with a coming soon page. The files in your current Web directory remain untouched.

5. Click the radio button on the Node JS row. When finished, click the Save Changes button to save your changes.