How to Install Node.js on CentOS 8 Server Tutorial (Step by Step)
How to Install Node.js on CentOS 8. In this post we will introduce what Node.js is and we will move onto installation on CentOS 8. Let’s start.
What is Node.js
Node.js is a free and open source JavaScript runtime environment released in 2009 by Ryan Dahl. It is built on Chrome’s V8 JavaScript engine and used for traditional websites and back end API services. The purpose of designing a server side platform was to help developers create dynamic web page content and build fast network applications. As a result, one could easily create a complete web app development project with the help of a single programming language. Node.js server is fast and scalable server side platform that stores various JavaScript modules helpful in web app developments. Also, using these modules, developers can run applications on OS X, Microsoft Windows, and Linux.
Node.js provides an NPM tool to manage packages for Node.js applications and has the world’s largest software registry. It is gaining popularity due to its ease of development process and delivers efficient performance. It is used by many popular companies, including Netflix, Uber, Walmart, eBay, etc.
Node.js features
- Non-blocking thread execution that massively increases speed.
- It is multi threaded.
- Cross platform solution.
- Using one coding language.
- V8 Engine.
- Quick deployment and microservice development.
- Asynchronous data processing structure.
- Event Driven.
- Caching.
- Seamless JSON support.
- Server development.
Follow this post to install Node.js on CentOS 8.
How to Install Node.js on CentOS 8
Install Node.js from the CentOS AppStream Repository
The simple and easiest way to install Node.js is from the AppStream repository. You can list all Node.js versions included in the AppStream repository with the following command:
dnf module list nodejs
You will get the following output:
Last metadata expiration check: 0:00:01 ago on Monday 07 March 2022 04:14:58 PM UTC.
CentOS 8 - AppStream
Name Stream Profiles Summary
nodejs 10 [d] common [d], development, minimal, s2i Javascript runtime
nodejs 12 common [d], development, minimal, s2i Javascript runtime
nodejs 14 common [d], development, minimal, s2i Javascript runtime
nodejs 16 common [d], development, minimal, s2i Javascript runtime
As you can see, Node.js 10 is set as the default version. So, if you want to install Node.js 14 you will need to enable it first. You can enable it using the following command:
dnf module enable nodejs:14
You will get the following output:
Last metadata expiration check: 0:00:45 ago on Monday 07 March 2022 04:14:58 PM UTC.
Dependencies resolved.
==============================================================================================================================================
Package Architecture Version Repository Size
==============================================================================================================================================
Enabling module streams:
nodejs 14
Transaction Summary
==============================================================================================================================================
Is this ok [y/N]: y
Once Node.js version 14 is enabled, you can install it by running the following command:
dnf install nodejs -y
Once the Node.js is installed, verify the Node.js version with the following command:
node --version
You will get the following output:
v14.18.2
If you want to remove the Node.js package, run the following commands:
dnf remove nodejs npm
Once you are finished, you can proceed to the next step.
Install Node.js from Source
The NodeSource is an online repository for open source Node.js packages. It allows you to install multiple Node.js versions in a single system.
First, install the curl command line utility using the following command:
dnf install curl -y
Next, add the NodeSource repository for Node.js version 16, run the following command:
curl -sL https://rpm.nodesource.com/setup_16.x | bash -
Once the NodeSource repository is added, install the Node.js package with the following command:
dnf install nodejs -y
After the installation, verify the Node.js version with the following command:
node --version
You will get the following output:
v16.14.0
Once you are finished, you can proceed to the next step.
Install Node.js Using the Node Version Manager
NVM stands for “Node Version Manager” is a Node package manager that is used to manage and switch between different Node versions with ease. It comes with a command line interface to install different Node.js versions using a single command.
You can install the NVM using the curl command as shown below:
curl -o- https://raw.githubusercontent.com/nvm-sh/nvm/v0.38.0/install.sh | bash
Once the NVM is installed, you will get the following output:
% Total % Received % Xferd Average Speed Time Time Time Current
Dload Upload Total Spent Left Speed
100 14926 100 14926 0 0 96922 0 --:--:-- --:--:-- --:--:-- 97555
=> Downloading nvm as script to 'https://net.cloudinfrastructureservices.co.uk/root/.nvm'
=> Appending nvm source string to /root/.bashrc
=> Appending bash_completion source string to /root/.bashrc
=> Close and reopen your terminal to start using nvm or run the following to use it now:
export NVM_DIR="$HOME/.nvm"
[ -s "$NVM_DIR/nvm.sh" ] && \. "$NVM_DIR/nvm.sh" # This loads nvm
[ -s "$NVM_DIR/bash_completion" ] && \. "$NVM_DIR/bash_completion" # This loads nvm bash_completion
Next, close and reopen your terminal to start using nvm or run the following to use it now:
export NVM_DIR="$HOME/.nvm"
[ -s "$NVM_DIR/nvm.sh" ] && \. "$NVM_DIR/nvm.sh"
[ -s "$NVM_DIR/bash_completion" ] && \. "$NVM_DIR/bash_completion"
Next, verify the NVM version using the following command:
nvm --version
You will get the following output:
0.38.0
If you want to list all available Node.js versions, run the following command:
nvm list-remote
You will get a list of all Node.js versions in the following output:
v16.7.0
v16.8.0
v16.9.0
v16.9.1
v16.10.0
v16.11.0
v16.11.1
v16.12.0
v16.13.0 (LTS: Gallium)
v16.13.1 (LTS: Gallium)
v16.13.2 (LTS: Gallium)
v16.14.0 (Latest LTS: Gallium)
v17.0.0
v17.0.1
v17.1.0
v17.2.0
v17.3.0
v17.3.1
v17.4.0
v17.5.0
v17.6.0
From the above list, install the Node.js version 17.6.0 using the following command:
nvm install v17.6.0
You will get the following output:
Downloading and installing node v17.6.0...
Downloading https://nodejs.org/dist/v17.6.0/node-v17.6.0-linux-x64.tar.xz...
####################################################################################################################################### 100.0%
Computing checksum with sha256sum
Checksums matched!
Now using node v17.6.0 (npm v8.5.1)
Creating default alias: default -> v17.6.0
Now, verify the Node.js version with the following output:
node --version
You will get the following output:
v17.6.0
To list all installed Node.js versions, run the following command:
nvm ls
You will get the following output:
-> v17.6.0
default -> v17.6.0
iojs -> N/A (default)
unstable -> N/A (default)
node -> stable (-> v17.6.0) (default)
stable -> 17.6 (-> v17.6.0) (default)
lts/* -> lts/gallium (-> N/A)
lts/argon -> v4.9.1 (-> N/A)
lts/boron -> v6.17.1 (-> N/A)
lts/carbon -> v8.17.0 (-> N/A)
lts/dubnium -> v10.24.1 (-> N/A)
lts/erbium -> v12.22.10 (-> N/A)
lts/fermium -> v14.19.0 (-> N/A)
lts/gallium -> v16.14.0 (-> N/A)
To install the latest stable version, run the following command:
nvm install --lts
You should see the following output:
Installing latest LTS version.
Downloading and installing node v16.14.0...
Downloading https://nodejs.org/dist/v16.14.0/node-v16.14.0-linux-x64.tar.xz...
####################################################################################################################################### 100.0%
Computing checksum with sha256sum
Checksums matched!
Now using node v16.14.0 (npm v8.3.1)
To set the default Node.js version to LTS, run the following command:
nvm use --lts
You should see the following output:
Now using node v16.14.0 (npm v8.3.1)
To install the Node.js stable version, run the following command:
nvm install stable
You will get the following output:
v17.6.0 is already installed.
Now using node v17.6.0 (npm v8.5.1)
If you want to remove Node.js version 16.4.0, run the following command:
nvm uninstall v16.14.0
Once you are finished, you can proceed to the next step.
Create a Simple Node.js Application
After explaining different Node.js installation methods, we will show you how to create and run a simple Node.js application.
First, create a file named app.js using the following command:
nano app.js
Add the following code:
var http = require('http');
http.createServer(function (req, res) {
res.writeHead(200, {'Content-Type': 'text/plain'});
res.end('Hello World\n');
}).listen(3000, 'localhost');
console.log('Server running at http://localhost:9000/');
Next, set the executable permission to the app.js file using the following command:
chmod +x ./app.js
Please run the Node.js application using the following command:
node app.js &
You will get the following output:
Server running at http://localhost:9000/
Now, open another terminal and access your Node.js application using the following command:
curl http://localhost:9000
You will get the following output:
Hello World
Well done you have followed all the steps to Install Node.js on CentOS 8.
How to Install Node.js on CentOS 8 Conclusion
This guide explained how to install Node.js using three different methods. You can now choose your preferred method to install Node.js on your server. You can now use Node.js to build both front end and back end applications. For more information, visit the Node.js documentation page.
