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Node.js hosting ​

Since the DCISM web server has JS runtimes built-in such as Node and Bun, you can easily start a Node.js application. Please note that Node.js applications hosted on the DCISM web server listen to ports ranging from 51920 - 51929.

Configuring Proxy ​

Every node.js app deployed on the DCISM web server requires to have a proxy filed named .htaccess to be placed in the root directory of your subdomain folder. The contents of this file .htaccess depends whether or not you want to use the HTTP protocol or the HTTPS protocol. If you don't need to transfer credentials and private data within your Node.js app, you can use the HTTP protocol, otherwise use the HTTPS protocol.

To create an .htaccess file, you can create a new file inside the SFTP client or do nano .htaccess to open the Nano text editor inside the SSH shell.

HTTP: .htaccess ​

apache
RewriteEngine on
RewriteRule (.*) http://127.0.0.1:51920%{REQUEST_URI} [P,L]

HTTPS: .htaccess ​

apache
RewriteEngine on
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_SCHEME} !https
RewriteRule (.*) https://127.0.0.1:51920%{REQUEST_URI} [R=301,L]

RewriteRule (.*) http://127.0.0.1:51920%{REQUEST_URI} [P,L]

Here is an example file structure for a Node.js app: ​

text
~/your-subdomain.dcism.org/
├── .htaccess              # Apache config to proxy requests to Node.js
├── test.cjs               # Example Node.js app
├── ...

Creating a simple Node.js app ​

test.cjs ​

js
// test.cjs
const http = require('http');
const server = http.createServer((req, res) => {
  res.writeHead(200, { 'Content-Type': 'text/html' });
  res.end('<h1>Hello from test server</h1>');
});
server.listen(51920, () => console.log('Server on 51920'));

.htaccess ​

apache
RewriteEngine on
RewriteRule (.*) http://127.0.0.1:51920%{REQUEST_URI} [P,L] # 51920 Port!

NOTE

Make sure that the port in the .htaccess file is the same port you're using for your Node.js application.

bash
node test.cjs

Expected Output: ​

bash
s22103604@web:~/your-subdomain.dcism.org$: node test.cjs
Server on 51920

Likewise, when opening your-subdomain.dcism.org, it should also output Hello from test server.

HELLO

Or, when doing curl localhost:51920 ​

bash
s22103604@web:~$: curl localhost:51920
<h1>Hello from test server</h1>
s22103604@web:~$: