> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.opus-host.de/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Deploy a Node.js App With PM2 on Your VPS

> Install Node.js and PM2 on your Opus Host VPS, deploy your app, and keep it running 24/7 with auto-restart on crashes and reboots.

PM2 is the go-to process manager for Node.js. It restarts your app if it crashes, brings it back after a reboot, and gives you clean logs. Combine it with your Opus Host VPS and your app just stays online.

## 1. Install Node.js

```bash theme={null}
curl -fsSL https://deb.nodesource.com/setup_20.x | sudo bash -
sudo apt install -y nodejs
node --version
npm --version
```

## 2. Get your app onto the server

Clone from Git or upload via the [File Manager](/panel/file-manager):

```bash theme={null}
git clone https://github.com/yourusername/myapp.git ~/myapp
cd ~/myapp
npm install --production
```

## 3. Install PM2

```bash theme={null}
sudo npm install -g pm2
```

## 4. Start your app with PM2

```bash theme={null}
pm2 start index.js --name myapp
```

For apps with a start script in `package.json`:

```bash theme={null}
pm2 start npm --name myapp -- start
```

## 5. Save and enable auto-start on reboot

```bash theme={null}
pm2 startup
pm2 save
```

Copy and run the `sudo env PATH=...` command that `pm2 startup` prints. That registers PM2 as a systemd service.

## Common PM2 commands

```bash theme={null}
pm2 status              # list all processes
pm2 logs myapp          # tail logs
pm2 restart myapp       # restart the app
pm2 reload myapp        # zero-downtime reload (for clustered apps)
pm2 stop myapp          # stop
pm2 delete myapp        # remove from PM2
pm2 monit               # live CPU/memory dashboard
```

## Run multiple instances (cluster mode)

Use all available CPU cores automatically:

```bash theme={null}
pm2 start index.js --name myapp -i max
```

## Environment variables

Create an `ecosystem.config.js` file for cleaner deploys:

```javascript theme={null}
module.exports = {
  apps: [{
    name: "myapp",
    script: "./index.js",
    instances: "max",
    exec_mode: "cluster",
    env: {
      NODE_ENV: "production",
      PORT: 3000
    }
  }]
};
```

Start with:

```bash theme={null}
pm2 start ecosystem.config.js
```

<Tip>
  Put Nginx in front of your Node.js app as a reverse proxy so you can serve it on port 80/443 with HTTPS. See [Nginx Reverse Proxy](/guides/nginx-reverse-proxy).
</Tip>