Step 1: Update Your System

Before installing Sails.js, ensure your system is up to date. Run the following commands:

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y

Keeping your system updated is crucial for security and performance, whether you're setting it up locally or on a VPS Windows Servers platform.

Step 2: Install Node.js and npm

Sails.js requires Node.js and npm (Node Package Manager). You can install Node.js by adding the NodeSource repository:

curl -fsSL https://deb.nodesource.com/setup_16.x | sudo -E bash -
sudo apt install -y nodejs
            

Verify the installation:

node -v
npm -v

Step 3: Install Sails.js

Install the Sails.js framework globally using npm:

sudo npm install -g sails

Verify the installation of Sails.js:

sails -v

Step 4: Create a New Sails.js Project

Create a new Sails.js project using the following command:

sails new myApp

Navigate into your project directory:

cd myApp

Step 5: Start the Sails.js Application

Start the Sails.js application in development mode:

sails lift

By default, the application runs on port 1337. You can access it at:

http://your_server_ip:1337

Step 6: Install Nginx

To install Nginx, run the following command:

sudo apt install nginx -y

Start and enable Nginx to run at boot:

sudo systemctl start nginx
sudo systemctl enable nginx

Step 7: Configure Nginx as a Reverse Proxy

Create a new Nginx configuration file for your Sails.js application:

sudo nano /etc/nginx/sites-available/myApp

Add the following configuration, replacing your_domain_or_ip with your actual domain or server IP:

server {
    listen 80;
    server_name your_domain_or_ip;

    location / {
        proxy_pass http://localhost:1337;
        proxy_http_version 1.1;
        proxy_set_header Upgrade $http_upgrade;
        proxy_set_header Connection 'upgrade';
        proxy_set_header Host $host;
        proxy_cache_bypass $http_upgrade;
    }
}
            

Save and exit the file, then create a symlink to enable the configuration:

sudo ln -s /etc/nginx/sites-available/myApp /etc/nginx/sites-enabled/

Step 8: Test Nginx Configuration

Test the Nginx configuration for any syntax errors:

sudo nginx -t

If the configuration is correct, restart Nginx:

sudo systemctl restart nginx