ReactJS is a popular JavaScript library for building dynamic user interfaces. When combined with Nginx as a reverse proxy, it provides a robust and efficient setup for hosting React applications. In this guide, we'll show you how to install ReactJS with Nginx as a proxy on CentOS 8. If you're using a Windows VPS UK server, the process is quite similar, but this tutorial focuses on CentOS 8.

Prerequisites

Before starting, ensure that you have the following:

• A CentOS 8 server with root access.
• Nginx installed on your server.
• Node.js and npm installed.

If you're hosting on VPS UK Windows, ensure that you have the equivalent setup for Node.js and Nginx on your Windows-based server.

Step 1: Update Your System

Start by updating your CentOS 8 system to ensure all packages are up to date:

sudo dnf update -y

Step 2: Install Node.js and npm

ReactJS requires Node.js and npm to build and manage packages. Install Node.js and npm by adding the NodeSource repository:

curl -sL https://rpm.nodesource.com/setup_14.x | sudo bash -
sudo dnf install nodejs -y

Step 3: Create a React Application

After installing Node.js, create a new React application using create-react-app. First, install the Create React App package:

sudo npm install -g create-react-app

Then, create a new React application:

npx create-react-app myapp

Navigate into your newly created React application directory:

cd myapp

You can start the development server to test your application by running:

npm start

This will launch the React app, typically available at http://localhost:3000. However, for production, we need to build the app and serve it using Nginx.

Step 4: Build the React Application for Production

To prepare the React app for production, run the following command:

npm run build

This will create an optimized build in the build directory. We will serve this static content using Nginx.

Step 5: Install and Configure Nginx

Install Nginx on your CentOS 8 server:

sudo dnf install nginx -y

Start and enable Nginx:

sudo systemctl start nginx
sudo systemctl enable nginx

Step 6: Configure Nginx as a Reverse Proxy

Now that Nginx is installed, we need to configure it to serve the React build files and act as a reverse proxy. Open the Nginx configuration file:

sudo nano /etc/nginx/conf.d/reactapp.conf

Add the following configuration to serve the static files and proxy API requests if necessary:

server {
    listen 80;
    server_name yourdomain.com;

    root /path/to/myapp/build;
    index index.html;

    location / {
        try_files $uri /index.html;
    }
}

Replace yourdomain.com with your actual domain and /path/to/myapp/build with the path to your React app's build folder.

Save the file and restart Nginx:

sudo systemctl restart nginx

Step 7: Access Your React App

After configuring Nginx, you should be able to access your React application by navigating to your server's domain or IP address.

Benefits of VPS Hosting for ReactJS

Hosting a React application on a Windows VPS or virtual private server hosting Windows ensures better performance, scalability, and control over your hosting environment. Using a Windows Server VPS gives you dedicated resources, making your application faster and more reliable.

Whether you're using a UK Windows VPS or Windows VPS Italy, hosting ReactJS with Nginx as a reverse proxy ensures your application performs optimally. Consider using Windows VPS Hosting UK for reliable hosting solutions with robust performance.

Conclusion

Installing ReactJS with Nginx as a reverse proxy on CentOS 8 is an efficient way to serve your React applications in production. This guide walked you through setting up a React app, configuring Nginx, and deploying the application. For scalable and high-performance hosting, consider using Windows Virtual Dedicated Server Hosting to power your web applications.