NodeBB is a powerful forum software that is built on Node.js and is known for its modern interface and performance. In this guide, we will walk you through the steps to install NodeBB with an Nginx proxy on an Ubuntu 24.04 server. This setup will enhance your forum's security and performance. For reliable hosting solutions, consider using windowsvps for your next VPS server deployment.

Prerequisites

Before you begin, ensure that you have the following:

• A VPS server running Ubuntu 24.04.
• Root or sudo access to the server.
• Node.js and npm installed. You can install them using:

sudo apt update
sudo apt install nodejs npm -y

Step 1: Install Redis

NodeBB uses Redis for caching and session management. Install Redis by running:

sudo apt install redis-server -y

Once installed, ensure Redis is running:

sudo systemctl start redis
sudo systemctl enable redis

Step 2: Download NodeBB

Navigate to the /opt directory and clone the NodeBB repository:

cd /opt
git clone -b master https://github.com/NodeBB/NodeBB.git

Change to the NodeBB directory:

cd NodeBB

Step 3: Install NodeBB Dependencies

Run the following commands to install the necessary dependencies:

npm install --production

Step 4: Configure NodeBB

Start the NodeBB setup process:

nodebb setup

During the setup, you will be prompted to enter information such as:

• Database type (select Redis)
• Redis host (default is localhost)
• Admin email and password
• Site URL (e.g., http://yourdomain.com)

Step 5: Start NodeBB

After the configuration, you can start NodeBB:

nodebb start

Step 6: Install Nginx

Now, install Nginx if you haven't already:

sudo apt install nginx -y

Step 7: Configure Nginx as a Reverse Proxy

Create a new Nginx configuration file for NodeBB:

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

Add the following configuration:

server {
    listen 80;
    server_name yourdomain.com;

    location / {
        proxy_pass http://127.0.0.1:4567;
        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;
    }
}

Make sure to replace yourdomain.com with your actual domain name.

Step 8: Enable the Nginx Configuration

Create a symbolic link to enable the new site and test the Nginx configuration:

sudo ln -s /etc/nginx/sites-available/nodebb /etc/nginx/sites-enabled/
sudo nginx -t

If the test is successful, restart Nginx:

sudo systemctl restart nginx

Step 9: Access NodeBB

Open your web browser and navigate to http://yourdomain.com. You should see your NodeBB forum up and running!

Conclusion

By following these steps, you have successfully installed NodeBB with Nginx as a reverse proxy on your Ubuntu 24.04 VPS server. This setup provides a robust forum solution. For optimal performance and reliable hosting, consider utilizing windowsvps for your next VPS server hosting solution.