---
title: Node + Nginx locally
description: Run the cloud-node-container image on your laptop for Express, custom Node apps, and PM2-managed processes.
sidebar:
  order: 3
---

import { Steps, Aside } from '@astrojs/starlight/components';
import Support from '~/content/partials/support-link.mdx';

[`cloud-node-container`](https://repo.anhonesthost.net/cloud-hosting-platform/cloud-node-container) (image: **`cnoc`**) is the same Node + Nginx image we use for hosted Node sites. It's based on **AlmaLinux 9**, ships with **Node 18, 20, and 22** side-by-side (default 20), uses **PM2** as the process manager, and fronts your app with **Nginx (SSL + HTTP→HTTPS redirect)**.

## What's included

- **Multiple Node versions** — 18, 20, 22, switchable via `NODEVER` env var or the `-a` flag.
- **PM2** for production-grade process management — automatic restart, log rotation.
- **Nginx reverse proxy** with SSL and HTTP→HTTPS redirect.
- **Memcached** for sessions, automatic backups, log rotation.
- **`/ping` health endpoint** baked into the proxy config.

## Image tags

Pull from `repo.anhonesthost.net/cloud-hosting-platform/cnoc:<tag>`. The most useful tags:

- `cnoc:latest` — the default (Node 20).
- Version-pinned tags follow the same pattern (`cnoc:node18`, `cnoc:node20`, `cnoc:node22`).

Check the repo for the current tag list.

## Quick start with `local-dev.sh`

The repo ships a `local-dev.sh` script that handles the Docker run, creates the bind-mount layout, generates helper scripts, and scaffolds a sample Express app if none exists.

<Steps>

1. Clone the repo and `cd` in:

   ```bash
   git clone https://repo.anhonesthost.net/cloud-hosting-platform/cloud-node-container.git
   cd cloud-node-container
   ```

2. Start a local instance:

   ```bash
   ./local-dev.sh -n local-dev
   ```

3. The script will:
   - Create user + log directories (`nginx/`, `nodejs/`).
   - Scaffold a default Express app under `user/app/` if you haven't dropped your own in yet.
   - Start the container with the right env vars.
   - Generate helper scripts (`instance_start`, `instance_stop`, `instance_logs`, `instance_shell`).

4. Open `http://localhost/` in a browser — the sample Express app's response page should be there. Or hit `http://localhost/ping` to confirm the health endpoint.

</Steps>

## Flags

| Flag | Purpose | Default |
|---|---|---|
| `-n` | Container name (required) | — |
| `-p` | HTTP port | `80` |
| `-s` | HTTPS port | `443` |
| `-r` | Root path for files | current directory |
| `-a` | Node version (`18`, `20`, `22`) | `20` |
| `-v` | Verbose mode | off |
| `-h` | Show help | — |

Example — run a Node 22 instance on port 3000:

```bash
./local-dev.sh -n my-node22-app -a 22 -p 3000 -s 3443
```

## Manual Docker usage

```bash
mkdir -p local-development/domain.tld
cd local-development/domain.tld
mkdir user
mkdir -p user/{app,logs/{nginx,nodejs}}

docker run -d \
  -p 80:80 -p 443:443 \
  -e NODEVER=20 -e environment=DEV \
  --mount type=bind,source="$(pwd)"/user,target=/home/$(whoami) \
  -e uid=$(id -u) -e user=$(whoami) -e domain=localhost \
  --name local-dev \
  repo.anhonesthost.net/cloud-hosting-platform/cnoc:latest
```

## Get a shell inside the container

```bash
docker exec -it local-dev /bin/bash
```

Useful for running `pm2 ls`, `pm2 logs`, or `npm` commands against your bind-mounted app folder.

## Where your code goes

Your Node application lives at `user/app/` on your laptop. Inside the container that's `/home/<user>/app/`. The container is configured to run your app from there via PM2.

Minimum required files in `user/app/`:

- **`package.json`** — describes your app and dependencies; **must define a start command** (`"start": "node server.js"` in `scripts`).
- **A main JavaScript file** — typically `server.js` or `index.js`.

After dropping files in, restart the container so PM2 picks up the new app:

```bash
docker restart local-dev
```

Your app should bind to the **port shown by the container's env var** (usually `process.env.PORT`). Nginx forwards traffic to that port internally and proxies SSL.

## Logs

| Where | What |
|---|---|
| `user/logs/nginx/` | Nginx access + error logs |
| `user/logs/nodejs/` | PM2's stdout/stderr capture from your Node app |

Tail them from your laptop:

```bash
tail -F user/logs/nodejs/*.log
```

Or via the helper script:

```bash
./instance_logs
```

## Stop / start / clean up

```bash
./instance_stop      # stop the container
./instance_start     # start it again
./instance_logs      # view container logs
./instance_shell     # exec into the container
```

To wipe everything:

```bash
docker rm -f local-dev
rm -rf local-development/
```

<Aside type="tip">
  The `/ping` endpoint is wired by Nginx independently of your app — useful for `docker healthcheck` config when you start adapting the manual command to your own setup.
</Aside>

## Source

[`cloud-node-container` on Gitea](https://repo.anhonesthost.net/cloud-hosting-platform/cloud-node-container) — Dockerfile, Nginx + PM2 configs, entrypoint, and the `local-dev.sh` script.

## Related

- [PHP + Apache locally](/whp/local-dev/php-apache/)
- [Create a site](/whp/how-to/create-a-site/) — the hosted side.

## Still stuck?

<Support />