How do I run a node.js app as a background service?

Question

Since this post has gotten a lot of attention over the years, I\'ve listed the top solutions per platform at the bottom of this post.

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Original post

Answer 1

Node.js as a background service in WINDOWS XP

• Kudos goes to Hacksparrow at: http://www.hacksparrow.com/install-node-js-and-npm-on-windows.html for tutorial installing Node.js + npm for windows.
• Kudos goes to Tatham Oddie at: http://blog.tatham.oddie.com.au/2011/03/16/node-js-on-windows/ for nnsm.exe implementation.

Installation:

1. Install WGET http://gnuwin32.sourceforge.net/packages/wget.htm via installer executable
2. Install GIT http://code.google.com/p/msysgit/downloads/list via installer executable
3. Install NSSM http://nssm.cc/download/?page=download via copying nnsm.exe into %windir%/system32 folder

4. Create c:\node\helloworld.js

   // http://howtonode.org/hello-node
   var http = require('http');
   var server = http.createServer(function (request, response) {
       response.writeHead(200, {"Content-Type": "text/plain"});
       response.end("Hello World\n");
   });
   server.listen(8000);
   console.log("Server running at http://127.0.0.1:8000/");
   

5. Open command console and type the following (setx only if Resource Kit is installed)

   C:\node> set path=%PATH%;%CD%
   C:\node> setx path "%PATH%"
   C:\node> set NODE_PATH="C:\Program Files\nodejs\node_modules"
   C:\node> git config --system http.sslcainfo /bin/curl-ca-bundle.crt    
   C:\node> git clone --recursive git://github.com/isaacs/npm.git    
   C:\node> cd npm    
   C:\node\npm> node cli.js install npm -gf   
   C:\node> cd ..    
   C:\node> nssm.exe install node-helloworld "C:\Program Files\nodejs\node.exe" c:\node\helloworld.js    
   C:\node> net start node-helloworld
   

6. A nifty batch goodie is to create c:\node\ServiceMe.cmd

   @echo off
   nssm.exe install node-%~n1 "C:\Program Files\nodejs\node.exe" %~s1
   net start node-%~n1
   pause
   

Service Management:

• The services themselves are now accessible via Start-> Run-> services.msc or via Start->Run-> MSCONFIG-> Services (and check 'Hide All Microsoft Services').
• The script will prefix every node made via the batch script with 'node-'.
• Likewise they can be found in the registry: "HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\node-xxxx"