How to access remote node.js app in browser, not on localhost

Question

I'm trying to set up a simple "Hello world" node.js app.

I've created the following index.js file:

var app = require("express")();
var http = require("http").Server(app);

app.get("/", function(req, res){
    res.send("<h1>Hello worlddddd</h1>");
});

http.listen(8080, function(){
    console.log("listening on *:8080");
});

When I open up my local console, and perform node index.js, I get the message "listening on *:8080", as expected. I point my browser to localhost:8080, and I see the HTML page saying "Hello worlddd", as desired.

Now, I'm trying to do the same on my Virtual Private Server, so I can access the same app from different computers, but all I get is connection timeouts. I've followed these steps:

• Install node.js on my VPS
• Install express via npm install --save express@4.10.2
• Upload my index.js file to the var/www/html folder on my server with IP 192.123.123.12 (an example, this isn't my real IP).
• Access the server via PuTTY, and run node index.js, where I get "listening on *:8080", so I know node.js is working.
• Now I point my browser to http://192.123.123.12:8080 and after about 20 seconds, I get the browser error: "The connection has timed out".
• I've tried listening to port :80 instead, but I get the error that this port is already in use.

Does anybody know what I'm doing wrong? Am I using the wrong port? Am I pointing to the wrong URL? Do I need to modify my server preferences? (running Apache on CentOS). I've only found dozens of tutorials that teach you how to run a node.js app on your local computer(pointing the browser at localhost:8080), but I need it to run on my remote server so multiple computers can access the same app.

Answer 1

The issue is that your current filters (iptables) block traffic unless you explicitly allow it.

You just need to open port TCP 8080 inbound, and you should be able to reach your node.js server!