Commands to install node.js on CentOS 6 & 7 servers

Node.JS is an open-source JavaScript runtime environment that runs JavaScript on the server-side. JavaScript is actually run only on the client, in your web browser, to perform certain actions. Node JS reverses the principle and runs the JavaScript code on the server, even before the data is sent to the client.

Node.JS Server-side JavaScript for dynamic web pages runs in the JavaScript runtime environment “V8”, originally developed for the Google Chrome browser. That’s why the Node has a resource-saving architecture that allows a large number of concurrent client connections.

Here in this tutorial, we will show the easiest way to install Node.js & NVM on a CentOS 7 server that is via Yum repository.

Installing Node.js on CentoS 7/6 via Epel Repository

Open command Terminal

If you are on CentOS 7/6 command-line interface server then simply move to next for issuing the NOde.js installation command. And for those are on GUI desktop, go to Applications, search for Terminal and open that.

Add Node.js Repository on CentOS

As Nodejs is not available to install from the default repo list of CentOS, thus, we need to add YUM Nodejs repository. From where we can easily pull its installation packages. Here is the command:

To install the latest version of Node.js

yum install -y gcc-c++ make
yum-config-manager --add-repo=https://rpm.nodesource.com/setup_12.x 

To install stable LTS Node.js version

yum install -y gcc-c++ make
yum-config-manager --add-repo=https://rpm.nodesource.com/setup_10.x

Note: Here we installing Nodejs LTS version that is 10.x

Update System to flush cache

yum -y update 

Install Node.js on CentOS 7/6

Finally, the YUM Node repo has been set up, its time to use the Node.js installation command on our CentOS server. The NPM will also automatically install along with Node.js using the below command:

sudo yum install nodejs

Check Node Version

The node installation is done, now check the version of the installed Node javascript to make which one you have and what do you require.

node --version

The output of the above command

[root@5266fecf435b ~]# yum install nodejs
Loaded plugins: fastestmirror, ovl
Loading mirror speeds from cached hostfile
* base: centos.excellmedia.net
* extras: centos.excellmedia.net
* updates: centos.excellmedia.net
nodesource | 2.5 kB 00:00:00
nodesource/x86_64/primary_db | 32 kB 00:00:00
Resolving Dependencies
--> Running transaction check
---> Package nodejs.x86_64 2:10.16.0-1nodesource will be installed
--> Finished Dependency Resolution

Dependencies Resolved

========================================================================================================================
Package Arch Version Repository Size
========================================================================================================================
Installing:
nodejs x86_64 2:10.16.0-1nodesource nodesource 19 M

Transaction Summary
========================================================================================================================
Install 1 Package

Total download size: 19 M
Installed size: 56 M
Is this ok [y/d/N]: y
Downloading packages:
warning: /var/cache/yum/x86_64/7/nodesource/packages/nodejs-10.16.0-1nodesource.x86_64.rpm: Header V4 RSA/SHA512 Signature, key ID 34fa74dd: NOKEY
Public key for nodejs-10.16.0-1nodesource.x86_64.rpm is not installed
nodejs-10.16.0-1nodesource.x86_64.rpm | 19 MB 00:00:15
Retrieving key from file:///etc/pki/rpm-gpg/NODESOURCE-GPG-SIGNING-KEY-EL
Importing GPG key 0x34FA74DD:
Userid : "NodeSource <[email protected]>"
Fingerprint: 2e55 207a 95d9 944b 0cc9 3261 5ddb e8d4 34fa 74dd
Package : nodesource-release-el7-1.noarch (installed)
From : /etc/pki/rpm-gpg/NODESOURCE-GPG-SIGNING-KEY-EL
Is this ok [y/N]: y
Running transaction check
Running transaction test
Transaction test succeeded
Running transaction
Warning: RPMDB altered outside of yum.
Installing : 2:nodejs-10.16.0-1nodesource.x86_64 1/1
Verifying : 2:nodejs-10.16.0-1nodesource.x86_64 1/1

Installed:
nodejs.x86_64 2:10.16.0-1nodesource

Complete!


[root@5266fecf435b ~]# node --version
v10.16.0

..