How to Install NodeJS on Google Cloud?

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To install Node.js on Google Cloud, follow these steps:

  1. Open the Google Cloud console and sign in to your account.
  2. Create a new project or select an existing project where you want to install Node.js.
  3. In the Google Cloud console, go to the Compute Engine section under the main menu.
  4. Click on "VM Instances" to create a new virtual machine instance.
  5. Choose the desired configuration for your virtual machine, such as the region, machine type, and boot disk.
  6. Under the "Boot disk" section, select a suitable operating system like Ubuntu or Debian.
  7. Customize the machine if required and click the "Create" button to create the virtual machine instance.
  8. Once the virtual machine instance is created, open the SSH terminal to connect to the instance.
  9. Update the package list by running the command: sudo apt-get update
  10. Install the required dependencies by running the command: sudo apt-get install -y curl
  11. Download the Node.js setup package by running the command: curl -sL https://deb.nodesource.com/setup_14.x | sudo -E bash -
  12. Install Node.js by running the command: sudo apt-get install -y nodejs
  13. Verify the installation by checking the Node.js and npm version using the following commands: node -v and npm -v. It should display the installed version numbers.
  14. Optional: Install additional Node.js packages by running the npm install command, specifying the required package names.


You have now successfully installed Node.js on Google Cloud. You can proceed to use Node.js for your application development or server-side projects.

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How to add NodeJS to the system's PATH variable on Google Cloud?

To add NodeJS to the system's PATH variable on Google Cloud, you can follow these steps:

  1. SSH into your Google Cloud instance.
  2. Check the installation path of NodeJS. This can be done by running the command which node or whereis node depending on your Linux distribution.
  3. Open the .bashrc or .bash_profile file using a text editor. For example, you can use the command nano ~/.bashrc or nano ~/.bash_profile.
  4. Add the following line at the end of the file, replacing with the actual installation path of NodeJS from step 2: export PATH=":$PATH" For example, if the installation path is /usr/local/bin/node, the line will be: export PATH="/usr/local/bin/node:$PATH"
  5. Save the changes and exit the text editor.
  6. Run the command source ~/.bashrc or source ~/.bash_profile to apply the changes immediately.
  7. Verify the installation by running the command node -v. It should display the version of NodeJS installed.


Now, NodeJS should be added to the system's PATH variable on your Google Cloud instance.


What is SSH and why is it required for connecting to a Google Cloud virtual machine?

SSH (Secure Shell) is a cryptographic network protocol that allows secure communication between two computers over an insecure network. It is commonly used for remote login to a server or virtual machine, providing a secure way to access and manage the machine remotely.


When connecting to a Google Cloud virtual machine, SSH is required for a few reasons:

  1. Security: SSH ensures secure communication between your local computer and the virtual machine. It encrypts the connection, preventing unauthorized access and protecting sensitive data.
  2. Authentication: SSH provides a secure method for authenticating users. It uses public-key cryptography to verify the identity of the user connecting to the virtual machine.
  3. Remote Management: SSH allows you to remotely execute commands and manage the virtual machine. You can perform various administrative tasks, install/update software, and troubleshoot issues without being physically present at the machine.


Google Cloud requires SSH to connect to its virtual machines as it follows industry-standard security practices. It ensures that only authorized users with proper authentication can access and manage the virtual machines on the platform.


How to install the latest stable version of NodeJS on Google Cloud?

To install the latest stable version of Node.js on Google Cloud, you can follow these steps:

  1. Log in to your Google Cloud Console.
  2. Navigate to your Compute Engine instance where you want to install Node.js.
  3. Connect to the instance using SSH.
  4. Update the package lists by running the following command: sudo apt update
  5. Install the necessary dependencies with the following command: sudo apt install curl dirmngr apt-transport-https lsb-release ca-certificates
  6. Add the Node.js repository to your sources list by running the following command: curl -sL https://deb.nodesource.com/setup_14.x | sudo -E bash - Note: This example uses version 14.x. Replace 14.x with the desired version if needed.
  7. Install Node.js by running the following command: sudo apt install nodejs
  8. Verify the installation by checking the Node.js version with the following command: node -v The command should display the installed Node.js version.


By following these steps, you will have the latest stable version of Node.js installed on your Google Cloud instance.


How to update the system packages and dependencies before installing NodeJS on Google Cloud?

To update the system packages and dependencies before installing Node.js on Google Cloud, follow these steps:

  1. SSH into your Compute Engine instance where you plan to install Node.js.
  2. Update the package manager by running the following command: sudo apt update
  3. Upgrade the system packages to their latest versions with the following command: sudo apt upgrade
  4. Install essential development tools by running the command: sudo apt install build-essential
  5. Install the necessary dependencies for Node.js by running the command: sudo apt install libssl-dev
  6. Download and install Node.js using a package manager like nvm (Node Version Manager) or by downloading the official distribution package. Here, we will provide instructions for installing Node.js using nvm. a. Install nvm with the following command: curl -o- https://raw.githubusercontent.com/nvm-sh/nvm/v0.35.3/install.sh | bash b. Activate nvm by running: source ~/.nvm/nvm.sh c. Install the latest LTS (Long-Term Support) version of Node.js with the command: nvm install --lts d. Set the installed Node.js version as the default with: nvm alias default
  7. Verify that Node.js installed correctly and the versions are correct by running the following commands: node -v npm -v These commands should display the installed versions of Node.js and npm.


By following these steps, you can update system packages and dependencies on Google Cloud before installing Node.js.


How to connect to a virtual machine on Google Cloud using SSH?

To connect to a virtual machine on Google Cloud using SSH, you can follow these steps:

  1. Open the Google Cloud Console at https://console.cloud.google.com/.
  2. Select your project from the project dropdown menu.
  3. Go to "Compute Engine -> VM instances" in the left navigation menu.
  4. Locate the virtual machine instance you want to connect to and click on the SSH button next to it. This will open a SSH session in a new browser tab or window. Note: If the SSH button is disabled or not visible, it means that SSH access is not enabled for the virtual machine. You can enable SSH access while creating the instance or update the firewall rules to allow SSH traffic.
  5. If a dialog box prompts you to generate SSH keys, you can choose to either Generate new key pair or use Existing key pair. Click on the "Generate" or "Set" button accordingly. Note: If you choose the option to generate a new key pair, public and private keys will be created, and you will need to save the private key on your local machine before continuing.
  6. Once the SSH session is established, you will be connected to the virtual machine's command line interface.


That's it! You have successfully connected to your virtual machine on Google Cloud using SSH. Now you can execute commands and manage your virtual machine.

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