NodeBB is a powerful and flexible open-source forum software that can be easily installed on a Ubuntu 24.04 server. In this article, we will guide you through the process of installing NodeBB and setting up an Nginx proxy to allow secure access to your forum.

Step 1: Update the System

Before proceeding with the installation, make sure your Ubuntu server is up to date by running the following commands:

sudo apt update
sudo apt upgrade

Step 2: Install Node.js and Redis

NodeBB requires Node.js and Redis to be installed on your server. You can install them by running the following commands:

sudo apt install nodejs
sudo apt install npm
sudo apt install redis-server

Step 3: Install NodeBB

To install NodeBB, clone the official repository from GitHub and install the required dependencies by running the following commands:

git clone -b v1.x.x https://github.com/NodeBB/NodeBB.git
cd NodeBB
npm install

Replace “v1.x.x” with the latest version of NodeBB available.

Step 4: Configure NodeBB

Next, run the following command to launch the NodeBB setup wizard:

./nodebb setup

Follow the on-screen instructions to configure your forum, such as database settings, administrator account, and email settings.

Step 5: Start NodeBB

After the setup is complete, start NodeBB by running the following command:

./nodebb start

You can access your forum by navigating to http://:4567 in your web browser.

Step 6: Set Up Nginx Proxy

To secure your NodeBB forum with SSL, you can set up an Nginx proxy. First, install Nginx by running the following command:

sudo apt install nginx

Next, create a new Nginx configuration file for your NodeBB forum:

sudo nano /etc/nginx/sites-available/nodebb

Add the following configurations to the file:

server {
listen 80;
server_name example.com;

location / {
proxy_set_header X-Real-IP $remote_addr;
proxy_set_header X-Forwarded-For $proxy_add_x_forwarded_for;
proxy_set_header X-Forwarded-Proto $scheme;
proxy_set_header Host $http_host;
proxy_set_header X-NginX-Proxy true;
proxy_pass http://127.0.0.1:4567;
proxy_redirect off;

# Socket.IO Support
proxy_http_version 1.1;
proxy_set_header Upgrade $http_upgrade;
proxy_set_header Connection “upgrade”;
}
}

Replace “example.com” with your domain name.

Enable the Nginx configuration by creating a symbolic link to the sites-enabled directory:

sudo ln -s /etc/nginx/sites-available/nodebb /etc/nginx/sites-enabled/nodebb

Restart Nginx for the changes to take effect:

sudo systemctl restart nginx

Now your NodeBB forum should be accessible via HTTPS at https://example.com.

In conclusion, installing NodeBB with an Nginx proxy on a Ubuntu 24.04 server is a straightforward process that can be completed in just a few steps. By following this guide, you can quickly set up a secure and stable forum platform for your community.