🚀 Deploy a Node.js App in Docker on Rocky Linux EC2 (Without Key Pair) Using Only Vi Editor

Are you a beginner looking to level up your DevOps and cloud skills by deploying a Node.js app in Docker on an AWS EC2 instance — but using only vi editor and no SSH key pair?

This hands-on tutorial walks you through everything from launching your EC2 instance to building and running your containerized app. Let's go! 💪

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🧾 Prerequisites

• AWS account (Free Tier)

• Basic terminal familiarity

• No SSH key pair required!

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⚙️ Step 1: Launch a Rocky Linux EC2 Instance

1. Go to AWS Console → EC2 → Launch Instance

2. Configuration:

   • Name: rocky-node

   • AMI: Rocky Linux 9 (x86_64)

   • Instance type: t2.micro (Free Tier)

   • Key Pair: Proceed without key pair

   • Security Group:

     • Allow SSH (22)

     • Allow TCP (3000)

Launch your instance.

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📡 Step 2: Connect via EC2 Instance Connect

From your EC2 dashboard:

• Select the instance → Click Connect

• Use EC2 Instance Connect

Boom! You’re in your Rocky Linux server! 💻

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🐳 Step 3: Install Docker and Node.js

sudo dnf -y update
sudo dnf -y install docker
sudo systemctl start docker
sudo systemctl enable docker
sudo usermod -aG docker ec2-user
newgrp docker

Now install Node.js:

curl -fsSL https://rpm.nodesource.com/setup_18.x | sudo bash -
sudo dnf install -y nodejs

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📁 Step 4: Create Your Node App

mkdir node-app && cd node-app

Create server.js using vi:

vi server.js

Press i to insert and paste:

const http = require('http');

const server = http.createServer((req, res) => {
  res.end('Hello from Rocky Linux + Node.js!');
});

server.listen(3000, () => {
  console.log('Server running on port 3000');
});

Exit with Esc → :wq → Enter

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Create package.json using vi:

vi package.json

Paste:

{
  "name": "rocky-node",
  "version": "1.0.0",
  "description": "Simple Node.js server",
  "main": "server.js",
  "scripts": {
    "start": "node server.js"
  },
  "author": "Sonica",
  "license": "ISC"
}

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📦 Step 5: Create Dockerfile Using vi

vi Dockerfile

Paste:

FROM rockylinux:9

RUN dnf -y update && \
    dnf -y install nodejs npm && \
    dnf clean all

WORKDIR /app
COPY package*.json ./
RUN npm install
COPY . .
EXPOSE 3000
CMD ["npm", "start"]

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🔧 Step 6: Build Docker Image

docker build -t rocky-node .

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▶️ Step 7: Run Your Container

docker run -d -p 3000:3000 rocky-node

Check with:

docker ps

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🌍 Step 8: Access Your App in Browser

Go to:

http://<YOUR_EC2_PUBLIC_IP>:3000

✅ You’ll see:

Hello from Rocky Linux + Node.js!

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🔁 Optional: Auto-start on Reboot

docker run -d -p 3000:3000 --restart always rocky-node

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🧠 Learnings

✅ Launched a Linux EC2 without a key pair
✅ Used vi editor like a pro
✅ Installed Docker + Node.js
✅ Dockerized and deployed a custom Node app
✅ Practiced real DevOps and Linux skills hands-on

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🙋‍♀️ Want More?

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