node.js http server as a Windows service

Question

I created a simple http server in Node.js.

I wanted to make it run permanently on my Windows 2008 machine, so that, if the computer reboots, it automatically restarts.

So I made it a service with this command:

C:\Users\Administrator>sc create translate binPath= "node D:\Apps\translate\machine-learning-server\servertranslate.js" DisplayName= "Translation Server"

Then started it with:

C:\Users\Administrator>sc start translate

and got the following error message:

[SC] StartService FAILED 1053:

The service did not respond to the start or control request in a timely fashion.

The program works OK when I start it from the command line (not as a service).

What is the easiest way to have a node.js web server that restarts automatically when the computer reboots?

Answer 1

In the past, I've used NSSM for running Node.js applications as services on Windows. It works quite well, and can be configured to automatically restart your application in the event of a crash.

http://nssm.cc/usage

nssm install YourService "C:\Program Files\Node.js\node.exe" "C:\something\something.js"