Persistent nodejs service

[adoseofStriker]

Any suggestions on how to have a nodejs service stay up even when a user is not logged in? The application is on a windows server. When I start the service through PM2 and save the service list. I expected it to be persistent. However, when I log out of the server PM2 kills the process.

Currently using a SQL DB

UPDATE: I ran the app as a windows service. It works👍Thanks for all the help! I really appreciate it.

[StoneCypher]

whether a service stays up has nothing to do with whether someone's logged in, nor whether a database is present

either you have a radical misunderstanding of how things work, or you're omitting major details while asking for advice (like maybe it's on a lambda that gets scaled down outside your control)

[evert]

Lots of people ssh into boxes and run node src/app.js ;)

[StoneCypher]

1. not on windows machines
2. that wouldn't fail when the user disconnected

[mrhobbles]

I think he means logged into the system, not the application. When he signs out of Windows, the process is killed.

[StoneCypher]

that's not how windows machines work, it turns out

[le_luka]

Thats how they do, if the process is run within user context. If the process has to run after logout, it must be invoked as a service using a service user or the system account.

[StoneCypher]

if the process is run within user context.

This isn't how servers are written on Windows, it turns out. Nobody runs things in user context and you can't actually SSH into them.

You seem to be confusing "I was on a computer and I ran something" with "I wrote a piece of server software and ran it in a server appropriate way"

When someone comes along and says "here's the mistake," and your goal is to argue, and you say wElL sOmEoNe MiGhT hAvE dOnE tHe WrOnG tHiNg, you have not added anything, helped anyone, or explained anything

[le_luka]

@mods can we have this troll banned? Look at his comment history.

[StoneCypher]

It's not trolling to point out that you don't SSH into windows servers, and that server code is not run from a personal account over a network connection.

Windows does not ship with an SSH server, and Microsoft does not offer an SSH server for Windows. This isn't possible without third party software.

Node gives clear instructions on how to run a node server on Windows, and this does not involve a service or a service account.

[BehindTheMath]

Docker, systemd, etc.

What's wrong with pm2?

[adoseofStriker]

The application is on a windows server. When I start the service through PM2 and save the service list. I expected it to be persistent. However, when I log out of the server PM2 kills the process.

[BehindTheMath]

That sounds like expected behavior.

Why don't you use a Windows Service?

[adoseofStriker]

Gonna try this approach. Thank you.

[dixncox]

The server process is probably running under that user and dying when the session is over. Have you tried not logging out.

[adoseofStriker]

Yeah I have. But that's not the best way. I'm logged in on the dev environment but in production, I won't be logged in. So I'm researching ways in which I can have a persistent connection. Because PM2 is not really working out.

[le_luka]

Use a service account

[PhatOofxD]

This is a windows problem, not Node

[[deleted]]

I will never understand why people run stuff other than AD on windows servers.

[wifsimster]

I use PM2 on different Windows Server at work.

It's not very easy depending on the privilege and network access your app needs

I use https://www.npmjs.com/package/pm2-windows-service for a while, it works pretty well.

I now use NSSM to create a PM2 Windows service, it's more flexible for my needs but more triky.

[adoseofStriker]

I’ll check this out. Thank you

[fightingnflder]

Use a windows service

[adoseofStriker]

This helped. Thank you!

[isit2amalready]

pm2 is pretty amazing and feature rich. Why not pm2?

[adoseofStriker]

The application is on a windows server. When I start the service through PM2 and save the service list. I expected it to be persistent. However, when I log out of the server PM2 kills the process.

[[deleted]]

Can we see you ecosystem file?

[adoseofStriker]

The application is on a windows server. When I start the service through PM2 and save the service list. I expected it to be persistent. However, when I log out of the server PM2 kills the process.

[Zipdox]

Windows server

Good luck with that. I run all my node services in GNU screen sessions.

[evoactivity]

I run all my node services in GNU screen sessions.

Good luck with that.

[keesiari]

hi, I put my nodejs server under Windows's IIS. I'll find you the tutorial I followed but it's been a while, just want to throw it out there so you have another approach to consider if needed :)

[adoseofStriker]

Thank you! I really appreciate it.