React.js with Next.js on AWS EC2 with Apache2

React.js with Next.js on AWS EC2 with Apache2: In this blog post, we’ll walk you through the process of setting up a React.js application with Next.js on an AWS EC2 instance, and configuring Apache2 to enable secure HTTPS communication with external APIs.

This setup will ensure your web application is not only performant but also secure.

Following This Method – React.js with Next.js on AWS EC2 with Apache2

• Prerequisites
• Launching an AWS EC2 Instance
• Installing Node.js and npm
• Setting Up a React.js with Next.js Application
• Configuring Apache2 for HTTPS
• Deploying Your Application

Also Read: Mastering React JS – Ultimate Guide

1. Prerequisites

Before we begin, make sure you have the following:

• An AWS account
• A domain name (e.g., mywebsite.com)
• Basic knowledge of AWS services
• SSH client for connecting to your EC2 instance

2. Launching an AWS EC2 Instance

• Sign in to your AWS Management Console and navigate to EC2.
• Launch a new EC2 instance, choosing an appropriate Amazon Machine Image (AMI) for your needs.
• Configure security groups to allow HTTP (port 80) and HTTPS (port 443) traffic.
• Download the private key for SSH access.

3. Installing Node.js and npm

After connecting to your EC2 instance via SSH, update the package repository and install Node.js and npm:

sudo apt update
sudo apt install nodejs
sudo apt install npm

Verify your Node.js and npm installations with:

node -v
npm -v

4. Setting Up a React.js with Next.js Application

Navigate to the directory where you want to create your application, and initialize a new Next.js project:

npx create-next-app my-next-app
cd my-next-app

This will create a basic Next.js application. You can start the development server with:

npm run dev

5. Configuring Apache2 for HTTPS

To enable HTTPS, you need an SSL certificate. You can use a free certificate from Let’s Encrypt. First, install Certbot:

sudo apt install certbot python3-certbot-apache

Request a certificate for your domain (replace ‘mywebsite.com’ with your actual domain):

sudo certbot --apache -d mywebsite.com

Certbot will guide you through the certificate issuance process, and it will also configure Apache to use HTTPS.

6. Deploying Your Application

To deploy your React.js with Next.js application on Apache2, follow these steps:

Build your application for production:

npm run build

Create an Apache2 virtual host configuration for your application. Create a file in /etc/apache2/sites-available/ (e.g., my-next-app.conf):

<VirtualHost *:80>
ServerName mywebsite.com
DocumentRoot /path/to/your/next/app/out
ErrorLog ${APACHE_LOG_DIR}/error.log
CustomLog ${APACHE_LOG_DIR}/access.log combined
</VirtualHost>

Enable your virtual host and restart Apache2: sudo a2ensite my-next-app sudo systemctl restart apache2

Now, your React.js with Next.js application should be accessible over HTTPS using your domain.

Conclusion: React.js with Next.js on AWS EC2 with Apache2

In this guide, we’ve shown you how to set up a React.js with Next.js application on an AWS EC2 instance, configure Apache2 for HTTPS, and deploy your application securely. By following these steps, you can provide a performant and secure web experience to your users while accessing external APIs over HTTPS. Don’t forget to regularly update your packages, maintain your SSL certificate, and monitor your AWS resources for a smooth and secure operation.