# Deploy Node.js Application To AWS Beanstalk With SSL and Load Balancer


AWS Beanstalk acts as an Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS). We will deploy a node application to the AWS Beanstalk. Then we will ensure the `HTTPS` connection with `Application Load Balancer`. To make this work, we will make use of the following AWS services,

- AWS Beanstalk
- Application Load Balancer (From Beanstalk Config)
- Certificate Manager (To get a free SSL Certificate)
- Route 53

Our Architecture will be followings,

![Untitled Diagram.png](https://cdn.hashnode.com/res/hashnode/image/upload/v1628249834023/NhC7z5eW5.png)

To accomplish the goal, we will go with following steps,

- Run the `Node.js` app in local machine
- Deploy the app to `Elastic Beanstalk`
- Get a free `SSL` certificate
- Secure our app

### Prerequisite
---

We have to make sure, we have

- Node.js installed in our local machine (To test the app locally)

We will deploy the code to `Beanstalk` manually. So we do not need the `AWS CLI` or `Elastic Beanstalk (eb) CLI`. 

### Run the Application in Local Machine
---

First, get the code from GitHub,

```bash
git clone https://github.com/socketio/chat-example.git
```

Go to the code repository,

```bash
cd chat-example
```

To install dependencies,

```bash
yarn 
```

You may use `npm` instead of the `yarn`. In this case use `npm i`.

Run the app in local machine

```
yarn start
```

If you use `npm`, use `npm start`.

The server should be up and running on port `3000`. Go to browser and open `http://localhost:3000`. This is a chat app and to verify functionalities, you may open these in two different browser windows and do messaging back and forth.

### Deploy To Elastic Beanstalk
---

Before we go to `aws` console, we need to zip the source code for `Elastic Beanstalk`. It provides several options to deploy the code,

- CodePipeline
- S3
- Zip file

To make the source code zipped, we can go to the zip directory and do the zipping,

```bash
cd chat-example
zip -r chat-example.zip .
``` 

This will create a zip file named, `chat-example.zip`. You may manually zip the source files from the source folder.

Now go to `https://aws.amazon.com` and find the service `Elastic Beanstalk`. To create an application in `Elastic Beanstalk` we have to go through a couple of following steps,

- Click `Create application`
- As application name, we can use `chat-example`
- As platform choose `Node.js`
- As application code,
  - Choose `Upload your code`
  - As `Source code origin` select the `Local file`
  - Upload the `chat-example.zip` file we created in our local machine

This might take several minutes. When the application is created, we will find the application URL at `Go to Environment`.

Test the app in two different browser windows.

### Getting SSL Certificates
---

Before we get a certificate, we have to ensure, we have a `Hosted Zone` in `Route 53` with a `domain`.

In my case, I already have a domain `shams-nahid.com`. I will put this application in `chat-example.shams-nahid.com`. So I will get the certificate for `chat-example.shams-nahid.com`.

So first, go the the `Certificate Manager` service. Request a public certificate and put the desired domain. In my case, it is `chat-example.shams-nahid.com`. Since my hosted zone is in AWS, `DNS Validation` will be faster. Confirm the request and add the `DNS Resolution` to the `Route 53`.

Click `Complete` and wait for validation to be completed. It may take 5-30 minutes.

### Enable HTTPS
---

Now we have a running application in `Elastic Beanstalk` and also have a `SSL` certificate we can use.

We left two steps to use SSL in the `Beanstalk` have,

- Add the `Load Balancer` to the `Elastic Beanstalk`
- Update `Route 53 Record` to point to the `Load Balancer`

**Add Load Balancer**

To use `HTTPS` connection, we must make use of the `Load Balancer`. The `Load Balancer` will have a secure connection and it will route the traffic to `Elastic Beanstalk`.

In the `Elastic Beanstalk` select `Environment -> Configuration -> Load Balancer` settings.

Now add a listener with the following config,

- As `Port` use `443` (Default port for SSL)
- As `Protocal` use `HTTPS`
- As `Certificate` use the newly created certificate
- As `SSL Policy` use the latest one

Apply and wait for the application to be updated.

> Go to `Elastic Beanstalk` configuration for `capacity` and make sure the `Environment Type` is `Load Balanced`.

**Update Route 53 Records**

Go to the `Route 53` service hosted zone and add create a record,

- As record name `chat-example` (Since, in my case URL are `chat-example.shams-nahid.com`)
- Record type should be `A`
- Value should be `Alias`
  - As alias use `Application and Classic Load Balancer`
  - Put your region
  - Select the `ALB URL` from the dropdown

Now hit `Create Record` button and we are all set to go.

Go to the URL `https://chat-example.shams-nahid.com` and we should see the application is up and running.

You might chaek the videos on [deploying app](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zMMjgoxu6u8) and [secure connection](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=reUiJUu7jb0)

Please feel free to comment out any issues you are facing. I will assist accordingly.