Use this script to prepare your node.js web application for deployment on Debian-based system (only Ubuntu is tested).
You don't need any Debian tools for that, just the shell, tar and ar.
npm install nodeb
From your project's root:
nodeb
If all goes well, <project name>.deb file will be created.
-n don't include node_modules/, bower_components/, components/ in the package
-o don't generate nginx config for insecure (http) server
-p <port to monitor> (default 80)
-s generate nginx config for secure (https) server
-t copy templates to nodeb_templates/ for customization and exit
-u <user to run processes as> (default "node")
-v show generated files on stdout
-w <production website address>. If given, nginx config files will be created
The package will be installed in /opt.
Files for upstart, monit, logrotate, and optionally nginx are created. npm install
will be run on target system.
If -s option is given, nginx configuration for https reverse proxy server is generated. Study the
templates, or customize them using -t.
http://blog.coolaj86.com/articles/how-to-create-a-debian-installer.html