🌍 TravelMemory Deployment on AWS (with Cloudflare + SSL + Scaling)

This guide walks you through deploying the TravelMemory MERN application on AWS EC2, securing it using Cloudflare + Let’s Encrypt SSL, and scaling with multiple instances and a Load Balancer.

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🔧 Tech Stack

• MERN (MongoDB, Express, React, Node.js)
• AWS EC2 (Ubuntu 22.04 LTS)
• NGINX (Reverse Proxy)
• Cloudflare (DNS + SSL)
• Certbot (HTTPS SSL)
• PM2 (Node process manager)
• Load Balancer (Application Load Balancer - optional for scaling)

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✅ Prerequisites

• AWS account
• Domain name (e.g., from GoDaddy or Namecheap)
• Cloudflare account (Free tier is enough)

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⚙️ Phase 1: Launch EC2 Instance

1. Go to AWS EC2 Dashboard

2. Launch instance:

   • OS: Ubuntu 22.04 LTS
   • Type: t2.micro (Free Tier)

3. Configure Security Group: Allow

   • HTTP (80)
   • HTTPS (443)
   • SSH (22)
   • Custom TCP (3000)

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⚙️ Phase 2: Connect to EC2 & Install Dependencies

ssh -i /path/to/key.pem ubuntu@EC2_PUBLIC_IP

Update and install packages:

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y
curl -fsSL https://deb.nodesource.com/setup_18.x | sudo -E bash -
sudo apt install -y nodejs npm git nginx
sudo npm install -g pm2

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⚙️ Phase 3: Clone Backend & Run

git clone https://github.com/UnpredictablePrashant/TravelMemory.git
cd TravelMemory/backend
npm install

If start script is missing, add to package.json:

"scripts": {
  "start": "node index.js"
}

Start backend:

pm2 start index.js --name travel-backend

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⚙️ Phase 4: Setup Frontend

cd ../frontend
npm install

Update src/urls.js:

export const backendUrl = "/api";

Then build the frontend:

npm run build
sudo cp -r build/* /var/www/html/

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⚙️ Phase 5: Configure NGINX

sudo nano /etc/nginx/sites-available/travelmemory

Paste the config:

server {
    listen 80;
    server_name memoriesnverfade.in www.memoriesnverfade.in;

    location /api {
        proxy_pass http://localhost:3000;
        proxy_http_version 1.1;
        proxy_set_header Upgrade $http_upgrade;
        proxy_set_header Connection 'upgrade';
        proxy_set_header Host $host;
        proxy_cache_bypass $http_upgrade;
    }

    location / {
        root /var/www/html;
        index index.html;
        try_files $uri $uri/ =404;
    }
}

Enable and test:

sudo ln -s /etc/nginx/sites-available/travelmemory /etc/nginx/sites-enabled/
sudo nginx -t
sudo systemctl restart nginx

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⚙️ Phase 6: Cloudflare Setup

Step 1: Add Site to Cloudflare

1. Login to Cloudflare Dashboard
2. Click Add Site and enter memoriesnverfade.in
3. Choose Free Plan and continue

Step 2: Update Nameservers

1. Cloudflare will provide two nameservers
2. Go to your domain registrar (e.g., GoDaddy)
3. Replace default nameservers with Cloudflare’s

Step 3: Add DNS Records

Type	Name	Content	Proxy
A	@	EC2_PUBLIC_IP	Proxied ✅
CNAME	www	@	Proxied ✅

Step 4: Enable SSL

1. Go to SSL/TLS tab in Cloudflare
2. Set SSL Mode to Full (strict)

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⚙️ Phase 7: Setup HTTPS with Certbot (Let’s Encrypt)

sudo apt install certbot python3-certbot-nginx -y

Run SSL command:

sudo certbot --nginx -d memoriesnverfade.in -d www.memoriesnverfade.in

Test auto-renew:

sudo certbot renew --dry-run

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📈 Phase 8: Scaling the Application

1. Create multiple EC2 instances using your configured AMI

2. Use an Application Load Balancer (ALB):

   • Add both frontend and backend EC2 instances to Target Groups
   • Configure ALB Listener Rules (port 80 → NGINX)

3. Point Cloudflare DNS A record to the ALB DNS name instead of single EC2 IP

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🗺️ Architecture Diagram

Client (Browser)
       │
       ▼
Cloudflare (DNS + SSL)
       │
       ▼
 Application Load Balancer (optional)
       │
   ┌────┴────┐
   ▼         ▼
 NGINX   Node.js (3000)
   │
   ▼
React Build (/var/www/html)

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✅ Live App

https://memoriesnverfade.in

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🧹 Troubleshooting

• NGINX config test: sudo nginx -t
• PM2 logs: pm2 logs travel-backend
• Check EC2 Security Group for open ports
• Test domain DNS: https://dnschecker.org

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👏 Done!

Your MERN app is deployed, secure, and scalable!

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Built with ❤️ by Vignesh