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Deploy a Website with Node.js

Last modified: 2026 September 16

Overview

Use the Websites () hub to deploy an existing Node.js app to your cPanel account. Node.js™ is an open-source server environment that runs JavaScript for web applications. For more information about Node.js, visit the Node.js website.

When you deploy an app, Meridian builds and installs it onto a new domain with an HTTPS website, then keeps the app process running for you. You can deploy your Node.js app from a public or private Git™ repository, an uploaded ZIP file from your local computer, or an MCP connection that lets an AI agent deploy the app for you.

Deploying an app switches its domain from serving files to serving the app instead. For more information, read our How Domains Serve Content documentation.

Note:
  • Node.js only appears if your hosting provider enables it.
  • Each cPanel account can have up to four apps at a time. If you reach the limit, you must delete an app before you deploy another one.

Deploying a Node.js app

To deploy a Node.js app, perform the following steps:

  1. Click Add Website.
  2. To deploy your app on an existing domain, select the domain, then click Continue. Or, to deploy your app on a new domain, select Add another domain, enter the new domain name, then click Continue.
    Important:
    • If you use an existing domain, the domain’s existing files remain, but the app displays the content for the domain.
    • If you create a new domain, you cannot rename it after you deploy the app.
  3. Select AI App Hosting.
  4. Click Continue.
  5. Click Launch My Website.
  6. Select the source for your app’s code:

    Git lets you easily redeploy or roll back the latest changes to your app. For more information, read our Guide to Git documentation.

    To deploy from a Git repository, perform the following steps:

    1. Select Git repository.
    2. In the Repository URL text box, enter your repository’s clone URL:
      • For a public repository, enter its HTTPS clone URL (for example, https://example.com/user/my-app.git).
      • For a private repository, enter its SSH clone URL (for example, [email protected]:user/my-app.git).
    3. If you enter an SSH URL, Meridian walks you through connecting an SSH key so it can reach the repository:
      1. If you have an existing key you want to use, select that key from the SSH key menu. Otherwise, click Manage SSH keys in Security to generate a new key, then deploy a new app and select the key.
      1. Grant the key access to your repository. Follow your Git host’s instructions to add a deploy key.
      1. If you set a passphrase for the key, enter it when Meridian asks. You will need to re-enter this passphrase if you redeploy the app.
    4. Click Continue, then click Deploy.

    If the deployment fails, Meridian displays the reason, for example, missing SSH access, an untrusted host key, required HTTPS credentials, or a missing or incorrect key passphrase. Correct the issue, then retry the deployment from the Git repository.


    Deploy from a ZIP file for a static Node.js app that you do not plan to change.

    To deploy from a ZIP file, perform the following steps:

    1. Select Upload a ZIP file.
    2. Drag your app’s .zip archive onto the upload area, or click Browse Files to select the file from your computer.
    3. Click Continue.

    WebPros MCP lets an AI agent, such as Claude Code, connect to your cPanel account and deploy an app for you.

    To deploy via MCP, perform the following steps:

    1. Select Deploy via WebPros MCP.

    2. If you haven’t yet linked your WebPros account, click Link WebPros Account and complete the browser prompts. For more information, read our Connect to MCP documentation.

    3. Click Download mcp.json to download the connection configuration, add it to your AI client, and confirm the connection.

    4. Ask the agent to deploy your app. For example, enter the following prompt:

      Using the webpros-mcp connector, deploy the Node.js app in this project to my cPanel account and give me the live HTTPS URL once it's reachable.

  7. Click Continue.
  8. Verify or edit the Website Name for your app’s URL.
  9. Optionally, expand the Advanced section to select the Node.js version, review the detected Package manager and build output directory, and add any Environment variables your app reads at runtime. If Meridian can’t detect your build output directory from your build tool or script, enter it yourself.
  10. Click Deploy.

Meridian installs your app’s dependencies, deploys the app, and starts it. After Meridian deploys the app, you can manage it in the Websites hub.

Note:

The deploy fails if your app’s build succeeds but does not produce an output directory. Meridian displays the name of the missing directory.

Additional Documentation