How to install a Specific Version of Node on Ubuntu Server

Question

I am trying to install Node 6.11.3 on my Ubuntu Server. I don't want to use nvm for this.

I have already used this link but it just does not work out while using jenkins and stuff.

I want to specifically install NodeJS 6.11.3. How do I do that? Please help.

I tried this sudo apt-get install nodejs=6.11.3 but nothing happens.

Steps for NVM which I don't want to use

http://docs.aws.amazon.com/sdk-for-javascript/v2/developer-guide/setting-up-node-on-ec2-instance.html

Please bear with me. This is my first attempt on anything on server and also on askUbuntu.

Solution 1

Install nodejs 6

Get your nodejs tarball from node site e.g. node-v6.11.3-linux-x64.tar.gz from v6.11.3

wget https://nodejs.org/dist/v6.11.3/node-v6.11.3-linux-x64.tar.g‌​z

Unpack provided archive files to /opt/nodejs

mkdir -p /opt/nodejs
tar -xvzf node-v6.11.3-linux-x64.tar.gz -C /opt/nodejs/

Create link to current node version

cd /opt/nodejs
mv node-v6.11.3-linux-x64 6.11.3
ln -s 6.11.3 current

Create link to current node binary

ln -s /opt/nodejs/current/bin/node /bin/node

Verify Node version

node -v
v6.11.3 

Solution 2

Node.js is available as a snap package in all currently supported versions of Ubuntu. Specific to Node.js, developers can choose from one or more of the currently supported releases and get regular automatic updates directly from NodeSource. Node.js versions 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 and 18 are currently available, with the Snap Store being updated within hours or minutes of a Node.js release.

Node can be installed with a single command, for example:

sudo snap install node --classic --channel 11/stable 

The node snap can be accessed by the command node, for example:

$ node -v  
v11.5.0

An up-to-date version of npm will installed as part of the node snap. npm should be run outside of the node repl, in your normal shell. After installing the node snap run the following command to enable npm update checking:

sudo chown -R $USER:$(id -gn $USER) /home/your-username/.config

Replace your-username in the above command with your own username. Then run npm -v to check if the version of npm is up-to-date. As an example I checked that npm was up-to-date, checked the version of an already installed package named yarn with the command npm list yarn and then updated the existing yarn package to the latest version with the command npm update yarn

Users can switch between versions of Node.js at any time without needing to involve additional tools like nvm (Node Version Manager), for example:

sudo snap refresh node --channel=10/stable

Users can test bleeding-edge versions of Node.js that can be installed from the latest edge channel by switching with:

sudo snap switch node --edge

This approach is only recommended for those users who are willing to participate in testing and bug reporting upstream.

Node.js LTS schedule

Release	Status	Codename	Initial release	LTS Start	Maintenance Start	Maintenance End
6.x	EOL	Boron	2016-04-26	2016-10-18	2018-04-30	2019-04-30
7.x	EOL		2017-05-30			2017-06-30
8.x	EOL	Carbon	2016-10-25	2017-10-31	2019-01-01	2019-12-31
9.x	EOL		2017-10-01			2018-06-30
10.x	EOL	Dubnium	2018-04-24	2018-10-30	2020-05-19	2021-04-30
11.x	EOL		2018-10-23			2019-06-01
12.x	Maintenance LTS	Erbium	2019-04-23	2019-10-21	2020-11-301	2022-04-30
13.x	EOL		2019-10-22			2020-06-01
14.x	Maintenance LTS	Fermium	2020-04-21	2020-10-27	2021-10-30	2023-04-30
16.x	Active LTS	Gallium	2021-04-20	2021-10-26	2022-10-18	2024-04-30
17.x	Current		2021-10-19		2022-04-01	2022-06-01
18.x	Current		2022-04-19	2022-10-25	2023-10-18	2025-04-30

Comments

[Rahul Singh]

i might be really stupid asking this , but just on the base directly when we login i need to run this commands in sequence i have no idea on servers and installation my first hands on please help

[Rahul Singh]

Also this file is downloaded locally how to get it up to the server ? i am noob so please dnt laugh

[Rahul Singh]

I am running this command tar -xvzf node-v6.11.3-linux-x64.tar.gz -C /home/rahul/Downloads/ gives me error

[storm]

1-Do you have ssh access to your server ? 2- You can move the tarball to the server with scp or use wget to download it directly if you have internet connexion wget https://nodejs.org/dist/v6.11.3/node-v6.11.3-linux-x64.tar.g‌​z 3- What's the error message you get after tar?

[Rahul Singh]

I have ssh access to the server and a active internet connection, says no such file or directry

[Rahul Singh]

when i run the mv node command i get this error mv: cannot stat 'node-v6.11.3-linux-x64': No such file or directory

[Rahul Singh]

any idea @strom

[storm]

you need to go where node-v6.11.3-linux-x64 is , just cd to the path you gave to tar -C

[Rahul Singh]

node is installed but the third step thows error for me sudo ln -s /opt/nodejs/current/bin/node /bin/node ln: failed to create symbolic link '/bin/node': File exists

[Rahul Singh]

I am up voting it but why the third step did not work ?

[Rahul Singh]

no it is a new box no node verison installed just the command didnot work . But while checking node -v shows 6.11.3 without that step will it fail. Or is it fine?

[Rahul Singh]

great . Hope u r right

[Gautam]

incredible answer .. actually saved my day.. it allows me to easily switch between node / npm versions ( although with a little nix difficulty ) easily

[Kevin Bowen]

Whilst this may theoretically answer the question, it would be preferable to include the essential parts of the answer here, and provide the link for reference.

[chudasamachirag]

Thanks, @KevinBowen will update more information along with a link to justify my response as separate answer