Knowledgebase

Installing Ghost with Node.js (Firstserv Guide)

Ghost is a popular Node.js-based blogging platform. This guide walks you through installing and configuring Ghost on your Firstserv hosting account using the Node.js App Manager.

Important Notes

• ✅ Firstserv supports the Node.js environment and service only
• ⚠️ Troubleshooting application-level issues (e.g. Ghost errors, themes, plugins) is the responsibility of you or your developer
• ⚠️ If your account is on an older server (e.g. CloudLinux 7), you may need to be migrated before installing Ghost

Step 1: Create a Node.js Application

1. Log in to cPanel
2. Go to Software → Setup Node.js App
3. Click Create Application

Fill in the required fields, for example:

• Application Root: /home/youraccount/myghostblog
• Application URL: https://yourdomain.com/blog
• Node.js Version: (select an available version)

✅ Save your application settings.

Step 2: Access Your Node Environment

1. Open cPanel → Terminal (or connect via SSH)
2. Activate your Node.js environment:

(Replace XX with your Node.js version.)

Step 3: Install Ghost CLI

Install the Ghost command-line tool:

✅ Once complete, Ghost CLI is ready to use
⚠️ You may see warnings related to Node paths—these can be ignored

Step 4: Prepare the Application Directory

Ensure your application directory is empty before installing Ghost.

⚠️ Important: Confirm you are in the correct directory:

Then remove existing files:

Step 5: Install Ghost

Install Ghost locally (without server components):

⏱️ This process may take a few minutes.

Step 6: Create Required Directories

Create the public folder required by Passenger:

Step 7: Configure Ghost

Set your site configuration:

✅ This will create a configuration file (config.production.json).

Step 8: Configure Node.js App Startup

1. Go back to cPanel → Setup Node.js App
2. Click Stop App
3. Update the Application Startup File (based on your install path)
4. Click Save, then Start App

⏱️ The app may take a few moments to start

Step 9: Access Your Ghost Site

Once the app is running:

• Visit your blog:

  https://yourdomain.com/blog
  

Set Up Admin Panel

To create your admin account:

https://yourdomain.com/blog/ghost

✅ Use this URL anytime to access the admin area.

Important Tips

• Always ensure you are working in the correct directory before running commands
• Keep your Node.js version and Ghost installation updated
• Consider using staging or backups before making major changes

Summary

To install Ghost on Firstserv:

1. Create a Node.js application in cPanel
2. Activate the Node environment
3. Install Ghost CLI
4. Install Ghost locally
5. Configure directories and settings
6. Update the app startup configuration
7. Launch and access your blog

If you need help setting up your Node.js environment or configuring your application, the Firstserv support team is here to assist.