How do I configure OpsWorks to deploy a not-officially-supported version of Node.js?

Question

I am trying to set up an OpsWorks stack to with a Node.js layer that uses the latest version of Node (4.1.1). I am fairly new to Chef and I am not sure where in the cookbooks repo I would need to make changes to pull down and install Node 4.1.1, instead of their default which is 0.12.7.

Any help is appreciated.

Answer 1

2 things need to happen:

• you need a custom layer
• you need to pull in a recipe/cookbook that contains the newer nodejs

The easiest way to do this is to use berkshelf as outlined here: http://docs.aws.amazon.com/opsworks/latest/userguide/cookbooks-101-opsworks-berkshelf.html#opsworks-berkshelf-opsworks

In the berksfile add the supermarket.chef.io as a source and the nodejs as a recipe.

You can specify the node version in the opsworks stack config.
Use the recipe in the custom layer and you should be set.