Node.js application is not working on Plesk for Windows: The iisnode module is unable to start the node.exe process

Symptoms

On Plesk for Windows server, a Node.js application is not working:

CONFIG_TEXT: The iisnode module is unable to start the node.exe process. Make sure the node.exe executable is available at the location specified in the system.webServer/iisnode/@nodeProcessCommandLine element of web.config. By default node.exe is expected in one of the directories listed in the PATH environment variable.

The parameter nodeProcessCommandLine is customized (the default value is C:\Program Files\nodejs\node.exe) in the settings of the IIS module iisnode in Internet Information Service (IIS) Manager > server_hostname > Configuration Editor > system.webServer/iisnode:

Cause

The settings of the IIS module iisnode are customized, therefore, the process node.exe cannot be started properly.

Resolution

1. Connect to the server using RDP.

2. Open Internet Information Service (IIS) Manager:

   • in Windows Server 2008 and 2008 R2: go to Start > Administrative Tools > Internet Information Service (IIS) Manager.

   • in Windows Server 2012 and newer: go to Start > Server Manager > Tools > Internet Information Service (IIS) Manager.

3. Go to server_hostname > Configuration Editor, in the field Section select system.webServer/iisnode:

   

4. Set the parameter nodeProcessCommandLine to C:\Program Files\nodejs\node.exe and click Apply to save the changes: