# Is it possible to start new project on same pc

**URL:** <https://discourse.nodered.org/t/is-it-possible-to-start-new-project-on-same-pc/83456>\
**Category:** General\
**Tags:** node-red-dashboard\
**Created:** [6 December 2023 08:07 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/is-it-possible-to-start-new-project-on-same-pc/83456 "2023-12-06T08:07:12Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 20\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Engineer\_M](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/aeb1de/32.png) [@Engineer\_M](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Engineer_M)\
**Post date:** [6 December 2023 08:07 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/is-it-possible-to-start-new-project-on-same-pc/83456/1 "2023-12-06T08:07:12Z")

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Hi everyone, sorry is it possible to create more than one projects in node red with dashboards that can be opened independently on same windows pc machine? if yes how?

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**Author:** ![smanjunath211](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/smanjunath211/32/95742_2.png) [@smanjunath211](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/smanjunath211)\
**Post date:** [6 December 2023 09:28 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/is-it-possible-to-start-new-project-on-same-pc/83456/2 "2023-12-06T09:28:24Z")

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I am running 4 instances of Node-RED in one windows machine. Independent of each other.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Engineer\_M](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/aeb1de/32.png) [@Engineer\_M](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Engineer_M)\
**Post date:** [6 December 2023 09:38 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/is-it-possible-to-start-new-project-on-same-pc/83456/3 "2023-12-06T09:38:22Z")

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how did you managed that? help me please

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Colin](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/colin/32/17040_2.png) [@Colin](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Colin)\
**Post date:** [6 December 2023 09:48 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/is-it-possible-to-start-new-project-on-same-pc/83456/4 "2023-12-06T09:48:03Z")

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If you run the command  
`node-red --help`  
it will tell you the command line options. In particular, on a linux system, you might run  
`node-red -u /home/user/.node-red-2880 -p 2880`  
The first time that is run it will create the folder and start node-red using port 2880. Saved flows will go to that folder along with settings.js etc.  
The command would be the same on a Windows machine but enter the full path the Windows way obviously.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![smanjunath211](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/smanjunath211/32/95742_2.png) [@smanjunath211](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/smanjunath211)\
**Post date:** [6 December 2023 10:44 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/is-it-possible-to-start-new-project-on-same-pc/83456/5 "2023-12-06T10:44:59Z")

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Try @Colin advice, if you are stuck at any point, let me know.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Engineer\_M](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/aeb1de/32.png) [@Engineer\_M](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Engineer_M)\
**Post date:** [6 December 2023 11:44 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/is-it-possible-to-start-new-project-on-same-pc/83456/6 "2023-12-06T11:44:14Z")

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> [@Colin](#):
>
> node-red -u /home/user/.node-red-2880 -p 2880

sorry if i run node-red -u /home/user/.node-red-2880 -p 2880, it will overwrite the current instance that is running with port 1880? or it will create another instance with port 2880?

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![TotallyInformation](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/totallyinformation/32/31_2.png) [@TotallyInformation](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/TotallyInformation)\
**Post date:** [6 December 2023 11:53 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/is-it-possible-to-start-new-project-on-same-pc/83456/7 "2023-12-06T11:53:08Z")

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No, all of the settings are in the `userDir` folder and with that `-u` command, you are changing the location of the userDir folder away from the default. So you will have separate instances of the same version of Node-RED.

You can also install Node-RED locally rather than globally and so have even different versions of Node-RED running entirely independently.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Colin](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/colin/32/17040_2.png) [@Colin](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Colin)\
**Post date:** [6 December 2023 11:55 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/is-it-possible-to-start-new-project-on-same-pc/83456/8 "2023-12-06T11:55:14Z")

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> [@Engineer\_M](#):
>
> will create another instance with port 2880?

Yes, with the files in the new folder.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Engineer\_M](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/aeb1de/32.png) [@Engineer\_M](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Engineer_M)\
**Post date:** [6 December 2023 11:58 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/is-it-possible-to-start-new-project-on-same-pc/83456/9 "2023-12-06T11:58:57Z")

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> [@Colin](#):
>
> node-red -u /home/user/.node-red-2880 -p 2880

ok so is there something in this command node-red -u /home/user/.node-red-2880 -p 2880 should i modify?

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Colin](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/colin/32/17040_2.png) [@Colin](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Colin)\
**Post date:** [6 December 2023 12:00 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/is-it-possible-to-start-new-project-on-same-pc/83456/10 "2023-12-06T12:00:04Z")

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> [@Engineer\_M](#):
>
> is there something in this command node-red -u /home/user/.node-red-2880 -p 2880 should i modify?

I don't understand what you mean. You need to specify the folder that you want the flows etc to be saved in, and which port you want to use. What else do you need?

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Colin](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/colin/32/17040_2.png) [@Colin](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Colin)\
**Post date:** [6 December 2023 12:01 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/is-it-possible-to-start-new-project-on-same-pc/83456/11 "2023-12-06T12:01:56Z")

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If you mean you only want to run one at a time then look at the projects feature. [Projects : Node-RED](https://nodered.org/docs/user-guide/projects/)

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Engineer\_M](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/aeb1de/32.png) [@Engineer\_M](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Engineer_M)\
**Post date:** [6 December 2023 12:02 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/is-it-possible-to-start-new-project-on-same-pc/83456/12 "2023-12-06T12:02:36Z")

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my node red directory is C:\Users\admin.node-red, so how the command above should look for this directory?

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![TotallyInformation](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/totallyinformation/32/31_2.png) [@TotallyInformation](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/TotallyInformation)\
**Post date:** [6 December 2023 12:05 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/is-it-possible-to-start-new-project-on-same-pc/83456/14 "2023-12-06T12:05:53Z")

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I imagine that it is actually `C:\Users\admin\.node-red`, but you can make it anything. If it is being run by the admin user (probably not that good an idea by the way), it could be `C:\Users\admin\.node-red2` or `C:\Users\admin\this-is-my-new-instance-of-node-red` (though I don't really recommend making it that long 😀 )

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Engineer\_M](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/aeb1de/32.png) [@Engineer\_M](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Engineer_M)\
**Post date:** [6 December 2023 12:08 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/is-it-possible-to-start-new-project-on-same-pc/83456/15 "2023-12-06T12:08:28Z")

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ok thanks, then how should i use this command node-red -u /home/user/.node-red-2880 -p 2880 if my directory look like that?

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Colin](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/colin/32/17040_2.png) [@Colin](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Colin)\
**Post date:** [6 December 2023 12:10 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/is-it-possible-to-start-new-project-on-same-pc/83456/16 "2023-12-06T12:10:29Z")

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> [@Engineer\_M](#):
>
> how should i use this command

One way is to open a command window and type it in.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Engineer\_M](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/aeb1de/32.png) [@Engineer\_M](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Engineer_M)\
**Post date:** [6 December 2023 12:15 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/is-it-possible-to-start-new-project-on-same-pc/83456/17 "2023-12-06T12:15:39Z")

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i know that but how should i use this command node-red -u /home/user/.node-red-2880 -p 2880 by using that directory of my node red?

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Engineer\_M](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/aeb1de/32.png) [@Engineer\_M](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Engineer_M)\
**Post date:** [6 December 2023 12:18 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/is-it-possible-to-start-new-project-on-same-pc/83456/18 "2023-12-06T12:18:03Z")

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> [@TotallyInformation](#):
>
> C:\Users\admin.node-red2

should look like this C:\Users\admin\ .node-red2 -p1881? if i want to use port 1881 for .node-red2?

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![TotallyInformation](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/totallyinformation/32/31_2.png) [@TotallyInformation](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/TotallyInformation)\
**Post date:** [6 December 2023 12:21 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/is-it-possible-to-start-new-project-on-same-pc/83456/19 "2023-12-06T12:21:22Z")

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Careful about spaces - please put code between back-ticks.

```auto
node-red -u C:/Users/admin/.node-red2 -p 1881

```

Windows takes forward as well as back slashes. Use either.

This assumes that the user running Node-RED is called `admin`. If not, then change that part of the url to something that the user has write access to. That is the only requirement - write access for the user running Node-RED.

And again, let me say - running node-red with an admin user id is a RISK. You need to be aware of that and think carefully whether it is the right approach or whether it would be better to create a separate user id for running it.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Engineer\_M](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/aeb1de/32.png) [@Engineer\_M](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Engineer_M)\
**Post date:** [6 December 2023 12:34 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/is-it-possible-to-start-new-project-on-same-pc/83456/20 "2023-12-06T12:34:00Z")

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ok thanks very much i managed that, now how should i start that instance .node red2 in cmd?

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![TotallyInformation](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/totallyinformation/32/31_2.png) [@TotallyInformation](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/TotallyInformation)\
**Post date:** [6 December 2023 12:35 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/is-it-possible-to-start-new-project-on-same-pc/83456/21 "2023-12-06T12:35:54Z")

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That is the full command assuming that you installed node-red globally with `npm install node-red -g` (the `-g` telling `npm` to install the package globally.

On the other hand, if you mean how do you start node-red automatically, that is a different question.

[Next page](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/is-it-possible-to-start-new-project-on-same-pc/83456.md?page=2)