# \[Minor Update\] alternate-node-red-installer v2.0.3

**URL:** <https://discourse.nodered.org/t/minor-update-alternate-node-red-installer-v2-0-3/45026>\
**Category:** Share Your Projects\
**Created:** [1 May 2021 17:04 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/minor-update-alternate-node-red-installer-v2-0-3/45026 "2021-05-01T17:04:46Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 7\
**Page:** 1

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**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:** [1 May 2021 17:04 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/minor-update-alternate-node-red-installer-v2-0-3/45026/1 "2021-05-01T17:04:46Z")

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alternate-node-red-installer is not a node. It is, as it says, a template for an alternative way to install and manage Node-RED.

Install globally using npm so that the `nrinstall` application is globally available. Should work on all platforms supported by Node-RED.

The installer will install Node-RED to a folder and create a userDir sub-folder called `data`. That way everything is in a single place and can be easily backed up, copied, moved. It also allows you to easily have multiple instances of Node-RED with different Node-RED versions.

Some backup BASH shell scripts are also included along with an example `settings.js` file that contains some enhancements that may be of use to some people along with some additional help information formatted so that it is easier to read. An example systemd startup script is also included for Linux users.

* * *

## v2.0.3

### Changed

- Bump dependencies to latest versions.

### Added

- An example `settings.js` file (`data/example-settings/js`)

- `backup.sh`, `backupw.sh`, and `backupm.sh` BASH scripts in the new `scripts` folder to efficiently back up your working Node-RED installation if installed using this alternate installer.

## [2.0.2](https://github.com/TotallyInformation/alternate-node-red-installer/compare/v1.0.0...v2.0.2)

### Breaking

- Node.js v10 is now the minimum version due to dependency module changes.

### Added

- CHANGELOG and TODO files.
- Two command line commands are now available if you install this package globally:
  - `alternate-node-red-installer` - OK, so this is a bit long and I can never remember it myself!
  - `nrinstall` - Yes, that's a bit more memorable. 😎

### Changed

- Bump to v2.0 due to breaking change. And to v2.0.1 for the extra command name.
- Bump dependencies to latest versions.
- Tidy and improve code.
- Install now sets correct paths in `./system/node-red-service` and `./data/envfile.ini`.

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**Author:** ![dceejay](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/dceejay/32/38_2.png) [@dceejay](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/dceejay)\
**Post date:** [1 May 2021 17:08 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/minor-update-alternate-node-red-installer-v2-0-3/45026/2 "2021-05-01T17:08:59Z")

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Node10 is also now EOL. So you may as well start with 12 as minimum.

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**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:** [1 May 2021 19:58 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/minor-update-alternate-node-red-installer-v2-0-3/45026/3 "2021-05-01T19:58:18Z")

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Ah, but as you and Nick are always (exaggeration for effect 😉 ) telling me, we shouldn't lock out people unfortunate enough not to be able to keep up with the latest releases.

I believe the code and dependencies I'm using are fine from v10 onwards so that is what I stuck with.

I'm sure I will update once NR v2 comes out since I've not accommodated installing anything other than the current version of NR.

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**Author:** ![tree-frog](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/tree-frog/32/89303_2.png) [@tree-frog](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/tree-frog)\
**Post date:** [21 July 2021 14:00 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/minor-update-alternate-node-red-installer-v2-0-3/45026/4 "2021-07-21T14:00:36Z")

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Julian,  
is this version checked out on Node-RED v2.0?

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**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:** [21 July 2021 20:38 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/minor-update-alternate-node-red-installer-v2-0-3/45026/5 "2021-07-21T20:38:23Z")

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I've not tested it, so feel free, that is one of the advantages of this approach, you can install as many different versions of node-red as you like 🙂

A quick check tells me it will install v2.0.x - in fact, it will always install the very latest version, that's the way the package.json is set up. You can, of course, always then go in and manually install a different version at will.

The one thing that does need updating but I couldn't until v2 was actually released is the example settings.js file. Of course node-red will put one of those in place for you and you can use the new init admin command to create a custom one. However, my example is aligned to the variables that I make available via the systemd startup script. Also very easy to take the appropriate parts across manually though.

I will throw together a suitable update when I can but at least you can work around that 1 thing. Everything else should be golden.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![tree-frog](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/tree-frog/32/89303_2.png) [@tree-frog](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/tree-frog)\
**Post date:** [27 September 2022 02:18 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/minor-update-alternate-node-red-installer-v2-0-3/45026/6 "2022-09-27T02:18:43Z")

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Julian, Here we are in Node-RED 3.02 and I have to ask the same question. Is your alternate installer compatible with 3.xx ? is it same-same with your prior comment?

Thanks

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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:** [27 September 2022 11:36 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/minor-update-alternate-node-red-installer-v2-0-3/45026/7 "2022-09-27T11:36:41Z")

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And the same answer 🙂 You will need to do something with the settings.js file as the one in the current package is now rather dated.

Simply use the tool, rename the settings.js file it puts in and start node-red which will copy over the default settings file. You can then use something like VScode to compare them if you like and decide whether you want to keep anything from mine.

The alt installer package will always install the latest version of node-red regardless of what that version is as it is specified as a full `*` wildcard.