Question: I would like to connect to my node server running in debug mode on AWS (node --debug app.js) from my development machine, and be able to debug my app remotely.

Two questions:

* Can I do this with node-inspector? I wish I could, but node-inspector fails to install on my AWS instance.
* Any alternatives that will allow me to do this?

Answer: 
Allow me to present an alternative using `node --inspect`. I had the same need, although in a Windows environment, I believe this should work for you. 

**Remote machine** (tested with Node 6.10.2, Windows Server 2012)

`node --inspect=0.0.0.0:9229 <appname>.js`

**Local Machine** (tested with Win 10, Chrome 60.0.3112.90)

In Chrome DevTools - Click the **vertical ellipsis menu** in top right:

1. Go to: More Tools -> Remote Devices
2. Under **Network targets** Click **Add address**
3. Enter `<remote-ip>:9229`
4. Once you enter address and remote target is connected you'll see Node.JS Icon on Top Left of DevTools
5. Click NodeJS Logo to launch DevTools Node Debugger

Screenshots of Steps 1,3,4 below.

[![DevTools Menu](https://i.stack.imgur.com/q29Vy.png)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/q29Vy.png)

[![Network Targets](https://i.stack.imgur.com/0HaUo.png)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/0HaUo.png)
[![Remote Target Connected](https://i.stack.imgur.com/fKhAL.png)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/fKhAL.png)
This is what worked for me:

1. Start node-inspector on server.
2. Start debugee on remote server with `--debug` flag.
3. Note the port that the debugger listens on, i.e. `Debugger listening on port DEBUG_PORT` message.
4. Create an ssh tunnel for port `8080`, not the `DEBUG_PORT` as Andrey Sidorov's answer suggests.
5. Open `SERVER_API:8080/debug?ws=127.0.0.1:8080&port=DEBUG_PORT` in browser an voilà.

Node Inspector v0.10.1