Can Node.js run scripts on the server?

Yes it is possible. The following are demos:

• http://www.dzone.com/snippets/execute-unix-command-nodejs
• http://groups.google.com/group/nodejs/browse_thread/thread/e3d00bb0e48dd760?pli=1

You can also perform tasks such as non-resident child processes and clustering.

Running the unix command:

var exec = require('child_process').exec;
child = exec("something", function (error, stdout, stderr) {
  sys.print('stdout: ' + stdout);
  sys.print('stderr: ' + stderr);
  if (error !== null) {
    console.log('exec error: ' + error);
  }
});

See Node.js Documentation for more: http://nodejs.org/api/child_process.html