Deploying Askbot

Deploying askbot (assuming that it is already installed) entails:

• collecting static media files

• setting correct file access permissions

• configuring the webserver to work with your application

This document currently explains the configuration under Apache and mod_wsgi.

Collecting static media files

Static media must be collected into a single location with a command:

python manage.py collectstatic

There are several options on where to put the static files - the simplest is a local directory, but it is also possible to use a dedicated static files storage or a CDN, for more information see django documentation about serving static files.

Setting up file access permissions

Webserver process must be able to write to the following locations within your project:

log/
askbot/upfiles

If you know user name or the group name under which the webserver runs, you can make those directories writable by setting the permissons accordingly:

For example, if you are using Linux installation of apache webserver running under group name ‘apache’ you could do the following:

cd /path/to/django-project
cd .. #go one level up
chown -R yourlogin:apache django-project
chmod -R g+w django-project/askbot/upfiles
chmod -R g+w django-project/log

If your account somehow limits you from running such commands - please consult your system administrator.

Installation under Apache/mod_wsgi

Apache/mod_wsgi combination is the only type of deployment described in this document at the moment. mod_wsgi is currently the most resource efficient apache handler for the Python web applications.

The main wsgi script is in the file django.wsgi it does not need to be modified

Configure webserver

Settings below are not perfect but may be a good starting point:

#NOTE: the directory paths used here may be adjusted

#the following two directories must be both readable and writable by apache
WSGISocketPrefix /path/to/socket/sock
WSGIPythonEggs /var/python/eggs

#the following directory must be readable by apache
WSGIPythonHome /usr/local

#NOTE: all urs below will need to be adjusted if
#settings.FORUM_SCRIPT_ALIAS is anything other than empty string (e.g. = 'forum/')
#this allows "rooting" forum at http://example.com/forum, if you like

#replace with 127.0.0.1 with real IP address
<VirtualHost 127.0.0.1:80>
     ServerAdmin you@example.com
     DocumentRoot /path/to/django-project
     ServerName example.come

     #aliases to serve static media directly
     #will probably need adjustment
     Alias /m/ /path/to/django-project/static/
     Alias /upfiles/ /path/to/django-project/askbot/upfiles/
     <DirectoryMatch "/path/to/django-project/askbot/skins/([^/]+)/media">
        Order deny,allow
        Allow from all
     </DirectoryMatch>
     <Directory "/path/to/django-project/askbot/upfiles">
        Order deny,allow
        Allow from all
     </Directory>
     #must be a distinct name within your apache configuration
     WSGIDaemonProcess askbot2
     WSGIProcessGroup askbot2
     WSGIScriptAlias / /path/to/django-project/django.wsgi
     #make all admin stuff except media go through secure connection
     <LocationMatch "/admin(?!/media)">
     RewriteEngine on
         RewriteRule /admin(.*)$ https://example.com/admin$1 [L,R=301]
         </LocationMatch>
     CustomLog /var/log/httpd/askbot/access_log common
     ErrorLog /var/log/httpd/askbot/error_log
     LogLevel debug
</VirtualHost>
#again, replace the IP address
<VirtualHost 127.0.0.1:443>
     ServerAdmin you@example.com
     DocumentRoot /path/to/django-project
     ServerName example.com
     <LocationMatch "^(?!/admin)">
         RewriteEngine on
         RewriteRule django.wsgi(.*)$ http://example.com$1 [L,R=301]
     </LocationMatch>
     SSLEngine on
     #your SSL keys
     SSLCertificateFile /etc/httpd/ssl.crt/server.crt
     SSLCertificateKeyFile /etc/httpd/ssl.key/server.key
     Alias /admin/media/ /usr/lib/python3.6/site-packages/django/contrib/admin/media/
     WSGIScriptAlias / /path/to/django-project/django.wsgi
     CustomLog /var/log/httpd/askbot/access_log common
     ErrorLog /var/log/httpd/askbot/error_log
</VirtualHost>