Configuring Apache for Ruby on Rails

Configuring Apache for Ruby on Rails: A Step-by-Step Guide

Ruby on Rails is a popular web application framework that allows developers to write less code while accomplishing more than many other languages and frameworks. Apache, on the other hand, remains one of the most widely used web servers in the world. Combining both can lead to a robust, scalable hosting environment for Rails applications. Here’s a concise guide on how to configure Apache to serve a Ruby on Rails application using Phusion Passenger, a popular application server for Ruby.

Step 1: Install Apache and Ruby on Rails

Before we configure anything, you’ll need to have both Apache and Ruby on Rails installed on your server. For Rails, you can install Ruby and Rails using RVM (Ruby Version Manager), which simplifies the process of managing your Ruby environments.

Here’s how you can install RVM and Rails:

\curl -sSL https://get.rvm.io | bash -s stable --rails

For Apache, you can install it using your Linux distribution’s package manager. For Ubuntu, for example:

sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install apache2

Step 2: Install Phusion Passenger

Phusion Passenger is an app server that integrates with Apache. To install Passenger, you should first install its package:

sudo apt-get install libapache2-mod-passenger

After installation, enable the module and restart Apache:

sudo a2enmod passenger
sudo systemctl restart apache2

Step 3: Configure Your Ruby on Rails Application

Let’s assume your Ruby on Rails application directory is located at /var/www/myapp.

First, you’ll need to ensure bundler, the Ruby dependency manager, is installed for the Ruby version you're using:

gem install bundler
cd /var/www/myapp
bundle install

Step 4: Configure Apache to Recognize Your Rails Application

Create or edit a configuration file for your application in the Apache directory that holds such files (usually /etc/apache2/sites-available/). You might name this file myapp.conf.

Here’s a basic configuration that you can start with:

<VirtualHost *:80>
    ServerName mywebsite.com
    DocumentRoot /var/www/myapp/public

    # Load Rails with Passenger
    PassengerEnabled on
    PassengerAppRoot /var/www/myapp

    # Other custom settings like environment
    RailsEnv production
    <Directory "/var/www/myapp/public">
        Options FollowSymLinks
        Require all granted
    </Directory>
</VirtualHost>

Enable the new site and restart Apache:

sudo a2ensite myapp.conf
sudo systemctl restart apache2

Step 5: Verify Everything Works

After configuring everything, it's essential to check if your Rails application is accessible through a web browser. Simply navigate to the domain you configured (mywebsite.com in the example).

Debugging Tips

Check Apache error logs (/var/log/apache2/error.log) for any issues.
Ensure directory permissions are correct (Apache user must access the Rails app’s directory).
Verify that all gem dependencies are correctly installed and available to the application.

Conclusion

Setting up Ruby on Rails on Apache with Phusion Passenger is not overly complex and can be efficiently done with some basic Linux and Apache knowledge. This setup allows you to leverage the extensive features and scalability options provided by Apache and Passenger, ensuring a stable and performant environment for your Rails application. By following the step-by-step guide above, you’ll be able to serve your Rails application to the world, supported by a powerful web server that handles connections seamlessly. Always remember to test configurations in a development environment before taking them live, and happy coding!