Ubuntu Intrepid Ibex Slices

Latest Article:

Ubuntu Intrepid - Nginx, rails and thin

Having installed the thin web server for Ruby, we can now look at configuring an Nginx vhost to proxy to thin so we can serve our Ruby on Rails application.

The process is easy to follow and easy to repeat for hosting multiple domains.

Ubuntu Intrepid Setup:

Ubuntu Intrepid setup - page 1: So you have your new, or reinstalled, Slice with Ubuntu Intrepid as the OS. Let's get on and secure it.

Ubuntu Intrepid setup - page 2: From the previous article, we now have a secured Slice. Let's move on and update the Slice and install some essentials.

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Ubuntu Intrepid and MySQL:

MySQL with Rails and PHP options: Installing MySQL with Ruby on Rails and PHP integration is a simple process using the aptitude package manager.

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Ubuntu Intrepid and Ruby on Rails:

Ruby on Rails: Our Ubuntu Intrepid Slice is now ready for a Ruby on Rails stack with subversion and Postfix support.

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mod_rails installation: Passenger (mod_rails) is an exciting and very easy to use method of serving your Ruby on Rails application.

Using mod_rails to serve your application: Now passenger is installed, let's see how to serve our Ruby on Rails application.

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Thin web server for Ruby: Thin is a well established method of serving Ruby on Rails applications. Let's look at the installation and configuration of thin.

Apache, Rails and Thin: Now we've installed and looked at configuring the thin web server, let's create an Apache vhost to proxy our requests.

Nginx, Rails and thin: Creating a virtual host to proxy requests to the thin web server is very simple. Even easier then using mongrels.

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Mongrel and mongrel_cluster installation: Mongrels are one of the original ways of serving a Ruby on Rails application using a 3rd party server. Let's look at the installation.

Apache, Rails and mongrels: Now we have mongrels and mongrel_clusters installed, we can move onto create an Apache vhost for our rails application.

Nginx, Rails and mongrels: Creating a virtual host to proxy requests to our rails application is very simple. Using a mongrel cluster has never been easier.

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Ubuntu Intrepid Apache Specific:

Apache and PHP install: Installing Apache 2.2.9 and PHP 5.2.6 on an Ubuntu Intrepid Slice is simple using the 'aptitude' package manager.

Apache Configuration Layout: Ubuntu Intrepid uses a 'Debian' style layout for the Apache install. Let's look at what that means.

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Apache Configuration #1: Now we can take a look at the main Intrepid apache2.conf and ports.conf files and see what the settings mean and what effect they have.

Apache Configuration #2: Continuing from the first Apache configuration article, this one looks at some further settings in the main apache2.conf file.

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Apache Virtual Hosts #1: Now Apache is installed and running we can configure it to host multiple sites by creating our own custom virtual hosts.

Apache Virtual Hosts #2: Continuing from the previous article, we now look in detail at the settings we can use in the vhosts file.

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Ubuntu Intrepid and Nginx:

Installing Nginx via aptitude: Using the 'aptitude' package manager to install Nginx is very simple as it takes care of any dependencies and init scripts.

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Installing Nginx from source: Although Ubuntu Intrepid includes Nginx in its repositories, compiling from source will ensure we have the very latest version.

Adding an Nginx init script: Installing Nginx from source does not create an init file. Let's rectify that so Nginx automatically starts on a reboot.

Nginx from source layout: Adjusting the default layout created when installing Nginx from source allows for much easier administration on the vhosts.

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Nginx Configuration: Whether installed from the package manager or from source, we can take a look at the default nginx.conf file and see what can be improved.

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Nginx Virtual Hosts #1: Now Nginx is installed and running we can configure it to host multiple sites by creating virtual hosts.

Nginx Virtual Hosts #2: Continuing from the previous article, we can now look in detail at more of the settings available to us when creating a vhost.