Deploy django project using NGINX and Gunicorn

Requirements:

1. NGINX
2. Gunicorn

   ---

Prepare environment:

1. Install pip:

    sudo apt-get install python3-pip
   

2. Install virtualenv:

    sudo pip3 install virtualenv
   

3. Create directory for the project:

    mkdir project_name
    cd project_name
   

4. Now create a virtual environment

    virtualenv project_venv -p 3
   

5. Now Activate it:

    source project_venv/bin/activate
   

   ---

Prepare project files and dependencies:

1. Upload project to the folder that you just created "project_name"
2. Upload static folder to project_name

    .
    └── project_name/
        ├── project/
        │   ├── requirements.txt  
        │   ├── ...
        │   └── project/
        │       ├── ...
        │       ├── settings.py
        │       ├── urls.py
        │       ├── wsgi.py
        │       └── ...
        ├── project_venv/
        │   └── bin/
        │       ├── activate
        │       └── ...
        └── static/
            └── ...
   

3. Install requirements:

    pip3 install -r project/requirements.txt
   

   ---

Prepare Gunicorn server:

1. Install Gunicorn:

    pip3 install gunicorn
   

2. Create Configuration file

    mkdir conf
    touch conf/gunicorn.py
   

3. Paste this configuration into conf/gunicorn.conf

    command = '/path_to_project/project_venv/bin/gunicorn'
    #example: '/home/user/project_name/venv/bin/gunicorn'
   
    pythonpath = '/path_to_project'
    #example: '/home/user/project_name'
   
    bind = '127.0.0.1:8000' 
    workers = 3
   

4. Now run Gunicorn server:

   gunicorn -c conf/gunicorn.py project.wsgi
   

5. Output should be like:

    [2022-12-05 10:44:14 +0000] [3053259] [INFO] Starting gunicorn 20.1.0
    [2022-12-05 10:44:14 +0000] [3053259] [INFO] Listening at: http://127.0.0.1:8000 (3053259)
    [2022-12-05 10:44:14 +0000] [3053259] [INFO] Using worker: sync
    [2022-12-05 10:44:14 +0000] [3053261] [INFO] Booting worker with pid: 3053261
    [2022-12-05 10:44:14 +0000] [3053262] [INFO] Booting worker with pid: 3053262
    [2022-12-05 10:44:15 +0000] [3053263] [INFO] Booting worker with pid: 3053263
   

6. Now your project structure should be like this:

    .
    └── project_name/
        ├── conf/
        │   └── gunicorn.py
        ├── project/
        │   ├── requirements.txt  
        │   ├── ...
        │   └── project/
        │       ├── ...
        │       ├── settings.py
        │       ├── urls.py
        │       ├── wsgi.py
        │       └── ...
        ├── project_venv/
        │   └── bin/
        │       ├── activate
        │       └── ...
        └── static/
            └── ...
   

   ---

Prepare NGINX:

1. Install NGINX:

    # update system
    sudo apt update
   
    # install nginx
    sudo apt install nginx
   
    # check if nginx installed successfully 
    sudo systemctl status nginx.service # you should see active (running)
   

2. Create NGINX config file:

    sudo -i
    cd /etc/nginx/sites-available
    touch "project_name"
   

   • Paste this configuration into "project_name"

       server {
           server_name server_ip_or_domain;
     
           location /static/ {
               alias path_to_static_dir;
               # example: /home/user/project_name/static/
           }
     
           location / {
               proxy_pass http://127.0.0.1:8000; # bind from gunicorn conf
           }
       }
     

3. Activate this project:

    cd /etc/nginx/sites-enabled
    ln -s /etc/nginx/sites-available/project_name /etc/nginx/sites-enabled/project_name
   

4. Restart NGINX:

    systemctl restart nginx.service
   

   ---

   Finally you now have an active django website deployed with NGINX and gunicorn :)