Setting Up Ruby on Rails Production Environment

Welcome to our article on Setting Up a Ruby on Rails Production Environment! If you're looking for training on deploying Ruby on Rails applications, you’ve come to the right place. This guide aims to provide you with a comprehensive understanding of the steps involved in preparing your Rails application for a production environment. Let’s dive into the details!

Choosing the Right Server

When it comes to deploying a Ruby on Rails application, the first step is selecting the right server. Your choice will depend on several factors, including your budget, the expected load, and personal preference regarding management and scalability.

Cloud Providers: Popular choices include AWS, DigitalOcean, and Heroku. Each offers distinct advantages; for instance, AWS is known for its scalability and extensive range of services, while DigitalOcean provides simplicity and cost-effectiveness. Heroku is ideal for developers who prefer a Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) solution, streamlining deployment processes.

Virtual Private Servers (VPS): If you prefer more control, a VPS can be a suitable option. Providers like Linode and Vultr offer robust VPS solutions that give you root access to install and configure everything as per your requirements.

Dedicated Servers: For high-traffic applications requiring maximum performance, dedicated servers provide the best resources but at a higher cost. This option is typically chosen by enterprises that need substantial processing power.

Considerations for choosing a server include:

• Performance: Assess CPU, RAM, and storage options.
• Scalability: Ensure the provider allows easy upgrades as your application grows.
• Location: Choose a server location close to your user base to minimize latency.

Installing Required Software and Dependencies

Once you have chosen your server, the next step is to install the necessary software and dependencies to run your Ruby on Rails application effectively.

1. Install Ruby

First, ensure Ruby is installed on your server. You may want to use a version manager like rbenv or RVM to manage Ruby versions. Here’s how you can install rbenv:

# Install rbenv
git clone https://github.com/rbenv/rbenv.git ~/.rbenv
echo 'export PATH="$HOME/.rbenv/bin:$PATH"' >> ~/.bash_profile
echo 'eval "$(rbenv init -)"' >> ~/.bash_profile
exec $SHELL

# Install ruby-build as an rbenv plugin
git clone https://github.com/rbenv/ruby-build.git ~/.rbenv/plugins/ruby-build

# Install a specific version of Ruby
rbenv install 3.1.0
rbenv global 3.1.0

2. Install Rails

With Ruby installed, you can now install Rails using the following command:

gem install rails -v 7.0.0

3. Database Configuration

Next, choose a database for your application. PostgreSQL is a popular choice for Rails applications due to its performance and advanced features. To install PostgreSQL on Ubuntu, you can run:

sudo apt update
sudo apt install postgresql postgresql-contrib libpq-dev

After installation, create a new database user and a database for your Rails app:

sudo -u postgres createuser --superuser your_username
sudo -u postgres createdb your_database_name

4. Additional Dependencies

You may also need to install additional dependencies like Node.js and Yarn for asset compilation. Use the following commands:

# Install Node.js
curl -sL https://deb.nodesource.com/setup_14.x | sudo -E bash -
sudo apt install -y nodejs

# Install Yarn
npm install --global yarn

This configuration ensures you have all the necessary tools to run your Rails application in production.

Configuring Web Servers for Rails

Configuring a web server is critical for handling HTTP requests and serving your Rails application efficiently. Nginx and Puma are often used together to create a powerful web server setup.

1. Install Nginx

To install Nginx on your server, use the following command:

sudo apt install nginx

Once installed, you can configure Nginx to serve your Rails application. Create a new configuration file in /etc/nginx/sites-available/:

sudo nano /etc/nginx/sites-available/myapp

Add the following configuration:

server {
    listen 80;
    server_name your_domain.com;

    location / {
        proxy_pass http://localhost:3000;
        proxy_http_version 1.1;
        proxy_set_header Upgrade $http_upgrade;
        proxy_set_header Connection 'upgrade';
        proxy_set_header Host $host;
        proxy_cache_bypass $http_upgrade;
    }
}

2. Enable the Configuration

To enable the configuration, create a symbolic link to the sites-enabled directory:

sudo ln -s /etc/nginx/sites-available/myapp /etc/nginx/sites-enabled/

3. Install and Configure Puma

Puma is a highly concurrent web server for Ruby/Rails applications. You can add Puma to your Gemfile:

gem 'puma'

Run bundle install to install it. After that, create a config/puma.rb file with the following content:

workers Integer(ENV['WEB_CONCURRENCY'] || 2)
threads_count = Integer(ENV['RAILS_MAX_THREADS'] || 5)
threads threads_count, threads_count

preload_app!

rackup      DefaultRackApp
port        ENV['PORT'] || 3000
environment ENV['RACK_ENV'] || 'development'

on_worker_boot do
  ActiveRecord::Base.establish_connection if defined?(ActiveRecord)
end

4. Start the Application

Finally, you can start your Rails application with Puma:

RAILS_ENV=production bundle exec puma -C config/puma.rb

Summary

Setting up a Ruby on Rails production environment can be a complex task, but by following the steps outlined in this article, you will have a solid foundation. We began by discussing the importance of choosing the right server, considered necessary software and dependencies, and then walked through configuring Nginx and Puma for optimal performance.

In summary, a well-configured production environment is crucial for the success of your Ruby on Rails applications. By leveraging the right tools and following best practices, you can ensure your application runs smoothly and efficiently.

For those looking to deepen their knowledge, consider exploring the official Ruby on Rails guides and documentation for further insights into deploying Rails applications effectively.

Last Update: 31 Dec, 2024