Installing Flarum on AWS

MikeJones

ubuntu@ip-172-31-17-39:~$ sudo nginx -t
nginx: the configuration file /etc/nginx/nginx.conf syntax is ok
nginx: configuration file /etc/nginx/nginx.conf test is successful
ubuntu@ip-172-31-17-39:~$

0E800

I'll try creating an instance and figure it out so I don't have to keep guessing and wasting your time.

We will gedder' done

MikeJones

0E800 Could it be the AWS LEMP I am using?

I think this is the one I was using:

https://aws.amazon.com/marketplace/pp/B01MXTQI9K

0E800

I just used Ubuntu 16 1GB free tier EC2.

It did not come with a Lemp stack.

The script installs and sets the Lemp stack up.

When I get home I'll play around with it.

MikeJones

0E800

Can you send me a link of the Ubuntu 1gb spin up? Maybe thats why mine wasnt working. I was using one that already had the LEMP stack

0E800

MikeJones

wget https://raw.githubusercontent.com/webeindustry/flarumvpsinstallscript/patch-1/script
sudo chmod +x script
sudo ./script

Copy IP of Instance and paste in as forum name or call it something like seekadventure.net: (can be changed later)

MikeJones

0E800 Awesome, you have been a huge help I am up and running with the IP address now! I will play aroudn with the forum software a bit and then see how to get my custom domain name to point to aws from google domains!

Thanks again!

0E800

MikeJones

No problem man, thanks for sticking in there and being patient with it.

Let me know if you need help with CSP or HTTPS certs.

Be well man.

PS - just be prepared to start over again .. ?

MikeJones

0E800 Yea I know you sent me a tutorial on securing the site:

https://www.digitalocean.com/community/tutorials/how-to-secure-nginx-with-let-s-encrypt-on-ubuntu-16-04

Can I follow that now? Or do I need to run that before installing FLARUM?

0E800

MikeJones

Now that you have an idea of how to install Flarum, now you should experiment with installing / configuring extensions and also adding email support.

You will ultimately need email in order to register and invite users.

I use my own Gmail account for that, well, created a gmail account specifically for the flarum forum to be used.

0E800

The thing is, your amazon instance isnt static. If you restart it from the AWS dashboard, you will end up getting a new IP address and then will need to repoint your DNS entries.

There are a few extra steps in securing your site that you will want to do as well.

I used AWS as just a DEV platform to learn how to install, then I went with NetCup hosting which charges me about $22 a month for a 8 core xeon with 12GB memory for me to host whatever I need.

Im not sure how you go about using AWS to host a production server.

I just wanted to help you get comfortable installing it.

MikeJones

0E800 I think I can set up whats called an elastic ip to get a static IP for the website

MikeJones

0E800 lots or learning happening today! I think I just set up an elastic IP address for my AWS server so now when I power it down it will always stay with this new one and the site moved over nicely:

http://18.208.25.157/

Next is going to associate a domain name with it, but I am going to see if I can save this AWS instance so if I mess it up later I can revert back to it.

0E800

MikeJones

If you have a Raspberry Pi I have setup simple method for turning it into a portable flarum development box.

Great for cloning your site to, so you can make changes without having to destroy your production instance.

Worth checking out:
https://discuss.flarum.org/d/9672-pibakery-how-to-easy-cookie-cutter-flarum-pi-dev-box/2

MikeJones

0E800 so a little more learning needs to occur. My site stopped loading after settign up the elastic ip.

I changed it in the ip in

sudo nano /etc/nginx/sites-enabled/whateveryoursitenameiscalled

But now when it doest load I open up the error console and get this error:

GET http://54.175.160.201/assets/forum-eacba98b.css net::ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT

Do I need to change an IP address in one more place?

MikeJones

0E800 it looks like it cant grab the css for some reason....

0E800

MikeJones

I think you are not supposed to change the server name from 54.bla.bla as your elastic IP is looking for the site that is hosted on that IP, not on 18.bla.bla

sudo nano /etc/nginx/sites-enabled/whateveryoursitenameiscalled
change it back to what it was

then

sudo systemctl restart nginx

0E800

MikeJones
Looks like you got it working:
http://18.208.25.157/

0E800

Possibly it takes a little waiting for the DNS entries to catch up?

Check /var/www/yourforumsitename/config.php

Dont share your passwords but what else does it say?

Also for good measure,

throw in a: sudo php flarum cache:clear

and also sudo systemctl restart nginx

MikeJones

0E800 Check /var/www/yourforumsitename/config.php

yep just had to update the IP in there! All is good now! Thanks!

Fingers crossed, looks like elastic IP is working

0E800

MikeJones

Way to go man. I'm off for the day, ill try to answer your questions tommorrow.

Keep in mind a lot of issues can be remedied without starting over again. However, sometimes its faster and more stable to start over from scratch then riddle your site with config holes.

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