Deploy React Frontend and Django Backend on the Same Server - AWS EC2 instance

Table of Contents

1. AWS EC2 Instance Setup
2. Attaching Elastic IP
3. Adding Domain on Cloudflare
4. Necessary Packages Installation on AWS EC2
5. Frontend Deployment
6. Backend Django Deployment
7. Nginx Setup
8. Additional Notes

Note???????: I recommend watching the accompanying video for detailed instructions and using the commands and file texts from the video. This article serves as a supplementary guide.

• Frontend Repo: GitHub Repository
• Backend Repo: GitHub Repository

YouTube Complete Tutorial Video ??:

Part 1. AWS EC2 Instance Setup

Before starting, ensure you have an AWS EC2 instance up and running. Make sure it's configured with sufficient resources based on your project needs.

Part2. Attaching Elastic IP

To make your EC2 instance accessible from the internet, attach an Elastic IP:

1. Go to the AWS EC2 Dashboard.
2. Navigate to "Elastic IPs" and allocate a new IP.
3. Associate this IP with your EC2 instance.

Part 3. Adding Domain on Cloudflare

1. Go to Cloudflare and log in.
2. Add your domain to Cloudflare and follow the setup instructions.
3. Update your DNS settings to point to the Elastic IP of your EC2 instance.

Part 4. Necessary Packages Installation on AWS EC2

Update the Package Manager

sudo apt-get update -y        

Install Node.js and Nginx

1. Install Node.js (Version 20)

curl -fsSL https://deb.nodesource.com/setup_20.x | sudo -E bash -
sudo apt install -y nodejs
        

1. Install npm

sudo apt install npm -y        

1. Install Nginx

sudo apt install nginx -y        

Part 5. Frontend Deployment

Step 1: Clone the ReactJS App to EC2

• For Public Repository:

git clone <YOUR-GIT-Repo>        

• For Private Repository:

git clone <YOUR-GIT-Repo>        

You will be prompted for your GitHub username and password (use a GitHub token if needed).

Step 2: Install Required Dependencies

cd <project-folder>
npm install        

Step 3: Create Production Build

npm run build        

Step 4: Set Up Directory and Copy Build

sudo mkdir -p /var/www/vhosts/frontend/ 

sudo cp -R build/ /var/www/vhosts/frontend/        

Part 6. Backend Django Deployment

Step 1: Install Python

sudo apt update
sudo apt install python3-pip python3-dev        

Step 2: Create a Python Virtual Environment

sudo apt install python3-virtualenv
        

• Clone the Django Project

git clone https://github.com/codewithmuh/backend-django.git
cd ~/backend-django        

• Create and Activate Virtual Environment

virtualenv venv
source venv/bin/activate        

• Install Dependencies

pip install -r requirements.txt        

Step 3: Install Django and Gunicorn

pip install django gunicorn        

Step 4: Configure Django Project

1. Update ALLOWED_HOSTS in settings.py
2. Run Migrations and Collect Static Files

python manage.py makemigrations
python manage.py migrate
python manage.py collectstatic        

1. Update settings.py and urls.py

• Add whitenoise to INSTALLED_APPS and MIDDLEWARE.
• Ensure static files are properly served.

pip install whitenoise        

Step 5: Configure Gunicorn

1. Create Gunicorn Socket

sudo vim /etc/systemd/system/gunicorn.socket        

Paste:

[Unit]
Description=gunicorn socket

[Socket]
ListenStream=/run/gunicorn.sock

[Install]
WantedBy=sockets.target        

1. Create Gunicorn Service

sudo vim /etc/systemd/system/gunicorn.service        

Paste:

[Unit]
Description=gunicorn daemon
Requires=gunicorn.socket
After=network.target

[Service]
User=ubuntu
Group=www-data
WorkingDirectory=/home/ubuntu/backend-django
ExecStart=/home/ubuntu/backend-django/venv/bin/gunicorn \
          --access-logfile - \
          --workers 3 \
          --bind unix:/run/gunicorn.sock \
          blog.wsgi:application

[Install]
WantedBy=multi-user.target        

1. Start and Enable Gunicorn

sudo systemctl start gunicorn.socket
sudo systemctl enable gunicorn.socket        

Part 7. Nginx Setup

Step 1: Remove Default Configuration

cd /etc/nginx/sites-enabled
sudo rm -f default        

Step 2: Configure Nginx as a Reverse Proxy

1. Create Nginx Configuration File

sudo vim /etc/nginx/sites-available/nginx        

Paste:

# Frontend Nginx Config
server {
    listen 80;
    server_name YOUR_DOMAIN.com;

    location / {
        autoindex on;
        root /var/www/vhosts/frontend/build;
        try_files $uri $uri/ /index.html;
    }
}

# Backend Nginx Config
server {
    listen 80;
    server_name api.YOUR_DOMAIN.com;

    location = /favicon.ico {
        access_log off;
        log_not_found off;
    }

    location /staticfiles/ {
        alias /home/ubuntu/backend-django/static;
    }

    location / {
        include proxy_params;
        proxy_pass https://unix:/run/gunicorn.sock;
        proxy_set_header X-Forwarded-Protocol $scheme;
    }

    client_max_body_size 134217728;
}        

• Activate Configuration

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

Run this command to load a static file

$ sudo gpasswd -a www-data username

username in my case is ubuntu, which is mention in my nginx.

Restart nginx and allow the changes to take place.

• Restart Services

sudo systemctl restart nginx
sudo systemctl restart gunicorn        

Part 8. Additional Notes

If you encounter errors, review the logs and configurations. This guide provides a foundational setup, and further adjustments may be necessary based on specific project requirements.

Ensure all services are running smoothly:

1. Check Nginx and gunicorn Status

sudo systemctl status nginx
sudo systemctl status gunicorn        

1. Check Error Logs

sudo tail -f /var/log/nginx/error.log        

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