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I was asked to install Ruby on Rails on a windows server, to be used for class projects. I went with the mongrel via apache approach. I was originally going to install it on IIS runing under FastCGI, but decided against it for a few reasons:

• FastCGI is really only appropriate for a production environment. It’s hard to debug, and this machine is probably going to be used for development, testing, and production.
• Its relatively unstable. FastCGI on IIS is still an awkward combination, and was bound to cause headaches.
• The apache/mongrel approach keeps the two very separate, so it’s easier to find problems.
• To use IIS with Mongrel, you need ISAPI_rewrite, which costs money.

I used this guide, so be sure to look it over if you have any problems.

Step 0: Downloads

Remote desktop into the install machine, and download the following:

• Apache server
• Ruby One-Click Installer

Step 1: Install Apache & Ruby

Run the apache installer. Use ”sy.cs.tamu.edu” as the network domain and server name. Put whatever you want for the administrators email.

On the next page, click “Custom Install”, and change the installation to “c:\apache”, then choose next and let the installer finish.

Now open the Ruby installer. The default install should be fine.

Step 2: Start the Apache Daemon

Enter the following into a command shell:

cd \
cd apache\apache2\bin
apache –k install

The apache service icon should appear in the task bar.

Step 3: Install Rails & Mongrel

Install the rails, redcloth, and mongrel gems:

gem install rails mongrel mongrel_service redcloth -y

Make sure to choose the win32 option every time it asks.

Step 4: Configure Apache

From the start menu, navigate to “All Programs”->”Apache HTTP Server X”->”Configure Apache Server”->”Edit The Apache http.conf Configuration file”.

Change the line with:

Listen 8080

to:

Listen 80

Note: Binding to port 80 will only work if you don’t have another webserver running on the machine. If you think you might have IIS or something else running on port 80, run:

netstat -a

If you see something like the following:

TCP    sy02:http              sy02.cs.tamu.edu:0     LISTENING

You may need to change to an open port number. I suggest 81.

Save the file, then start apache using the icon on the bottom right. Enter the following command(change ‘http’ to your port number):

netstat -a | find "http"

It should print out something like:

TCP    sy02:http              sy02.cs.tamu.edu:0     LISTENING

If you don’t see anything, you have a problem somewhere.

Step 5: Create the Rails App Folder

cd \
mkdir rails_apps
cd rails_apps
rails test_site
cd test_site
ruby script/server –e production

Point your browser to “http://localhost:3000/” ( replace 3000 with whatever port mongrel is running on.), if every thing’s working you should be at the default rails page.

Step 6: Configure Apache to Proxy to Mongrel

Run the following from the command shell:

cd \
cd apache\apache2\conf
(
echo LoadModule proxy_module
modules/mod_proxy.so
echo LoadModule proxy_http_module
modules/mod_proxy_http.so
echo ProxyRequests Off
echo ^<Proxy *^>
echo   Order deny,allow
echo   Allow from all
echo ^</Proxy^>
) >> http-proxy.conf
(
echo .
echo Include conf/http-proxy.conf
) >> httpd.conf

this should create a http-proxy.conf file in apache’s conf directory. Next run:

set APP_NAME=test_site
set PORT=3000
(
echo .
echo Alias /%APP_NAME% "c:/rails_apps/%APP_NAME%/public"
echo ^<Directory "c:/rails_apps/%APP_NAME%/public"^>
echo   Options Indexes FollowSymLinks
echo   AllowOverride none
echo   Order allow,deny
echo   Allow from all
echo ^</Directory^>
echo .
echo ProxyPass /%APP_NAME%/images !
echo ProxyPass /%APP_NAME%/stylesheets !
echo ProxyPass /%APP_NAME%/javascripts !
echo ProxyPass /%APP_NAME%/ http://127.0.0.1:%PORT%/
echo ProxyPass /%APP_NAME% http://127.0.0.1:%PORT%/
echo ProxyPassReverse /%APP_NAME%/ http://127.0.0.1:%PORT%/
) >> http-proxy.conf

Restart apache, browse to “http://localhost/test_site/”, and you should be at your default page.

Step 7: Install Proxy Plugin

Apparently rails needs some help rewriting URL’s to work with the proxy server, so you need to install a rails plugin:

cd \
cd rails_apps\test_site
ruby script/plugin install http://svn.napcsweb.com/public/plugins/reverse_proxy_fix/branches/rails123
http://localhost/test_site
cd vendor\plugins\rails123\lib
echo BASE_URL="http://localhost/test_site" >> config.rb

Step 8: Start mongrel as a service

This will start a mongrel server as a windows service:

mongrel_rails service::install -N test_site
net start test_site

And that should do it. If everything went right, you should get the default rails page again.