A CentOS 7.2 Vagrant Box with Python 3.6 via Ansible

• Apache 2.4, with mod_wsgi for running Django
• FreeTDS drivers for MS SQL Server
• PostgreSQL Drivers & Server
• Node + npm

This repository contains a CentOS 7.2 box for Vagrant. Python 3.6.1 is installed alongside the system Python (2.7.5). The Vagrant config uses Ansible roles to configure the box for the development environment, that should also be suitable for setting up a production server.

MS SQL is also supported as a Django database backend with the FreeTDS ODBC Driver to SQL Server. PostgreSQL 9.6, including the server, can be install optionally for those using PostgreSQL.

Django versions 1.8 and greater are supported, however, Django 1.11 or greater is recommended at the time of this writing for new projects. Django 1.11 is an LTS (Long Term Support) release, meaning it will be actively supported with bug fixes and security patches until at least April, 2020 (and probably longer): https://www.djangoproject.com/download/#supported-versions

Compatibility & Prerequisites to Install

Mac

• Tested with Vagrant 1.9.5: https://releases.hashicorp.com/vagrant/1.9.5/vagrant_1.9.5_x86_64.dmg
• Tested with VirtualBox 5.1.22: http://download.virtualbox.org/virtualbox/5.1.22/VirtualBox-5.1.22-115126-OSX.dmg
• Git is required: http://git-scm.com/downloads
• Tested on: OS/X Yosemite, and El Capitan, and Sierra.

Linux

• Vagrant 1.9.5 can be downloaded here: https://releases.hashicorp.com/vagrant/1.9.5/
• VirtualBox 5.1.22 can be downloaded here: http://download.virtualbox.org/virtualbox/5.1.22/
• On newer machines, ensure that you have virtualization enabled in BIOS (duckduckgo it for your machine's model).

Fedora 25, CentOS 7

These are available via the package manager.

$ sudo dnf install vagrant
$ sudo dnf install VirtualBox

Windows

• Tested with Vagrant 1.9.5: https://releases.hashicorp.com/vagrant/1.9.5/vagrant_1.9.5.msi
• Tested with VirtualBox 5.1.22: http://download.virtualbox.org/virtualbox/5.1.22/VirtualBox-5.1.22-115126-Win.exe
• Git Bash is required, not the Windows Command Prompt (cmd.exe): https://git-for-windows.github.io/
  • In Git Bash, click the diamond shaped multi-colored icon in the upper left of the window, OPTIONS. You may want to go through the option list to increase your default window size, set up copy/paste shortcuts, and set up mouse selection for copy/paste.
• On newer machines, ensure that you have virtualization enabled in BIOS (Google it for your machine's model).
• Tested on: Windows 7, 8, and 10.

Get Started

• Create and add a public SSH key to your git server (GitHub, GitLab, etc).

• Clone the repository and bring up the virtual development environment. The first time you install the box, "vagrant up" will take a little while. Grab a cup of coffee or something!

• Use a host name for your domain; for example, if you're a member of The Wharton School, you may want to use the command VAGRANT_HOSTNAME="vagrant.wharton.upenn.edu" vagrant up below. If you don't provide a hostname, it will be set to vagrant.example.com.

git clone https://github.com/wharton/python-vagrant-centos7.git
cd python-vagrant-centos7
VAGRANT_HOSTNAME="vagrant.my.domain.com" vagrant up
vagrant ssh

Fedora 25, CentOS 7

Check Vagrantfile and make sure the port forwarding settings will work for your use case. You may wish to forward the guest VM port 80 to something other than port 80 on the host, e.g. 8888.

config.vm.network "forwarded_port", guest: 80, host: 8888, auto_correct: false

Replace the the VAGRANT_HOSTNAME line from above with the following.

$ vagrant up --provider=virtualbox 

Sit back, let the installation complete.

• You can also add the host name to your computer's hosts file. Your hosts file should be located at:

  • Mac / Linux: /etc/hosts
  • Windows: %SystemRoot%\system32\drivers\etc\hosts

Add this line (with the appropriate host name, if you changed it):

192.168.99.100  vagrant.my.domain.com

Default installation creates

default: SSH address: 127.0.0.1:2222
default: SSH username: vagrant
default: SSH auth method: private key

$ vagrant ssh

Another, less desirable, option for SSH'ing into the vagrant box.. (this requires the use of the default password, vagrant)

$ ssh [email protected] -p 2222

At this point, you should change the default password for the vagrant user. You may also want to add/remove users soon.

Using PostgreSQL & Creating a New Database for a Django Project

The Vagrant box comes with PostgreSQL 9.6. The vagrant user is set up as a PostgreSQL superuser (in addition to the postgres user).

$ psql
psql (9.6.3)
Type "help" for help.

vagrant=# \?
...
vagrant=# CREATE USER my_django_user WITH PASSWORD 'my_django_password';
CREATE ROLE
vagrant=# CREATE DATABASE my_django_db WITH OWNER my_django_user;
CREATE DATABASE
vagrant=# \q

If you'd like to connect from a GUI on your local system, a script is available to open the firewall and configure PostgreSQL to allow connections from the host machine.

sudo /vagrant/assets/open_postgres_to_host.sh

Setting Up Django & virtualenv

First, change to the directory set aside to hold user projects.

$ cd projects

Next, create a new virtual environment for your Django project:

$ mkvirtualenv django-project

Next, within this virtualenv, install django, django-extensions, and pygraphviz:

(django-project) [vagrant@vagrant django-project]$ pip install django django-extensions pygraphviz

Now, create a new Django project and enter its directory:

(django-project) [vagrant@vagrant django-project]$ django-admin startproject myproject
(django-project) [vagrant@vagrant django-project]$ cd myproject

Creating ERDs of Django Models

The django-extensions app can build handy Entity Relationship Diagrams for Django apps, even your entire project. The pre-requisites for the Python packages are included with this Vagrant box.

First, within your Django project's virtualenv, install django-extensions and pygraphviz:

 (django-project) [vagrant@vagrant django-project]$ pip install django-extensions pygraphviz

Next, add django_extensions to your INSTALLED_APPS. Then you can create the diagrams; to create a PNG of all models in your Django project.

$ ./manage.py graph_models -a -g -o project-erd.png

Or, to just do a few Django apps:

$ ./manage.py graph_models users faculty courses -g -o users-faculty-courses.png

Windows 10: Forwarding Port 80 for Testing Apache

In Windows 10, the "World Wide Web Publishing Service" automatically starts on port 80. You can disable it so Vagrant can forward port 80.

• Click Start, type "Services" and open Services.
• Scroll down to World Wide Web Publishing Service. Right click and go into Properties.
• Change "Startup type" to be Manual.
• Click the "Stop" button.
• Click "OK".

Contributors:

• Tim Allen ([email protected])
• Gavin Burris ([email protected])
• Dave Roller ([email protected])
• Brian Jopling
• Clay Wells