patch: passenger on unbuntu 9.04__working!

Apache

Run the following to install passenger, an apache module that adds support for running rails apps within apache:

sudo gem install passenger
sudo passenger-install-apache2-module

Now you have to configure apache to point to the passenger module. Simply copy the following suggested code from the passenger-install-apache2-module installation to the end of your Apache configuration file, which can be accessed by typing in the command sudo gedit /etc/apache2/apache2.conf: (if you are using RubyGems 1.1):

LoadModule passenger_module /usr/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/passenger-1.0.3/ext/apache2/mod_passenger.so
RailsSpawnServer /usr/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/passenger-1.0.3/bin/passenger-spawn-server
RailsRuby /usr/bin/ruby1.8

(if you are using RubyGems 1.2):

LoadModule passenger_module /usr/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/passenger-2.0.3/ext/apache2/mod_passenger.so
PassengerRoot /usr/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/passenger-2.0.3
PassengerRuby /usr/bin/ruby1.8

(if you are using RubyGems 1.3.1):

LoadModule passenger_module /usr/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/passenger-2.0.6/ext/apache2/mod_passenger.so
PassengerRoot /usr/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/passenger-2.0.6
PassengerRuby /usr/bin/ruby1.8

Now you should point apache to the location of your Ruby app. Create something like this in /etc/apache2/sites-available/ror.myhost.com

<VirtualHost *>
    ServerName ror.myhost.com
    DocumentRoot /home/myuser/www/mynewapp/public
</VirtualHost>

Alternatively, you could run rails in a specific sub uri of your current host, e.g. localhost. First, make a symbolic link to your rails public folder from with var/www (or wherever you have the root of your apache www folder), e.g.:

ln -s /home/myuser/www/mynewapp/public /var/www/mynewapp

In case of localhost (which is the default host with a fresh ubuntu/apache install) edit default in /etc/apache2/sites-available and add:

RailsBaseURI /mynewapp

murb: I had to add RailsEnv development as well to get around the 'no route found to match "/rails/info/properties" with {:method=>:get}' warning... (can someone elaborate on why?) apparently this is because /info/properties is buggy and no longer supported: http://www.ruby-forum.com/topic/161924 Save, and enable the rewrite module for apache, and register this site... and finally, restart apache.

sudo a2enmod rewrite
sudo a2ensite ror.myhost.com
sudo /etc/init.d/apache2 restart

 Lighttpd

Edit lighttpd.conf, e.g.:

sudo kate /etc/lighttpd/lighttpd.conf

and here starts the tricky part, paste at the end of the file:

server.modules   += ( "mod_fastcgi", "mod_rewrite" )


$HTTP["host"] == "localhost" {
        server.document-root = "/home/santiago/proyectos/beholder/public/"

        server.dir-listing          = "disable"
        server.error-handler-404 = "/dispatch.fcgi"

        fastcgi.server      = ( ".fcgi" => ( "localhost" => (
                "min-procs"       => 1,
                "max-procs"       => 1,
                "socket" => "/tmp/ruby-beholder.socket",
                "bin-path" => "/home/santiago/proyectos/beholder/public/dispatch.fcgi",
                "bin-environment" => ( "RAILS_ENV" => "development" )
        ) ) )

}

now run

sudo /etc/init.d/lighttpd restart

and you're set, go to http://localhost and you should see the rails index... click on the link "About your rails environment" and if you don't see a 404 or 500 error... then you're set (you should see either a rails error, or a rails message or something like that).

Known Problems

just in case you get a message like this:

kmin@metakmin:~/ruby_test$ gem -v
1.2.0
kmin@metakmin:~/ruby_test$ rails -v
Rails 2.2.2
kmin@metakmin:~/ruby_test$ gem update --system
Updating RubyGems
Nothing to update
kmin@metakmin:~/ruby_test$ script/server
Rails requires RubyGems >= 1.3.1 (you have 1.2.0). Please `gem update
--system` and try again.
kmin@metakmin:~/ruby_test$

dont panic, just run:

 
sudo gem install rubygems-update
sudo update_rubygems