Automating-Website-Hosting-on-a-CentOS-VM-with-Vagrant

In my previous article, I provided a manual guide on hosting a website on a CentOS VM. In this post, I'll walk you through the process of automating the hosting of an HTML template on CentOS using httpd and Vagrant. We will create a Vagrantfile that provisions the website automatically, leveraging the power of Infrastructure as Code (IaC).

Tools used

• Ready-made template: Free HTML website templates from tooplate.com
• Vagrant: Automates the creation and management of virtual environments.
• CentOS: A free, enterprise-class Linux distribution, ideal for server environments.
• Git Bash: A command-line tool that allows users to run Git commands and other Unix-based utilities on Windows.
• VsCode: A source-code editor for development

Understanding Infrastructure as Code (IaC)

Infrastructure as Code (IaC) is the practice of managing and provisioning computing infrastructure through machine-readable configuration files. This approach allows for consistent, repeatable, and automated deployment processes, eliminating the need for manual setup.

Step-by-Step Setup

1. Create a CentOS VM with Vagrant First, create a CentOS VM using Vagrant. For guidance, refer to my previous article for a detailed walkthrough.

2. Prepare Your Workspace in VSCode

• Open Visual Studio Code

• Click on File > Open Folder

• Navigate to the folder of the CentOS VM you created

  

3. Rename the Project Folder

• Rename the Folder:
• Change the name of your project folder (e.g., from finance) to financeIAC.
• This signifies that the project now utilizes Infrastructure as Code principles.

4. Remove the .vagrant Directory

• Delete the .vagrant Folder:
• In the financeIAC directoru, delete the .vagrant directory to ensure a clean environment. This folder contains state information that Vagrant uses, and removing it allows Vagrant to recreate the VM from scratch.

5. Modify the Vagrantfile a. Update Network Configuration

• Open Vagrantfile in VSCode.
• Change the IP Address to 192.168.56.28:

b. Add Provisioning Script

• Add the Following Script at the bottom of the Vagrantfile:

  yum install httpd wget unzip vim -y
  systemctl start httpd
  systemctl enable httpd
  mkdir -p /tmp/finance
  cd /tmp/finance
  wget https://www.tooplate.com/zip-templates/2135_mini_finance.zip
  unzip -o 2135_mini_finance.zip
  cp -r 2135_mini_finance/* /var/www/html/
  systemctl restart httpd
  cd /tmp/
  rm -rf /tmp/finance
SHELL

• Save the Vagrantfile (use Ctrl + S).

6. Launch the VM Using Git Bash a. Open Git Bash:

• Navigate to the financeIAC directory:
• Use the command cd /vagrant-vms/financeIAC

b. Start the VM, using the vagrant up command.

• Vagrant will create the VM and automatically run the provisioning script defined in the Vagrantfile.

7. Access the Deployed Website

• Open a Web Browser, and Navigate to http://192.168.56.28/

• You should see the hosted website loaded from the VM.

  

Conclusion

By automating the provisioning of the CentOS VM and the deployment of the website, we've transformed a manual process into a reproducible and efficient workflow. Leveraging Vagrant and the principles of Infrastructure as Code, you can easily manage and deploy environments consistently.