- \n
- Install Docker on CentOS 7<\/li>\n
- Install and Configure Discourse Forum Software<\/li>\n
- Generate SSL Letsencrypt on CentOS 7<\/li>\n
- Install and Configure Nginx as a Reverse Proxy for Discourse<\/li>\n
- Discourse Web Installer<\/li>\n
- Discourse Additional Configuration<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
Prerequisites<\/strong><\/p>\n
- \n
- CentOS 7<\/li>\n
- Root Privileges<\/li>\n
- SMTP Account – Mailgun, SendGrid, or Mailjet<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Step 1 – Install Docker on CentOS 7<\/h2>\n
The discourse forum will be installed under Docker container. So the first step we must do is to install Docker on our CentOS 7 server.<\/p>\n
Install Docker on CentOS 7 using the following command.<\/p>\n
wget -qO- https:\/\/get.docker.com\/ | sh<\/p>\n
If you do not have the wget command, install it from the repository.<\/p>\n
yum -y install wget<\/p>\n
If the installation is complete, start Docker service and enable it to launch at boot time using the following systemctl commands.<\/p>\n
systemctl start docker
systemctl enable docker<\/p>\nThe Docker engine has been installed and it’s running on the CentOS 7 server. Check the service status using the following command.<\/p>\n
systemctl status docker<\/p>\n
The Docker service is active and running.<\/p>\n
![\"Docker](\"https:\/\/afaghhosting.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/how-to-install-discourse-forum-with-nginx-on-centos-7.png\" "\\"\\"")
<\/a><\/p>\nStep 2 – Install and configure Discourse Forum Software<\/h2>\n
In this step, we will install and configure the Discourse software. We will download the discourse docker-compose script, configure it as we need, and then create a new Docker container for discourse forum software.<\/p>\n
Before downloading discourse, we need to install the git command to the server.<\/p>\n
yum -y install git<\/p>\n
Now create a new directory ‘\/var\/discourse’ and download\/clone discourse docker script using the git command.<\/p>\n
mkdir -p \/var\/discourse
git clone https:\/\/github.com\/discourse\/discourse_docker.git \/var\/discourse<\/p>\nGo to the discourse directory and copy a sample of docker-compose script ‘standalone.yml’ to the ‘\/var\/discourse\/containers\/’ directory with the name ‘app.yml’.<\/p>\n
cd \/var\/discourse
cp samples\/standalone.yml containers\/app.yml<\/p>\n![\"Clone](\"https:\/\/afaghhosting.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/how-to-install-discourse-forum-with-nginx-on-centos-7-1.png\" "\\"\\"")
<\/a><\/p>\nNow edit the ‘app.yml’ file using vim<\/a>.<\/p>\n
vim containers\/app.yml<\/p>\n
– Docker Port Mapping<\/strong><\/p>\n
By default, all HTTP and HTTPS requests will be handled by the Docker proxy. And for this guide, we will use Nginx for this purpose – all HTTP and HTTPS will be handled by Nginx web server.<\/p>\n
So we need to change the docker port mapping configuration. The Discourse container will only have the HTTP connection, and the host will be open new port ‘2045’ and map to the container port 80.<\/p>\n
Uncomment the HTTPS line and change the HTTP line with new port ‘2045’, as shown below.<\/p>\n
expose:
– Discourse Domain Name Configuration<\/strong><\/p>\n
Type your own domain name for discourse installed on the ‘DISCOURSE_HOSTNAME’ line as below.<\/p>\n
DISCOURSE_HOSTNAME: 'discourse.hakase-labs.co'<\/pre>\n
And type your email address in the ‘DISCOURSE_DEVELOPER_EMAIL’ line.<\/p>\n
DISCOURSE_DEVELOPER_EMAILS: '[email\u00a0protected]<\/a>'<\/pre>\n
– SMTP Configuration<\/strong><\/p>\n
SMTP Configuration is the most important configuration for Discourse Software. Make sure you have the SMTP account for Discourse installation – you can buy or try free-tier SMTP account from Mailgun, Mailjet or SendGrid.<\/p>\n
For this tutorial, we will be using the free-tier SMTP account from Mailgun. Register with Mailgun and configure your domain name, and make sure you get details of your SMTP account.<\/p>\n
Then uncomment SMTP configuration and type your account details as below.<\/p>\n
\u00a0 DISCOURSE_SMTP_ADDRESS: smtp.mailgun.org
That’s it. Save the changes and exit the editor.<\/p>\n
Next, build new Discourse Docker image based on app.yml template configuration.<\/p>\n
sudo .\/launcher bootstrap app<\/p>\n
![\"Launch](\"https:\/\/afaghhosting.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/how-to-install-discourse-forum-with-nginx-on-centos-7-2.png\" "\\"\\"")
<\/a><\/p>\nIf all is complete, start\/initialize new Discourse container using the following command.<\/p>\n
sudo .\/launcher start app<\/p>\n
![\"initialize](\"https:\/\/afaghhosting.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/how-to-install-discourse-forum-with-nginx-on-centos-7-3.png\" "\\"\\"")
<\/a><\/p>\nAnd the Discourse Docker container is up and running – check it using the ‘docker ps’ command.<\/p>\n
docker ps -a<\/p>\n
Check the host open port using netstat, and make sure the new service docker-proxy with port 2045 is on the list.<\/p>\n
netstat -plntu<\/p>\n
![\"Check](\"https:\/\/afaghhosting.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/how-to-install-discourse-forum-with-nginx-on-centos-7-4.png\" "\\"\\"")
<\/a><\/p>\nThe Discourse Forum software has been installed under docker container on the host CentOS 7.<\/p>\n
Step 3 – Generate SSL Letsencrypt on CentOS 7<\/h2>\n
For this tutorial, we will be running Discourse forum under Nginx web server and only accept the HTTPS connection. For this purpose, we need new SSL Certificates for the domain name, and so, we will be using free SSL certificate from Letsencrypt.<\/p>\n
Install Letsencrypt command line tool using the yum command in the following way.<\/p>\n
yum -y install letsencrypt<\/p>\n
After the installation, add new HTTP and HTTPS service to the Firewalld configuration.<\/p>\n
firewall-cmd –add-service=http –permanent
firewall-cmd –add-service=https –permanent
firewall-cmd –reload<\/p>\n![\"Generate](\"https:\/\/afaghhosting.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/how-to-install-discourse-forum-with-nginx-on-centos-7-5.png\" "\\"\\"")
<\/a><\/p>\nNow generate new SSL certificates for Discourse forum using letsencrypt command below.<\/p>\n
letsencrypt certonly<\/p>\n
You will see two verifications from Letsencrypt. Type number ‘1’ to spin up a temporary web server for authentication.<\/p>\n
As part of this, type your email address for renewing notification, type ‘A’ to agree on the letsencrypt TOS (Terms Of Service).<\/p>\n
Now type the discourse domain name ‘discourse.hakase-labs.co’.<\/p>\n
![\"letsencrypt](\"https:\/\/afaghhosting.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/how-to-install-discourse-forum-with-nginx-on-centos-7-6.png\" "\\"\\"")
<\/a><\/p>\nAnd when the process is complete, you will get the result as below.<\/p>\n
![\"SSL](\"https:\/\/afaghhosting.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/how-to-install-discourse-forum-with-nginx-on-centos-7-7.png\" "\\"\\"")
<\/a><\/p>\nNew SSL certificate from letsencrypt has been generated in the ‘\/etc\/letsencrypt\/live’ directory.<\/p>\n
Step 4 – Install and Configure Nginx as a Reverse Proxy for Discourse<\/h2>\n
In this tutorial, we will be using the Nginx web server as a reverse proxy for Discourse that’s running under the Docker container. The Nginx web server will run under HTTP and HTTPS port, and all client requests will be handled by Nginx.<\/p>\n
Before installing the Nginx web server, we need to install the EPEL repository on the system.<\/p>\n
yum -y install epel-release<\/p>\n
Now install nginx from the EPEL repository using the following yum command.<\/p>\n
yum -y install nginx<\/p>\n
After all the installation is complete, go to the nginx configuration directory ‘\/etc\/nginx’.<\/p>\n
cd \/etc\/nginx\/<\/p>\n
And create a new additional SSL configuration ‘ssl.conf’ using vim<\/a>.<\/p>\n
vim ssl.conf<\/p>\n
Paste the following SSL configuration there.<\/p>\n
ssl_session_timeout 1d;
ssl_protocols TLSv1.2;
ssl_stapling on;
add_header Strict-Transport-Security \"max-age=15768000; includeSubdomains; preload\";
Save the changes and exit the editor.<\/p>\n
Next, create a new nginx virtual host file\u00a0‘discourse.conf’ for Discourse.<\/p>\n
vim conf.d\/discourse.conf<\/p>\n
Paste the following configuration there.<\/p>\n
server {\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 # SSL Configuration
Save and exit.<\/p>\n
Now test the nginx configuration and make sure there is no error. Then restart the Nginx service.<\/p>\n
nginx -t
systemctl restart nginx<\/p>\n![\"Test](\"https:\/\/afaghhosting.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/how-to-install-discourse-forum-with-nginx-on-centos-7-8.png\" "\\"\\"")
<\/a><\/p>\nNginx installation and configuration as a reverse proxy for Discourse container has been completed.<\/p>\n
Step 5 – Discourse Web Installer<\/h2>\n
Open your web browser and visit\u00a0your discourse URL, mine is:<\/p>\n
http:\/\/discourse.hakase-labs.co<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n
And you will be redirected to the HTTPS connection.<\/p>\n
![\"Discourse](\"https:\/\/afaghhosting.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/how-to-install-discourse-forum-with-nginx-on-centos-7-9.png\" "\\"\\"")
<\/a><\/p>\nClick the ‘Register<\/strong>‘ button.<\/p>\n
Now we need to create a new ‘Administrator’ account.<\/p>\n
![\"Register](\"https:\/\/afaghhosting.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/how-to-install-discourse-forum-with-nginx-on-centos-7-10.png\" "\\"\\"")
<\/a><\/p>\nType your admin username and password, then click ‘Register<\/strong>‘.<\/p>\n
And you will get the page for email confirmation. Check your email inbox and make sure you get the email configuration from the Discourse forum as below.<\/p>\n
![\"Email](\"https:\/\/afaghhosting.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/how-to-install-discourse-forum-with-nginx-on-centos-7-11.png\" "\\"\\"")
<\/a><\/p>\nClick on the ‘Link<\/strong>‘.<\/p>\n
And you will get the ‘Discourse Welcome’ page.<\/p>\n
![\"Welcome](\"https:\/\/afaghhosting.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/how-to-install-discourse-forum-with-nginx-on-centos-7-12.png\" "\\"\\"")
<\/a><\/p>\nClick on the button ‘click here to activate your account<\/strong>‘. And now you should get to the following page.<\/p>\n
![\"activate](\"https:\/\/afaghhosting.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/how-to-install-discourse-forum-with-nginx-on-centos-7-13.png\" "\\"\\"")
<\/a><\/p>\nClick the ‘Maybe Later<\/strong>‘ button.<\/p>\n
The Discourse Forum has been installed, and we get the default homepage as shown below.<\/p>\n
![\"Discourse](\"https:\/\/afaghhosting.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/how-to-install-discourse-forum-with-nginx-on-centos-7-14.png\" "\\"\\"")
<\/a><\/p>\nYou can go the ‘Admin Dashboard’, and you will get the Discourse Admin Dashboard.<\/p>\n
![\"Docker](\"https:\/\/www.howtoforge.com\/images\/how_to_install_and_configure_discourse_forum_with_nginx_on_centos_7\/big\/1.png\" "\\"\\"")
<\/a><\/p>\n