Run Django on Bluehost

Last weekend, I took some time to setup Python and Django on our hosting server which is bought from Bluehost. I also bound a domain name to my working space afterwards. Here is a walk-though for all work need to do.

1. Install Python
   There is an old version of shared Python on the server, but even it’s not too old to be used, I’d rather to install my own one. Because I will use some Python libraries and applications, and I can only install them by my permission level. It’s quite easy if you already have SSH access. One one thing may need to be concerned, that is to configure installation path. Such as, "./configure -prefix=/home/USERNAME/python -enable-unicode=ucs4".
   Here is a full list how to do that from a Chinese blog.
2. Install flup/mysql-python
   Before you install these components, I’d like to suggest you install EasyInstall at first. Then you can run it to install others:
   easy_install mysql-python
   easy_install flup
   Maybe you need to install other libraries here, just go ahead.
3. Install Django
   I didn’t find SVN was working on server. And I chose a release version of Django(1.0). So pick up a folder and run wget command, and install it with classic 3 commands.
4. .htaccess and fastcgi settings
   New a web folder under public_html folder(which will be published), and create both files under it:

   # .htaccess file
   AddHandler fcgid-script .fcgi
   RewriteEngine On
   RewriteBase /
   RewriteRule ^(media/.*)$ - [L]
   RewriteRule ^(static/.*)$ - [L]
   RewriteCond %{REQUEST_URI} !(dispatch.fcgi)
   RewriteRule ^(.*)$ dispatch.fcgi/$1 [L] 
   
   # dispatch.fcgi file
   #!/home/USERNAME/python/bin/python
   import sys, os
   # Add a custom Python path.
   sys.path.insert(0, "/home/USERNAME/python")
   sys.path.insert(0, "/home/USERNAME/Django-1.0")
   os.chdir("/home/USERNAME/Django-1.0/PROJECTNAME")
   os.environ['DJANGO_SETTINGS_MODULE'] = "PROJECTNAME.settings"
   from django.core.servers.fastcgi import runfastcgi
   runfastcgi(["method=threaded", "daemonize=false"]) 

5. You need to set proper rights(chmod +x) for dispatch.fcgi file. In dispatch.fcgi file, you need to replace USERNAME and PROJECTNAME with your own names. "Django-1.0" is my folder where my Django installed.

   And do remember that place your project folder under your Django installation folder.(It kept telling me Unhandled Exception error before I figured this out).

   Besides, you probably want to confirm FastCGI is installed from your hosting settings, I tried that also but I didn’t find it. So far as I know, FastCGI has been enabled by default on Bluehost. And the file name "dispath.fcgi" is from somewhere, somebody’s experience that corn jobs on server will search and kill suspended processes without these names.

6. Start project

   It should be ready so far. Go to your Django folder,and rock your project with the name specified before:

   django-admin.py startproject PROJECTNAME

7. Setup domain name

   It’s quite easy to add a new domain in cPanel. Just add a new addon domain and match the domain folder with the one where you place .htaccess and dispatch.fcgi files. Copy the A record IP address and save it to your IP settings. Restart VDNS if you have that. You can also use the subdomain you just created from cPanel. That’s all!

8. When you domain name is active you should be able to see something familiar as below:
   
   

If you meet problems do check thing below:

• Don’t confuse yourself by different path of your Python, Django, Project and publish folder.
• You need to have permissions run dispatch.fcgi file.(chmod +x dispatch.fcgi)
• If you see Unhandled Exception errors, please be sure that you place your project under Django installed folder.(I haven’t figured why should be like this.)
• If you still have problems, don’t hesitate to leave your comments here.

Hope this helps for you.