Hosting a Flask API on an AWS EC2 instance is a straightforward process, but it does require some technical steps. In this blog, we will walk through the steps to set up a Flask API on an Amazon EC2 instance running a Linux operating system. By following this guide, you’ll be able to get your Flask application up and running in no time.
Step 1: Become the Root User
First, you’ll need to switch to the root user to have the necessary permissions for the installation and configuration tasks. Execute the following command:
sudo su -
Step 2: Update Your System
It’s always a good practice to update your system to ensure you have the latest packages and security updates.
yum update -y
Step 3: Create a Directory for Your Project
Create a temporary directory where you will store your project files.
mkdir temp
cd temp/
Step 4: Download Your Project Files from GitHub
Ensure your required project files are in a GitHub public repository. Download the files using wget.
wget https://github.com/ranjithkumarmadhavan/test/archive/refs/heads/main.zip
Step 5: View the List of Files in the Directory
List the files in your current directory to confirm the download.
ls -lrt
Step 6: Unzip the Downloaded File
Unzip the downloaded repository to access your project files.
unzip main.zip
Step 7: Navigate to Your Project Directory
Change directory to the unzipped project folder.
cd test-main
Step 8: Set Up a Python Virtual Environment
Create a virtual environment to manage your project dependencies.
python3 -m venv venv
Step 9: Activate the Virtual Environment
Activate the virtual environment to use the installed packages.
source venv/bin/activate
Step 10: Install the Required Packages
Install the necessary packages listed in your requirements.txt file.
pip install -r requirements.txt
Step 11: Run Your Flask Application
Run your Flask application to ensure everything is set up correctly.
python main.py
Step 12: Enable Port 5000 in Your Security Group
In the AWS Management Console, navigate to your EC2 instance’s security group settings and add a rule to allow inbound traffic on port 5000. This step is crucial as it will allow external access to your Flask API.
Step 13: Use Gunicorn to Serve Your Flask Application
Gunicorn is a Python WSGI HTTP Server for UNIX. Use it to serve your Flask application on port 5000.
gunicorn --bind 0.0.0.0:5000 main:app
Step 14: Run Gunicorn in the Background
To keep your application running in the background, append the & symbol to the command.
gunicorn --bind 0.0.0.0:5000 main:app &
By following these steps, you will have your Flask API hosted on an AWS EC2 Linux machine, accessible over the internet. This setup is robust for development and testing purposes. For a production environment, consider additional configurations such as setting up a reverse proxy with Nginx and securing your application with SSL/TLS.