Create separated environment for each project using Vagrant

Vagrant is a tool for creating and managing virtual development environments. Basicaly it allows you to create encapsulated environment (box) with dedicated tools (mysql/pg, redis, elasticsearch, mongo...) for each project. Those boxes are separated from your operating system.

How to run in?

installing prerequisites

• vagrant in default configuration uses virtual box for virtualization - download and instal it
• download and install Vagrant (there is dmg file)
• install berkshelf gem gem install berkshelf
• install vagrant berkshelf plugin: vagrant plugin install vagrant-berkshelf

and you are ready to go with....

Basic configuration

Each box uses Vagrantfile to configuration. Inside root of your rails app type:

$ vagrant init

it will create basic Vagrantfile. Next inside it change line:

config.vm.box = "base"

with:

config.vm.box      = 'precise64'
config.vm.box_url  = 'http://files.vagrantup.com/precise64.box'

It sets Ubuntu 12.04 amd64 as default OS. Go to console and type:

$ vagrant up

to download and boot raw machine. After couple of minutes you can connect with it via ssh:

$ vagrant ssh

This logs you as a vagrant user. All of your project files are mirrored to /vagrant folder inside the box.

Setup environment

If you type ruby -v you will see that OS is very raw. So lets update ruby and install everything else.

Vagrant can use chef cookbooks. Those scripts could be downloaded form github but there is a great tool for managing cookbooks: berkshelf.

Think of a berkshelf for cookbooks as of a bundler for gems.
As a basic development box configuration lets install: rvm, elasticsearch, nodejs and mysql.

Create a new file: Berksfile inside root of your rails app and fill it with:

site :opscode

cookbook 'apt' #install apt-get
cookbook 'build-essential' #compilers and headers
cookbook 'ruby_build' #installs and comlies rubies
cookbook 'rvm', git: 'https://github.com/fnichol/chef-rvm.git'
cookbook 'java' #for elastiscearch
cookbook 'elasticsearch', git: "https://github.com/elasticsearch/cookbook-elasticsearch.git"
cookbook 'nodejs' #for assets comilation
cookbook 'mysql'

next update Vagrantfile:

Vagrant.configure(VAGRANTFILE_API_VERSION) do |config|
  config.vm.box      = 'precise64'
  config.vm.box_url  = 'http://files.vagrantup.com/precise64.box'

  config.berkshelf.enabled = true #setup berkshelf as cookbooks provider
  config.vm.provision :chef_solo do |chef|
    chef.add_recipe "apt"
    chef.add_recipe "build-essential"
    chef.add_recipe "ruby_build"
    chef.add_recipe "rvm::system"
    chef.add_recipe "rvm::user"
    chef.add_recipe "rvm::vagrant"
    chef.add_recipe "java"
    chef.add_recipe "elasticsearch"
    chef.add_recipe "nodejs"
    chef.add_recipe "mysql::server"
    chef.add_recipe "mysql::client"
    chef.json = {
      'rvm' => {
        'user_installs' => [
            { 'user'          => 'vagrant',
              'default_ruby'  => '1.9.3-p327',
              'rubies'        => ['1.9.3-p327'],
              'global'        => '1.9.3-p327'
            }
          ]
        },
      'elasticsearch' => {
          "cluster_name" => "elasticsearch_test_chef",
          "bootstrap.mlockall" => false
        },
      'mysql' => {
        'server_root_password' => "pass",
        'server_repl_password' => "pass",
        'server_debian_password' => "pass"
        }
      }
  end
end

Now type in console: vagrant reload for machine rebooting. It is needed because during system boot Berkshelf downloads cookbooks and then links them inside virtual box.

After successful reboot type: vagrant provision to install all recipts.

In the future after changing Vagrantfile just run provision to update your box.

After a couple of minutes your machine will be almost ready.

Tuning

Now you have to mirror ports you will use to your host. You can do it in Vagrantfile:

config.vm.network :forwarded_port, host: 4567, guest: 3000

and tune everything a little bit (because standard configuration is very slow).

To increase speed of virtual box change standard folder sharing method to nfs. In Vagrantfile:

config.vm.synced_folder ".", "/vagrant", nfs: true
config.vm.network "private_network", ip: "192.168.50.4" #has to be added to nfs to work (with example ip)

reboot machine vagrant reload (now vagrant could ask you for host root password) and after vagrant ssh test ruby version:

$ ruby -v
ruby 1.9.3p327 (2012-11-10 revision 37606) [x86_64-linux]

go to /vagrant bundle install and run webrick:

$ cd /vagrant
$ bundle install
$ rails s

Dont forget to check localhost:4567 in your local browser