wordpress-aws-deployment

Automate the Deployment of WordPress on Amazon Web Services (AWS)

A comprehensive guide to setting up, deploying, and operating a WordPress website on AWS.

This project automates the deployment of a WordPress website on AWS using CloudFormation and CI/CD pipelines. It aims to provide a cost-effective, scalable, and maintainable solution for hosting WordPress sites.

Introduction
Prerequisites
Setup and Installation
Usage
Architecture
Cost Considerations
Contributing
License
Contact

Introduction

This project automates the deployment of a WordPress website on AWS, providing a scalable and cost-effective solution. It leverages infrastructure-as-code using CloudFormation, and a CI/CD pipeline composed of CodePipeline, CodeBuild, and CodeDeploy, to ensure consistency and efficiency in deployments.

By automating the complexities of manual WordPress deployments on AWS, this project simplifies the process. It promotes a more streamlined approach, ensuring not only rapid deployment but also high availability and maintainability.

This solution is designed to benefit web developers seeking to optimize their workflow by spending less time on infrastructure management and more time on application development. This project is the foundation for a system that can be expanded to support a broad range of web development needs.

Prerequisites

Local Development Tools: Git, VS Code (or other code editor), a suitable terminal.
AWS CLI: Properly installed and configured with your AWS credentials.
Programming Language Environment: PHP, Node.js/npm, Python 3.6+.
Package Managers: Composer, npm/yarn, pip.
Containerization (Recommended): Docker, Docker Compose.
Cloud Knowledge: Basic understanding of AWS, CloudFormation, and CI/CD concepts.
AWS Account and Permissions: An active AWS account and an IAM user with sufficient permissions.
Database Tooling: Database administration tool such as phpMyAdmin or a CLI such as the mysql client.
Basic Knowledge: SQL, HTML, CSS, and Linux command line usage.

Setup and Installation

I. Local Development Environment Setup

Operating System Setup:

Linux (Recommended): Install a Linux distribution like Ubuntu, Debian, or Fedora.
- Alternatively, use WSL on Windows or a virtual machine if you prefer those OSs.
macOS (Viable Alternative): Use macOS, which is similar to Linux.

Install Package Managers:

For Linux: Use your distribution’s package manager (e.g., apt for Ubuntu/Debian, yum for Fedora/CentOS) to install necessary tools.
For macOS: Install Homebrew, a package manager.

Install a Code Editor/IDE:

VS Code: Download and install VS Code.
Other options: If you prefer, install alternatives, such as PHPStorm, Sublime Text, Vim, or Neovim.

Install Git:

Download and install Git if it is not already present.
Configure your name and email.

Install PHP:

Use the package manager to install PHP: sudo apt install php.
Install common PHP extensions that are needed by WordPress and the project (e.g., php-mysql, php-curl, php-gd, php-mbstring, php-xml).

Install Node.js and npm/yarn (If needed):

Download Node.js and npm/yarn from the official websites or using a package manager if needed.
These are generally needed for tools that help automate workflows.

Install Docker (Optional, but Recommended):

Download and install Docker Desktop on Windows or macOS, or install Docker Engine using the documentation if on Linux.

Install AWS CLI:

Download and install the AWS CLI.
Configure it using: aws configure.
- Provide your access key, secret key, default region, and output format.

Install a Database Client (Optional):

Install a database management tool:
- DBeaver or MySQL Workbench if you prefer a GUI client.

II. AWS Infrastructure Setup via CloudFormation

Create a CloudFormation Template:

Create a template.json file and write the CloudFormation template to define your infrastructure.
Define parameters, resources (EC2 instance, security groups, database).
Use a JSON validator to ensure that the template is valid.

Deploy CloudFormation Template:

Use the AWS CLI to create a CloudFormation stack: ```sh aws cloudformation create-stack –stack-name your-stack-name –template-body file://template.json

Usage

MariaDB Management Tools Usage

This document outlines the recommended tools for managing the MariaDB database within our WordPress on AWS project, including their specific usage scenarios and examples.

1. `mariadb` CLI (Command-Line Interface)

The mariadb CLI is used primarily for automation, scripting, and tasks that do not require a graphical user interface. It provides direct access to all MariaDB features and is ideal for administrative tasks and automated processes.

Specific Usage Examples:

Initial Setup from CloudFormation Template User Data:

# Example within EC2 user data script
sudo yum install -y mariadb-server
sudo systemctl start mariadb
sudo systemctl enable mariadb

# Secure the MariaDB installation
sudo mysql_secure_installation << EOF
y
YourNewRootPassword
YourNewRootPassword
y
y
y
y
EOF
# Create the WordPress database and user
mysql -u root -pYourNewRootPassword << EOF
CREATE DATABASE wordpress;
CREATE USER 'wpuser'@'localhost' IDENTIFIED BY 'YourWpUserPassword';
GRANT ALL PRIVILEGES ON wordpress.* TO 'wpuser'@'localhost';
FLUSH PRIVILEGES;
EOF

Explanation: This script, embedded in the CloudFormation template’s user data, automates the installation, configuration, and setup of the MariaDB database.

Database Backup:

# Example with crontab for daily backups:
0 0 * * * mariadb -u root -pYourNewRootPassword --all-databases | gzip > /home/ec2-user/db_backup_$(date +%Y%m%d).sql.gz

Explanation: This command (which could be used as a crontab job), can automate daily backups.

Database Restoration:

    #Restore database from backups:
    zcat /home/ec2-user/db_backup_20240721.sql.gz | mariadb -u root -pYourNewRootPassword

Explanation: This command would restore the database from a prior backup.

Executing Ad-hoc SQL Queries:

#Example Query
    mysql -u wpuser -pYourWpUserPassword -h localhost wordpress -e "SELECT * FROM wp_posts LIMIT 10;"

Explanation: This executes an SQL query directly in the database and returns results to the console.

How to Use:

Connect to your EC2 instance via SSH.
Execute commands using the mariadb or mysql client, providing necessary connection details.
Use scripts to automate repetitive tasks.

2. phpMyAdmin

phpMyAdmin is used when you require a visual interface for managing your database, especially when you need a browser-based tool that can be used remotely. It is a convenient option for beginners, but it can also be used for some advanced use cases.

Specific Usage Examples:

Initial Setup (if not done via CLI):
- Creating the WordPress database.
- Creating the WordPress user and granting permissions.
Exploring the Database:
- Browsing tables and viewing data.
- Viewing existing database schemas.
Creating tables and schema changes
Executing SQL Queries:
- Running manual SQL queries to test or modify data and for debugging.
Importing and Exporting Data:
- Importing data from CSV or SQL files.
- Exporting database backups in various formats.
Managing Users:
- Creating new users and managing their privileges.
Viewing and Managing Indexes:
- Create, view, edit, and remove indexes.

How to Use:

Install phpMyAdmin on your web server (within EC2 instance), or ideally on a separate admin instance.
Access phpMyAdmin through a web browser.
Connect to your MariaDB database.
Use the graphical interface to perform administrative and development tasks.

When to Use:

When needing to visually manage the data, tables, and schema.
When testing or debugging and need to see results in an easy-to-understand way.

3. DBeaver

DBeaver is a powerful desktop GUI tool for database development, data analysis, and complex queries. It supports multiple databases and provides features that help with the workflow of developers.

Specific Usage Examples:

Developing Complex SQL Queries:
- Using the visual query editor to build and debug complicated SQL queries.
Database Schema Exploration:
- Visually exploring database schemas and relationships.
Data Analysis:
- Performing advanced filtering, sorting, and exporting.
Visual Data Editing:
- Editing data directly through the GUI.
- Using batch and bulk edit features.
Working with different database types:
- Seamlessly swap between different database types.

How to Use:

Download and install DBeaver on your local machine.
Configure a new connection to your MariaDB server (you’ll need the host, username, password, etc.).
Use the desktop application for database interaction.
Use advanced features such as query plan viewing and debugging features.

When to Use:

For advanced querying and analysis.
When working with multiple databases.
When needing the advanced features that desktop applications provide.
When you desire to use the visual query building capabilities.

Summary of Usage

Tool	Usage	When to Use
`mariadb` CLI	Automated scripts, command-line tasks, backup, restore, basic administrative and ad-hoc SQL queries.	In scripts, CI/CD pipelines, quick server-side admin tasks, for speed and efficiency. When remote access is required.
phpMyAdmin	Visual database management, browsing tables, basic queries, importing/exporting data, user management, visual representation of the data.	For visual database interaction, beginner-friendly management, remote access, simple to understand interface for users to execute queries and analyze results.
DBeaver	Advanced SQL development, data analysis, complex queries, visual schema exploration, visual data exploration and manipulation.	For advanced query building, advanced data analysis, exploration. When working with more databases.

Architecture

Components and Their Roles

User/Internet:
- Represents the user accessing the WordPress website.
Route 53 (Optional):
- A scalable and highly available Domain Name System (DNS) web service.
- Purpose: To map domain names (e.g., www.yourwebsite.com) to the Elastic Load Balancer.
- How it Works: When a user types in your domain, Route 53 directs the request to your ALB.
AWS WAF (Optional):
- A web application firewall that helps protect your web applications from common web exploits.
- Purpose: Protect your web application from potential threats.
- How It Works: The WAF can be configured to filter out malicious web traffic before reaching the Load Balancer.
Elastic Load Balancer (ALB or NLB):
- Type: Application Load Balancer (ALB) is generally used for web traffic.
- Purpose: Distributes incoming HTTP/HTTPS traffic across multiple EC2 instances in the Auto Scaling Group.
- How it Works: It monitors the health of each instance and routes traffic only to healthy ones.
- Scalability: Automatically scales based on the load.
- Security: Provides a single point of entry to the infrastructure
Auto Scaling Group (ASG) of EC2 Instances:
- What it is: A collection of identical EC2 instances that automatically scale based on demand or metrics.
- Purpose:
  - Hosts the WordPress application, including PHP, Apache, and WordPress files.
  - Provides redundancy and high availability.
- How it Works: It maintains the desired number of running instances and adds or removes instances as needed.
- Base AMI: An Amazon Linux 2023 AMI, with required software installed, will be specified in the CloudFormation template.
- User Data: User data scripts will handle initial WordPress setup, including database configurations.
Database (MariaDB or MySQL on RDS or Self-Managed on EC2):
- Options:
  - RDS (Recommended for scalability): A managed database service, either MySQL or MariaDB, with features such as Multi-AZ deployment for high availability.
  - Self-Managed on EC2 (Cost-Effective for Simple Deployments): Running MariaDB or MySQL directly on an EC2 instance.
- Purpose: Stores the WordPress database (posts, pages, settings, etc.).
- Security: Configured to only allow connections from the EC2 instances in the ASG and the required management tools if required.
Object Storage (S3):
- Purpose:
  - Stores static media files (images, videos, etc.).
  - Provides backup capabilities.
- How it Works: WordPress can be configured to store media in S3 instead of on the local server, allowing for scalability and redundancy.
  - Static files are cached at the CDN level.
CDN (CloudFront):
- What it is: A Content Delivery Network.
- Purpose: Caches static content (images, CSS, JavaScript files, etc.).
- How it Works: CloudFront delivers content from edge locations closest to the user, reducing latency and improving load times. This also reduces the amount of traffic to the application server and the object storage.

Additional Considerations

CI/CD Pipeline: AWS CodePipeline, CodeBuild, and CodeDeploy are used to automate deployments.
Monitoring: CloudWatch is used to monitor system performance, logs, and to trigger alarms if required.
Security: Security Groups are used to control traffic to the EC2 instances, the database, and the load balancer.
IAM Roles: All AWS resources are managed with properly configured IAM roles to ensure secure access.
IaC: Infrastructure is managed through CloudFormation templates.

Deployment Process

The user accesses the site via their web browser.
Route 53 resolves the DNS to the Load Balancer.
The Load Balancer distributes the request to one of the healthy EC2 instances.
WordPress on the EC2 instance serves the requested content.
The WordPress application retrieves data from the database, media files from S3 (optionally), and loads any required static files from the CDN.
The user receives the requested website content.
The deployment process is automated with CI/CD.

Key Characteristics

Scalable: Able to handle increased traffic by scaling the number of EC2 instances, the load balancer, and the database, while also offloading traffic to the CDN.
Resilient: Highly available and can withstand failures.
Cost-Effective: Optimized for cost by utilizing services only as needed and by leveraging the AWS free tier.
Automated: Deployment is automated through CI/CD.
Secure: Security best practices are followed.

This architecture provides a solid foundation for deploying WordPress on AWS, and while it uses many components it is designed to provide an optimal experience for a web application while also taking into account cost and scalability concerns. Every project could be fine-tuned and optimized to best fit the needs of the stakeholders and the end users.

Cost Considerations

This section outlines the cost considerations for deploying WordPress on AWS, focusing on ways to optimize spending while maintaining a scalable and reliable environment.

1. EC2 Instance Optimization

Instance Type Selection:
- Start Small: Begin with a smaller, cost-effective instance type (e.g., t3.micro, t3.small, t4g.micro) for development and testing.
- Right-Sizing: Monitor resource utilization (CPU, memory) using CloudWatch. If the instance is underutilized, reduce its size. If it is overutilized, increase its size.
- Reserved Instances or Savings Plans: For predictable workloads, consider using Reserved Instances or Savings Plans for significant cost savings over On-Demand instances.
- Spot Instances: For non-critical workloads, use Spot Instances, which can provide substantial discounts (but come with the possibility of interruption).
Auto Scaling Group (ASG):
- Minimum Instances: Configure your ASG to have a minimum number of instances set to a low number for cost savings when demand is low.
- Scale-Out Only When Needed: Ensure that scale-out operations are triggered by actual high demand, preventing excessive resource consumption.
- Scale-In Efficiently: Ensure scale-in operations are performed when demand is low to minimize costs.

2. Database Optimization

RDS (Relational Database Service) Cost Optimization:
- Instance Type Selection: Choose the database instance type based on the expected workload. For smaller applications, consider using smaller instance types or the “burstable” instances (db.t3.micro, db.t3.small).
- Storage: Allocate only the storage you need. Increase as needed.
- Reserved Instances: Use Reserved Instances if your database workload is predictable.
- Multi-AZ Deployment: Enable Multi-AZ deployments only if high availability is absolutely critical. Single-AZ deployments can reduce costs for less critical applications.
- Read Replicas: Use read replicas for read heavy workloads in order to offload queries.
- Storage Auto Scaling: Enable auto scaling in order to only pay for the storage you are actually using.
Self-Managed Database (If on EC2):
- Use a Smaller Instance: Use an EC2 instance type that is appropriate for both running the database and the application.
- Optimize Configuration: Ensure that the database is properly configured and tuned to reduce consumption.

3. Storage Optimization

S3:
- Lifecycle Policies: Use S3 lifecycle policies to move older, less frequently accessed data to cheaper storage classes (e.g., S3 Standard-IA, S3 Glacier).
- Object Tagging and Versioning: Enable S3 object tagging and versioning, which increases costs, only if you need it.
- Use the correct S3 tiers: Utilize the correct S3 tier for the needs of your data (frequent vs infrequent).
EBS Volumes:
- Volume Type: Choose the right EBS volume type (e.g., gp3 for most cases, io2 for higher I/O)
- Delete Unused Volumes: Regularly check for and delete any unused EBS volumes.

4. CDN (CloudFront) Optimization

Caching: Configure CloudFront to cache content as much as possible.
Regional Edge Caches: Utilize regional edge caches for cost optimization.
Enable Compression: Compress content that is sent from the servers in order to reduce costs.
Avoid Unnecessary Requests: Implement website logic to avoid requests that are not needed.
Security: Only use security features when they are absolutely necessary to reduce costs.

5. Networking Costs

Data Transfer: Be aware of data transfer costs between AWS services and the Internet.
VPC Endpoints: Use VPC Endpoints for private connections to S3 and other AWS services to avoid internet data transfer costs.
Direct Connect: If applicable, consider using AWS Direct Connect for private data transfers.

6. General Optimization Practices

Monitoring: Regularly monitor your AWS usage and cost using AWS Cost Explorer and CloudWatch metrics.
Tagging: Tag all your resources appropriately to understand and allocate costs.
Right Sizing: Adjust resource sizes in response to data from CloudWatch and Cost Explorer.
Automation: Utilize tools such as CloudFormation and CI/CD in order to streamline deployments and reduce costs.
Regular Review: Review your AWS bill regularly to understand your cost drivers.

7. Implementation Strategies

Start Small: Begin with the smallest necessary resources to get your application running, and scale as needed.
Automate Infrastructure: Use Infrastructure as Code (CloudFormation) to manage resources efficiently and consistently.
Implement CI/CD: Automate the deployment process to reduce manual effort and minimize the chances of human error and waste.
CloudWatch: Actively monitor the performance and resource utilization of your infrastructure using CloudWatch Alarms in order to quickly react to issues and maintain a smooth experience for your end users.

Cost Estimation

AWS Pricing Calculator: Use the AWS Pricing Calculator to estimate the costs of your deployment.
Free Tier: Take advantage of the AWS Free Tier, where applicable, to reduce initial expenses.
Compare Prices: Use the pricing information that is available on the AWS website.

By implementing these cost optimization strategies, you can ensure that your WordPress on AWS deployment is both scalable and cost-effective. Remember that cost optimization is an ongoing process, so it is best to regularly monitor your spending and make adjustments as needed.

Risk & Vulnerabilities

Required to provide Personal Identifiable Information (i.e. name, address, credit card number, et cetera).

Contributing

We welcome and appreciate contributions from the Cyberlicious community to help improve this WordPress on AWS deployment. Here’s how you can contribute:

Types of Contributions

Code Contributions:
- Bug Fixes: If you find any bugs, please submit a fix.
- Feature Enhancements: Suggest or implement new features or improvements to the system.
- Optimizations: Provide code changes that improve performance, scalability, or cost efficiency.
- Security: Submit fixes to address vulnerabilities.
- Example: If a more cost efficient EC2 instance configuration is known, provide steps to incorporate that into the template.
- Example: If a better PHP configuration is available, provide the configuration settings to use in the template.
Documentation Contributions:
- Clarifications: If you find any areas in the documentation that are unclear, please suggest improvements.
- Additions: Expand the documentation to cover more advanced topics or provide additional examples.
- Corrections: Fix any typos, grammar errors, or technical inaccuracies.
- Translations: Help translate the documentation into other languages.
- Example: If a command or setting is not clearly explained in the documentation, clarify that in your contribution.
- Example: Add instructions on troubleshooting and debug common issues.
Testing:
- Functional Testing: Test the core functionalities of the system.
- Performance Testing: Evaluate how the application performs under various load conditions.
- Security Testing: Check for vulnerabilities and security issues.
- Provide Test Cases: Write new tests for the system.
- Example: Test that WordPress is working correctly after deployment.
- Example: Check that the database is setup properly after deployment.
- Example: Check that the scaling policies are properly setup and working.
Feedback and Suggestions:
- Usability Improvements: Suggest any changes that can improve user experience.
- Feature Requests: Propose new features that you would like to see in the system.
- General Feedback: Share any thoughts, comments, or concerns about the project.
- Example: If a command or setting is not clearly explained in the documentation, suggest a way to improve it.
- Example: Suggest to remove or add a feature that will enhance performance or reduce costs.

How to Contribute

Fork the Repository: Fork the project’s repository on GitHub (or your hosting platform).
Create a Branch: Create a new branch for your contributions (e.g., feature/new-feature, fix/bug-fix).
Make Your Changes: Implement your changes in the designated branch.
Test Thoroughly: Ensure that your code is well-tested and adheres to the project’s standards.
Commit Your Changes: Commit your code with meaningful commit messages.
Push to Your Fork: Push your branch to your forked repository.
Create a Pull Request (PR): Submit a pull request to the main repository, describing your changes clearly.
- Include screenshots or videos where applicable
- Describe what problem you are trying to solve
- Explain what testing was performed
- Note all the files that were changed
Review and Feedback: Participate in code reviews and address any feedback provided by the project maintainers.
Get Merged: Once your PR is approved and passes all tests, your changes will be merged into the main branch.

License

MIT License

Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person obtaining a copy of this software and associated documentation files (the “Software”), to deal in the Software without restriction, including without limitation the rights to use, copy, modify, merge, publish, distribute, sublicense, and/or sell copies of the Software, and to permit persons to whom the Software is furnished to do so, subject to the following conditions:

The above copyright notice and this permission notice shall be included in all copies or substantial portions of the Software.

THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED “AS IS”, WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NONINFRINGEMENT. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE AUTHORS OR COPYRIGHT HOLDERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIM, DAMAGES OR OTHER LIABILITY, WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE, ARISING FROM, OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN THE SOFTWARE.

Contact

If you have any questions, suggestions, or feedback regarding this WordPress on AWS project, please feel free to reach out to us using one of the following methods:

Email

Project Maintainer: [EddieZeboASlightWindow@gmail.com]
- Please use this email for specific inquiries related to the project.
- We aim to respond within 2 business days.

GitHub Issues

You can submit issues directly via the GitHub repository.
- For bug reports, feature requests, or any technical issues, please use our GitHub issue tracker.
- Please label your issues appropriately.

LinkedIn: [https://www.linkedin.com/company/cyberlicious]
- Stay up-to-date with us on LinkedIn.
Facebook: [https://www.facebook.com/cyberliciousinc]
- Like our Facebook page for updates and community discussions.
YouTube: [https://www.youtube.com/c/Cyberliciousinc]
- Subscribe to our YouTube channel for tutorials and demonstrations.

Preferred Methods

For quick questions or feedback, use email or the slack channel if that is available.
For bug reports or feature requests, please use the GitHub issue tracker.

Support

This project is primarily maintained by Cyberlicious. We will strive to answer any questions in a timely manner, but we appreciate your understanding.

Note

Please do not send general support questions to personal emails. Instead, please use the email listed above or create an issue in GitHub.

We are looking forward to hearing from you!

Version: 1.0 Date: December 12, 2024

wordpress-aws-deployment

Automate the Deployment of WordPress on Amazon Web Services (AWS)

Table of Contents

Introduction

Prerequisites

Setup and Installation

I. Local Development Environment Setup

Operating System Setup:

Install Package Managers:

Install a Code Editor/IDE:

Install Git:

Install PHP:

Install Node.js and npm/yarn (If needed):

Install Docker (Optional, but Recommended):

Install AWS CLI:

Install a Database Client (Optional):

II. AWS Infrastructure Setup via CloudFormation

Create a CloudFormation Template:

Deploy CloudFormation Template:

Usage

MariaDB Management Tools Usage

1. mariadb CLI (Command-Line Interface)

Specific Usage Examples:

How to Use:

2. phpMyAdmin

Specific Usage Examples:

How to Use:

When to Use:

3. DBeaver

Specific Usage Examples:

How to Use:

When to Use:

Summary of Usage

Architecture

Components and Their Roles

Additional Considerations

Deployment Process

Key Characteristics

Cost Considerations

1. EC2 Instance Optimization

2. Database Optimization

3. Storage Optimization

4. CDN (CloudFront) Optimization

5. Networking Costs

6. General Optimization Practices

7. Implementation Strategies

Cost Estimation

Risk & Vulnerabilities

Contributing

Types of Contributions

How to Contribute

License

MIT License

Contact

Email

GitHub Issues

Social Media

Preferred Methods

Support

Note

1. `mariadb` CLI (Command-Line Interface)