Flask API on IIS.md

Hosting Flask API on Microsoft IIS Server

Pre-requisites:

1. Enable IIS on Windows Enable Internet Information Services (IIS) in Turn Windows Features On or Off.

• Make sure that IIS > Web Management Tools > IIS Management Console is checked.
• Also IIS > World Wide Web Services > Common HTTP check Default Document, Directory Browsing, HTTP Errors, Static Content

2. Install Python 3.* and add it to the Environment Path
3. Install wfastcgi Run pip install wfastcgi in a terminal
   • Open a terminal (cmd with Admin)
   • Type wfastcgi-enable to enable wfastcgi. Save the path that is given for use later.
   • To disable wfastcgi type wfastcgi-disable

IIS Setup

1. Open IIS Manager
2. Under ServerName > Sites, right-click on Default Web Site and select Add Application
   • Add Alias as the subsite you want (ex: alias="test" for 10.10.10.10/test)
   • Select the path for the project directory (where app.py resides)
   • Click OK
3. Select the newly created app under the Default Web Site
   • Double-click on Handler Mappings
   • On the right-side panel, select Add module mapping
     • Set Request Path to *
     • Select Module to FastCgiModule
     • Set Executable (optional) to the path that was saved earlier when enabling wfastcgi
     • Set any name for the handler
     • Click on Request Restrictions and under the Mapping tab uncheck the box for Invoke Handler only if request is mapped to : ...
     • Click OK
   • Click OK
   • A dialog box Add Module Mapping which says Do you want to create a FastCGI application for this executable? will be shown. Click Yes.
4. Select Application Pools under the ServerName
   • Click on Add Application Pool in the right-side panel
     • Name: App name
     • .NET CLR Version: .NET CLR Version v4.0.30319
     • Managed pipeline mode: Integrated
     • Start applicaiton pool immediately: Checked
     • Click OK
   • Select the newly created applcation pool, right-click and select Advanced Settings
     • Under the Process Model Section, change the Identity from ApplcationPoolIdentity to Local System
5. Click on the ServerName
   • Double-click on the FastCgiSettings under IIS Section
   • Double-click the entry for the python path of your project
     • Under the General Settings, click on the three dots of the Environment Variables
     • Create 2 new entries with the following:
       • Name: PYTHONPATH & Value: C:\inetpub\wwwroot\test (the path where your app.py resides)
       • Name: WSGI_HANDLER & Value: app.app (if your flask python file is called test, then use test.app)
       • Click OK
     • Click OK
6. Restart the server for the changes to take place