SkyArtShop/Sky_Art_shop/DEPLOYMENT_GUIDE.md

# Sky Art Shop - Web Deployment Guide

**Target:** XAMPP v3.3.0 + No-IP Dynamic DNS  
**Date:** December 3, 2025

---

## 🎯 Deployment Overview

This guide will help you deploy your ASP.NET Core application to the web so clients can view it while you continue development locally.

### Architecture

```
Internet → No-IP DNS → Your Public IP → Router Port Forward → XAMPP/IIS → ASP.NET Core App
```

---

## ⚠️ Important Notes

1. **XAMPP Limitation**: XAMPP is primarily for PHP applications. For ASP.NET Core, we'll use **IIS (Internet Information Services)** or **Kestrel** as a Windows Service.
2. **No-IP**: Your dynamic DNS will point to your public IP address
3. **Port Forwarding**: You'll need to forward ports 80 (HTTP) and 443 (HTTPS) on your router
4. **Security**: This setup is for preview purposes. For production, use a proper hosting service.

---

## 📋 Prerequisites

- ✅ Windows 10/11 with IIS or Windows Server
- ✅ .NET 8.0 Runtime installed
- ✅ MongoDB running on localhost:27017
- ✅ No-IP account configured with your hostname
- ✅ Router access for port forwarding
- ✅ Static local IP for your server machine

---

## 🚀 Option 1: Deploy with IIS (Recommended)

### Step 1: Enable IIS on Windows

1. Open **Control Panel** → **Programs** → **Turn Windows features on or off**
2. Check these features:
   - ✅ Internet Information Services
   - ✅ Web Management Tools
   - ✅ World Wide Web Services
     - ✅ Application Development Features
       - ✅ .NET Extensibility 4.8
       - ✅ ASP.NET 4.8
   - ✅ IIS Management Console
3. Click **OK** and wait for installation

### Step 2: Install ASP.NET Core Hosting Bundle

1. Download from: <https://dotnet.microsoft.com/download/dotnet/8.0>
2. Look for "Hosting Bundle" (includes .NET Runtime and IIS support)
3. Install and restart your computer

### Step 3: Publish Your Application

Run these commands in PowerShell:

```powershell
cd "E:\Documents\Website Projects\Sky_Art_Shop"
dotnet publish SkyArtShop.csproj -c Release -o "C:\inetpub\wwwroot\skyartshop"
```

**Note:** Make sure to run each command separately, pressing Enter after each one.

### Step 4: Configure Application Settings for Production

Create production settings:

```powershell
# Copy appsettings.json to production version
Copy-Item "appsettings.json" "C:\inetpub\wwwroot\skyartshop\appsettings.Production.json"
```

### Step 5: Create IIS Site

1. Open **IIS Manager** (search in Windows Start)
2. Expand your server name → Right-click **Sites** → **Add Website**
3. Configure:
   - **Site name**: SkyArtShop
   - **Physical path**: `C:\inetpub\wwwroot\skyartshop`
   - **Binding**:
     - Type: http
     - IP: All Unassigned
     - Port: 80
     - Host name: (leave empty or add your No-IP hostname)
4. Click **OK**

### Step 6: Configure Application Pool

1. In IIS Manager, click **Application Pools**
2. Find **SkyArtShop** pool → Right-click → **Basic Settings**
3. Set **.NET CLR version**: **No Managed Code**
4. Click **OK**
5. Right-click pool → **Advanced Settings**
6. Set **Start Mode**: **AlwaysRunning**
7. Set **Identity**: **ApplicationPoolIdentity** or your user account
8. Click **OK**

### Step 7: Set Permissions

```powershell
# Grant IIS permissions to your application folder
icacls "C:\inetpub\wwwroot\skyartshop" /grant "IIS_IUSRS:(OI)(CI)F" /T
icacls "C:\inetpub\wwwroot\skyartshop" /grant "IUSR:(OI)(CI)F" /T

# Grant permissions to uploads folder
icacls "C:\inetpub\wwwroot\skyartshop\wwwroot\uploads" /grant "IIS_IUSRS:(OI)(CI)F" /T
```

---

## 🚀 Option 2: Deploy as Windows Service with Kestrel

### Step 1: Publish Application

```powershell
cd "E:\Documents\Website Projects\Sky_Art_Shop"
dotnet publish SkyArtShop.csproj -c Release -o "C:\Services\SkyArtShop"
```

### Step 2: Install as Windows Service

```powershell
# Install the service using sc.exe command
sc.exe create SkyArtShopService binPath="C:\Services\SkyArtShop\SkyArtShop.exe" start=auto

# Or use NSSM (Non-Sucking Service Manager) - Download from nssm.cc
# Download from: https://nssm.cc/download
nssm install SkyArtShopService "C:\Services\SkyArtShop\SkyArtShop.exe"
```

### Step 3: Configure Service

```powershell
# Set service to start automatically
sc.exe config SkyArtShopService start=auto

# Start the service
sc.exe start SkyArtShopService

# Check service status
sc.exe query SkyArtShopService
```

---

## 🌐 Network Configuration

### Step 1: Set Static Local IP

1. Open **Control Panel** → **Network and Sharing Center**
2. Click your network connection → **Properties**
3. Select **Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4)** → **Properties**
4. Choose **Use the following IP address**:
   - IP: `192.168.1.100` (or similar, check your router's range)
   - Subnet: `255.255.255.0`
   - Gateway: Your router IP (usually `192.168.1.1`)
   - DNS: `8.8.8.8` (Google DNS)

### Step 2: Configure Router Port Forwarding

1. Access your router admin panel (usually <http://192.168.1.1>)
2. Find **Port Forwarding** or **Virtual Server** settings
3. Add new rule:
   - **Service Name**: SkyArtShop-HTTP
   - **External Port**: 80
   - **Internal IP**: 192.168.1.100 (your server's static IP)
   - **Internal Port**: 80
   - **Protocol**: TCP
4. Add HTTPS rule (optional):
   - **Service Name**: SkyArtShop-HTTPS
   - **External Port**: 443
   - **Internal IP**: 192.168.1.100
   - **Internal Port**: 443
   - **Protocol**: TCP
5. Save settings

### Step 3: Configure Windows Firewall

```powershell
# Allow HTTP traffic
New-NetFirewallRule -DisplayName "SkyArtShop-HTTP" -Direction Inbound -Protocol TCP -LocalPort 80 -Action Allow

# Allow HTTPS traffic (optional)
New-NetFirewallRule -DisplayName "SkyArtShop-HTTPS" -Direction Inbound -Protocol TCP -LocalPort 443 -Action Allow

# Or allow the application itself
New-NetFirewallRule -DisplayName "SkyArtShop-App" -Direction Inbound -Program "C:\inetpub\wwwroot\skyartshop\SkyArtShop.exe" -Action Allow
```

### Step 4: Update No-IP Configuration

1. Log in to your No-IP account (<https://www.noip.com>)
2. Go to **Dynamic DNS** → **Hostnames**
3. Your hostname (e.g., `yoursite.ddns.net`) should already be configured
4. Install **No-IP DUC (Dynamic Update Client)** to keep your IP updated:
   - Download from: <https://www.noip.com/download>
   - Install and configure with your No-IP credentials
   - It will automatically update your DNS when your public IP changes

---

## ⚙️ Update Application Configuration

### 1. Update appsettings.Production.json

```json
{
  "Logging": {
    "LogLevel": {
      "Default": "Warning",
      "Microsoft.AspNetCore": "Warning"
    }
  },
  "AllowedHosts": "*",
  "MongoDB": {
    "ConnectionString": "mongodb://localhost:27017",
    "DatabaseName": "SkyArtShopDB"
  },
  "AdminUser": {
    "Email": "admin@skyartshop.com",
    "Password": "Admin123!",
    "Name": "Sky Art Shop Admin"
  }
}
```

### 2. Update Program.cs for Production URLs

The app should listen on all interfaces in production. This is already configured in your Program.cs:

```csharp
builder.WebHost.UseUrls("http://localhost:5001");
```

Change to:

```csharp
// Allow configuration from environment or use default
if (builder.Environment.IsProduction())
{
    builder.WebHost.UseUrls("http://*:80", "https://*:443");
}
else
{
    builder.WebHost.UseUrls("http://localhost:5001");
}
```

---

## 🔒 Security Considerations

### 1. Change Admin Password

Update `appsettings.Production.json` with a strong password:

```json
"AdminUser": {
  "Email": "admin@skyartshop.com",
  "Password": "YourStrongPassword123!@#",
  "Name": "Sky Art Shop Admin"
}
```

### 2. Configure HTTPS (Recommended)

For HTTPS, you'll need an SSL certificate:

**Option A: Free SSL with Let's Encrypt**

1. Use **Certify The Web** (free for IIS): <https://certifytheweb.com>
2. Install and configure with your No-IP domain
3. It will automatically obtain and renew certificates

**Option B: Self-Signed Certificate (for testing)**

```powershell
# Create self-signed certificate
New-SelfSignedCertificate -DnsName "yoursite.ddns.net" -CertStoreLocation "cert:\LocalMachine\My"
```

### 3. Disable Development Features

Ensure `ASPNETCORE_ENVIRONMENT` is set to `Production`:

```powershell
# For IIS (web.config)
# This is automatically set when you publish with -c Release

# For Windows Service
[Environment]::SetEnvironmentVariable("ASPNETCORE_ENVIRONMENT", "Production", "Machine")
```

---

## 📁 File Structure After Deployment

```
C:\inetpub\wwwroot\skyartshop\  (or C:\Services\SkyArtShop\)
├── SkyArtShop.exe
├── SkyArtShop.dll
├── appsettings.json
├── appsettings.Production.json
├── web.config (auto-generated for IIS)
├── wwwroot\
│   ├── assets\
│   ├── uploads\
│   └── ...
└── ... (other dependencies)
```

---

## 🧪 Testing Your Deployment

### Local Testing (on server machine)

1. Open browser on server
2. Navigate to: `http://localhost` or `http://127.0.0.1`
3. You should see your site

### Network Testing (from another device on same network)

1. Find your server's local IP: `192.168.1.100`
2. On another device (phone/laptop on same WiFi)
3. Navigate to: `http://192.168.1.100`

### Internet Testing (from outside your network)

1. Use your No-IP hostname: `http://yoursite.ddns.net`
2. Test from mobile data or ask a friend to visit
3. Should load your site from the internet

### Troubleshooting Commands

```powershell
# Check if port 80 is listening
netstat -ano | findstr :80

# Check IIS site status
Get-WebSite -Name "SkyArtShop"

# Check Windows Service status
Get-Service -Name "SkyArtShopService"

# View application logs
Get-EventLog -LogName Application -Source "IIS*" -Newest 20

# Test if MongoDB is accessible
Test-NetConnection -ComputerName localhost -Port 27017
```

---

## 🔄 Updating Your Site (While Keeping it Live)

When you want to update the site:

### Method 1: Quick Update (IIS)

```powershell
# 1. Stop IIS site
Stop-WebSite -Name "SkyArtShop"

# 2. Publish new version
cd "E:\Documents\Website Projects\Sky_Art_Shop"
dotnet publish SkyArtShop.csproj -c Release -o "C:\inetpub\wwwroot\skyartshop"

# 3. Start IIS site
Start-WebSite -Name "SkyArtShop"
```

### Method 2: Zero-Downtime Update

```powershell
# 1. Publish to new folder
dotnet publish SkyArtShop.csproj -c Release -o "C:\inetpub\wwwroot\skyartshop_new"

# 2. Stop site
Stop-WebSite -Name "SkyArtShop"

# 3. Backup old version
Rename-Item "C:\inetpub\wwwroot\skyartshop" "skyartshop_backup"

# 4. Switch to new version
Rename-Item "C:\inetpub\wwwroot\skyartshop_new" "skyartshop"

# 5. Start site
Start-WebSite -Name "SkyArtShop"

# 6. Test and remove backup if successful
# Remove-Item "C:\inetpub\wwwroot\skyartshop_backup" -Recurse
```

---

## 📊 Monitoring

### Check Application Status

```powershell
# IIS
Get-WebSite -Name "SkyArtShop" | Select-Object Name, State, PhysicalPath

# Windows Service
Get-Service -Name "SkyArtShopService" | Select-Object Name, Status, StartType
```

### View Logs

Logs location:

- **IIS**: `C:\inetpub\wwwroot\skyartshop\logs\` (if configured)
- **Windows Event Viewer**: Application logs
- **MongoDB**: Check MongoDB logs for database issues

---

## 🎯 Quick Deployment Checklist

- [ ] .NET 8.0 Hosting Bundle installed
- [ ] IIS enabled and configured
- [ ] Application published to IIS folder
- [ ] Application pool configured (No Managed Code)
- [ ] Folder permissions set (IIS_IUSRS)
- [ ] Static local IP configured
- [ ] Router port forwarding setup (port 80)
- [ ] Windows Firewall rules added
- [ ] No-IP DUC client installed and running
- [ ] MongoDB running on localhost
- [ ] Production settings configured
- [ ] Admin password changed
- [ ] Site tested locally
- [ ] Site tested from local network
- [ ] Site tested from internet (No-IP hostname)

---

## 🆘 Common Issues & Solutions

### Issue 1: HTTP Error 502.5

**Cause**: ASP.NET Core Runtime not installed  
**Solution**: Install .NET 8.0 Hosting Bundle

### Issue 2: Site Not Accessible from Internet

**Cause**: Port forwarding not configured  
**Solution**: Check router settings, ensure port 80 is forwarded to correct local IP

### Issue 3: 403 Forbidden Error

**Cause**: Permissions issue  
**Solution**: Run the icacls commands to grant IIS permissions

### Issue 4: MongoDB Connection Failed

**Cause**: MongoDB not running  
**Solution**: Start MongoDB service: `net start MongoDB`

### Issue 5: No-IP Hostname Not Resolving

**Cause**: No-IP DUC not running or IP not updated  
**Solution**: Install/restart No-IP DUC client

---

## 📞 Support Resources

- **IIS Documentation**: <https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/iis>
- **ASP.NET Core Hosting**: <https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/aspnet/core/host-and-deploy/>
- **No-IP Support**: <https://www.noip.com/support>
- **Let's Encrypt**: <https://letsencrypt.org>

---

## 🎉 Success

Once deployed, your site will be accessible at:

- **Local**: <http://localhost>
- **Network**: <http://192.168.1.100> (your local IP)
- **Internet**: <http://yoursite.ddns.net> (your No-IP hostname)

Clients can view the site while you continue development locally on port 5001! 🚀