Deploy a Python Server with Flask on Windows Apache Server

Recently I programmed a TLS/SSL checker web app - which checks which tls protocol a website is using and also gives a list of SSL vulnerablities the website is prone to. I programmed this script in python using flask framework and now I wanted to deploy it to the server. But little did I know that deploying or setting up a python server with flask can be tricky especially on a apache server.

So, these are my learnings and some useful links - you can read them so that you can finish deploying a python server on Windows apache faster than me ! :)

Prerequisites:

• Python - can be downloaded from https://www.python.org/downloads/
• Flask - can be installed by typing the following command in cmd pip install flask
• WfastCGI module - installed by typing the following command in cmd pip install wfastcgi

Deploying using Windows IIS Server:

1. I have used this link to install until step IV with some changes. CGI module will be found in Server Roles > Web Server(IIS) > Web Server > Application Development > CGI (If not found at the exact location as given in article) article link

2. If after all steps – if you get internal server error when you access the website url - you can refer these steps: reference Error an unknown FastCGI error occurred

1. To deploy it on port 4000:
   • Go to IIS Manager
   • In sites dropdown select the TLS checker website
   • Select Edit site>Bindings
   • Select https > edit >
   • Enter port 4000
   • Add hostname
   • You may have to open the port 4000 in inbound firewall rules

• Deploying using WAMP Server :

1. This article is very apt but I might go into more details about this installation in coming weeks. https://thilinamad.medium.com/flask-app-deployment-in-windows-apache-server-mod-wsgi-82e1cfeeb2ed

Thank - You for reading !

Avani