Payload CMS 3 + AWS EC2: Deployment Tutorial

Payload 3.0, an open-source CMS built with Next.js, is perfect for deploying scalable applications in the cloud. Amazon Web Services (AWS) offers a robust platform to host Payload 3.0, leveraging services like Elastic Beanstalk or EC2. This guide explains how to download and set up Payload 3.0 on AWS, ensuring your CMS is ready for production use.

AWS provides a strong foundation for hosting Payload 3.0:

• Scalability: Handle growing traffic with auto-scaling options.

• Reliability: AWS ensures high uptime with its global infrastructure.

• Storage Options: Use AWS S3 for file storage, integrated with Payload.

• Flexibility: Choose from various services like EC2, Elastic Beanstalk, or Lambda.

Prepare these before starting:

• Azure Account: Sign up at azure.com if needed.

• Node.js: Install version 18+ locally.

• Git: Verify with git --version.

• Database: Set up Azure Cosmos DB or Azure Database for PostgreSQL.

• Azure CLI: Install with az login to configure your account.

Before starting, prepare the following:

• AWS Account: Sign up at aws.amazon.com if you don’t have one.

• Node.js: Install version 18+ on your local machine for initial setup.

• Git: Needed to clone the Payload repository.

• Database: Set up MongoDB Atlas or AWS RDS (PostgreSQL) with a connection string.

• IAM Permissions: Ensure your AWS user has rights to EC2, S3, and other services.

Follow these steps to get Payload 3.0 running on AWS:

• Step 1: Clone the Repository

• On your local machine, run git clone https://github.com/payloadcms/payload-3.0-demo.git.

• Navigate to the folder with cd payload-3.0-demo.

• Step 2: Install Dependencies

• Run pnpm i (or npm install) to download necessary packages.

• Use pnpm for efficiency, as recommended by the Payload team.

• Step 3: Configure Environment Variables

• Copy .env.local.example to .env.local with cp .env.local.example .env.local.

• Edit .env.local with:

• PAYLOAD_SECRET: A random string for security.

• DATABASE_URI: Your AWS RDS or MongoDB Atlas connection string.

• NEXT_PUBLIC_SERVER_URL: Set to your AWS domain (e.g., https://yourdomain.com).

• Save the file.

• Step 4: Build the Application

• Run pnpm build (or npm run build) to create a production-ready build.

• This step generates static assets and prepares Payload for deployment.

• Step 5: Deploy to AWS

• Option 1: Elastic Beanstalk

• Initialize an Elastic Beanstalk application with eb init -p node.js.

• Create an environment with eb create payload-env.

• Deploy with eb deploy, ensuring .env.local is included in your .ebignore exclusions.

• Option 2: EC2

• Launch an EC2 instance (e.g., t3.micro with Ubuntu).

• SSH into the instance, install Node.js, and upload your project files.

• Run pnpm start (or npm run start) to launch the app.

• Configure a security group to allow port 3000 (or your chosen port).

• Step 6: Set Up File Storage

• Create an S3 bucket in the AWS Console for uploads.

• Update your Payload config to use the S3 adapter (details in Payload docs).

• Ensure IAM roles allow S3 access for your instance.

• Step 7: Access the Site

• Visit your Elastic Beanstalk URL or EC2 public IP with port 3000 (e.g., http://your-ec2-ip:3000).

• Log in with the default admin user from the config.

Here’s how to resolve potential problems:

• Deployment Fails: Check logs with eb logs or EC2 instance logs for errors.

• Database Connection Issues: Verify DATABASE_URI and ensure the database is accessible from AWS.

• S3 Access Denied: Confirm IAM permissions and bucket policy settings.

• Port Issues: Ensure your security group allows traffic on the chosen port.

Enhance your setup with these suggestions:

• Use a CDN: Integrate Amazon CloudFront to speed up content delivery.

• Monitor Performance: Set up CloudWatch to track app health and errors.

• Backup Data: Regularly back up your database and S3 bucket.

• Scale Wisely: Adjust Elastic Beanstalk settings for traffic spikes.

Take your AWS deployment further:

• Custom Domains: Use Route 53 to map a custom domain to your app.

• Auto-Scaling: Configure Elastic Beanstalk to add instances during high traffic.

• SSL: Enable HTTPS with AWS Certificate Manager and Elastic Load Balancer.

Deploying Payload 3.0 on AWS gives you a scalable and reliable CMS solution. By cloning the repo, setting up your environment, and choosing the right deployment method (Elastic Beanstalk or EC2), you can launch your project with ease. With S3 for storage and proper monitoring, your Payload 3.0 site will be ready to grow.

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