🚀 How to Deploy Django 6 on Ubuntu VPS

Below is a detailed, production-ready guide for How to Deploy Django 6 on Ubuntu VPS.

What is Django?

Django is a high-level, open-source web framework for Python that enables developers to build secure, scalable, database-driven websites and APIs quickly. It follows the Model–View–Template (MVT) architectural pattern and emphasizes rapid development, clean design, and robust security.

⭐ Key Features of Django

1. 🔧 Batteries-Included Framework

   Django comes with a huge collection of built-in tools so you don’t have to reinvent common web development components. Included out of the box:

   • Authentication & user management
   • Admin dashboard (auto-generated!)
   • ORM (Object-Relational Mapper)
   • Routing system
   • Template engine
   • Security protections
   • Form handling
   • Sessions, caching, middleware, etc.

   Django’s philosophy: “Do the right things automatically.”

2. 🔐 Excellent Security

   Django protects against many common attacks by default, including:

   • SQL injection
   • XSS (cross-site scripting)
   • CSRF (cross-site request forgery)
   • Clickjacking
   • Host header attacks

   It’s considered one of the most secure web frameworks available today.

3. 🚀 Fast Development

   Django was originally created to help newsrooms build applications quickly. Its strong emphasis on convention-over-configuration and built-in tools makes it extremely fast to develop with.

4. 🧱 Django’s MVT Architecture (Model-View-Template)

   • Model

     Defines data structure and database relations (via the ORM).

   • View

     Handles business logic and returns responses (HTML, JSON, etc.).

   • Template

     The UI layer. Defines how data is presented.

     It’s similar to MVC, just with Django’s twist.

5. 🔄 Database Flexibility

   Django ships with first-class support for:

   • PostgreSQL
   • MySQL
   • MariaDB
   • SQLite
   • Oracle

   You write Python code → Django ORM converts it to SQL → database executes it.

6. 🛠 Scalable & Production-Ready

   Used by companies like:

   • Instagram
   • Spotify
   • Disqus
   • Pinterest
   • Mozilla

   Django features strong caching, pluggable apps, middleware, and modular design—making it suitable for both startups and massive, high-traffic services.

7. 🌐 Ecosystem & Community

   Django has a massive ecosystem of reusable components (“Django apps”) for:

   • APIs (Django REST Framework)
   • Authentication & OAuth
   • eCommerce
   • CMS systems
   • Payment gateways
   • Background jobs (Celery)

   Anything you need can usually be installed instantly.

📦 Common Use Cases

• Web applications
• SaaS platforms
• Content management systems
• REST APIs & backends for mobile apps
• E-commerce
• Social platforms
• Machine-learning dashboards
• CRMs, ERPs, internal tools

🧾 Summary

Django is a Python-based web framework designed to help developers build secure, scalable, database-powered applications quickly, using clean code and industry best practices.

This guide follows modern best-practices and includes Gunicorn, Nginx, PostgreSQL, Python 3.12+ venv, systemd services, TLS/HTTPS with Certbot, and Django 6 production settings.

🚀 How to Deploy Django 6 on Ubuntu VPS

Works for: Ubuntu 22.04 / Ubuntu 24.04
Stack: Django 6 + Gunicorn + Nginx + PostgreSQL (optional) + Certbot SSL
Prereqs: Root or sudo access, domain name pointed to the server

1. Update Your Server

   sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y
   sudo apt install -y python3 python3-venv python3-pip git ufw
   

2. (Optional) Install PostgreSQL for Production

   sudo apt install -y postgresql postgresql-contrib libpq-dev
   

   Create DB + user:

   sudo -u postgres psql
   CREATE DATABASE django_prod;
   CREATE USER django_user WITH PASSWORD 'STRONGPASSWORD';
   ALTER ROLE django_user SET client_encoding TO 'utf8';
   ALTER ROLE django_user SET default_transaction_isolation TO 'read committed';
   ALTER ROLE django_user SET timezone TO 'UTC';
   GRANT ALL PRIVILEGES ON DATABASE django_prod TO django_user;
   \q
   

3. Choose Deployment Directory

   mkdir -p ~/apps/django_project
   cd ~/apps/django_project
   

   Clone your project:

   git clone https://github.com/your/repo.git .
   

4. Create Python Virtual Environment (Python 3.12+ recommended)

   python3 -m venv venv
   source venv/bin/activate
   

   Upgrade tools:

   pip install --upgrade pip wheel setuptools
   

   Install project dependencies:

   pip install -r requirements.txt
   

   If first install, ensure these are included:

   pip install gunicorn psycopg[binary]
   

5. Configure Django for Production

   Edit settings.py:

   Allowed hosts:

   ALLOWED_HOSTS = ['yourdomain.com', 'www.yourdomain.com', 'IP_ADDRESS']
   

   Static files:

   STATIC_ROOT = BASE_DIR / "staticfiles"
   

   Add secure settings:

   CSRF_COOKIE_SECURE = True
   SESSION_COOKIE_SECURE = True
   SECURE_SSL_REDIRECT = True  # enable after Certbot installed
   

6. Collect Static Files & Run DB Migrations

   source venv/bin/activate
   python manage.py migrate
   python manage.py collectstatic --noinput
   

7. Test Gunicorn Manually

   Inside project root:

   gunicorn --bind 0.0.0.0:8000 projectname.wsgi
   

   If it works → Ctrl+C.

8. Create systemd Service for Gunicorn

   Create:

   sudo nano /etc/systemd/system/gunicorn.service
   

   Paste:

   [Unit]
   Description=Gunicorn daemon for Django 6
   After=network.target
   
   [Service]
   User=ubuntu
   Group=www-data
   WorkingDirectory=/home/ubuntu/apps/django_project
   Environment="PATH=/home/ubuntu/apps/django_project/venv/bin"
   ExecStart=/home/ubuntu/apps/django_project/venv/bin/gunicorn \
       --workers 3 \
       --bind unix:/home/ubuntu/apps/django_project/gunicorn.sock \
       projectname.wsgi:application
   
   Restart=always
   
   [Install]
   WantedBy=multi-user.target
   

   Enable:

   sudo systemctl daemon-reload
   sudo systemctl enable --now gunicorn
   sudo systemctl status gunicorn
   

9. Install & Configure Nginx Reverse Proxy

   sudo apt install -y nginx
   

   Create site config:

   sudo nano /etc/nginx/sites-available/django
   

   Paste:

   server {
       listen 80;
       server_name yourdomain.com www.yourdomain.com;
   
       location = /favicon.ico { access_log off; log_not_found off; }
   
       location /static/ {
           alias /home/ubuntu/apps/django_project/staticfiles/;
       }
   
       location / {
           include proxy_params;
           proxy_pass http://unix:/home/ubuntu/apps/django_project/gunicorn.sock;
       }
   }
   

   Enable site:

   sudo ln -s /etc/nginx/sites-available/django /etc/nginx/sites-enabled/
   sudo nginx -t
   sudo systemctl restart nginx
   

10. Configure Firewall

    sudo ufw allow OpenSSH
    sudo ufw allow 'Nginx Full'
    sudo ufw enable
    

11. Enable HTTPS (Let’s Encrypt TLS)

    sudo apt install -y certbot python3-certbot-nginx
    sudo certbot --nginx -d yourdomain.com -d www.yourdomain.com
    

    Auto-renew:

    sudo systemctl status certbot.timer
    

    After SSL is installed, you may enable:

    SECURE_SSL_REDIRECT = True
    

12. Supervisor for Background Workers (optional)

    For Celery:

    sudo apt install -y supervisor
    

    Create file /etc/supervisor/conf.d/celery.conf:

    [program:celery]
    command=/home/ubuntu/apps/django_project/venv/bin/celery -A projectname worker --loglevel=INFO
    directory=/home/ubuntu/apps/django_project
    user=ubuntu
    autostart=true
    autorestart=true
    stopasgroup=true
    killasgroup=true
    stderr_logfile=/var/log/celery.err.log
    stdout_logfile=/var/log/celery.out.log
    

    sudo supervisorctl reread
    sudo supervisorctl update
    sudo supervisorctl start celery
    

13. Useful Commands

    Restart Gunicorn:

    sudo systemctl restart gunicorn
    

    View logs:

    journalctl -u gunicorn -f
    

    Restart Nginx:

    sudo systemctl restart nginx
    

14. Directory Structure (Final)

    /home/ubuntu/apps/django_project/
    │── venv/
    │── projectname/
    │── manage.py
    │── gunicorn.sock
    │── staticfiles/
    

15. Hardening for Production

    Recommended security additions:

    • Use .env file with django-environ
    • Rotate SECRET_KEY regularly
    • Enable HSTS:

    SECURE_HSTS_SECONDS = 31536000
    SECURE_HSTS_INCLUDE_SUBDOMAINS = True
    SECURE_HSTS_PRELOAD = True
    

    • Disable admin on /admin/ or restrict via IP
    • Use Cloudflare or similar WAF

Summary (TL;DR)

1. Create venv → install Django + Gunicorn
2. Configure PostgreSQL (optional)
3. Run migrations + collectstatic
4. Create Gunicorn systemd service
5. Configure Nginx reverse proxy
6. Enable HTTPS via Certbot
7. Harden security + optimize

Your Django 6 app is now running in production.

Conclusion

You now know how to deploy Django 6 on Ubuntu VPS.