Posted by amityweb on April 1, 2011 at 11:18pm
Is there such a module that allows a non-technical user to create a new site in the amdin interface, fill a few fields and hey presto its done?? I have searched and searched and cant find anything, which surprises me. Or is there no option than to use command line? My site admin is a non techy and will require an admin interface to create new sites.
Thanks!
Comments
I think drupalgardens.com
I think drupalgardens.com comes closest to that scenario.
Aegir is probably your best
Aegir is probably your best bet. http://www.aegirproject.org/ While it takes a technical user to set it up it's fairly simple for an end user to create new sites. It also depends on what you are looking for as another site. Is it site1.com and site2.com or site1.example.com and site2.example.com or example.com/site1 and example.com/site2. Domain access is another option.
Am looking for separate
Am looking for separate domain names. The sites have to be independent in content and design as they will be different customers unrelated to one another. We just need a really quick and simple way for a non technical user to create a new site, choose it's template, add content, assign a domain and update all sites when updates are released.
Aegir looks like I can't use cpanel, it is instead of cpanel. Am a bit worried about that, i.e. will it it still allow management of emails and database and other things like cpanel. Need to check this.
Will check drupalgardens later.
Thanks a lot
Amity Web Solutions
I agree that aegir is the way
I agree that aegir is the way to go. But unless you have a dedicated server and can at least afford technical help initially to set it up, it won't work for you. Setup is tricky and simply isn't possible with shared hosting where you don't have root access. If you can afford a dedicated server (which you should invest in if you plan to use aegir to host multiple sites for clients) then you are probably looking at a day or so of outsource costs to get aegir setup plus routine maintenance costs. If you can afford it this then aegir is definitely the way to go. It will do exactly what you want and lots more. Cheers, Kevin
drupalgardens.com seems to be
drupalgardens.com seems to be a hosted/saas service, whereas we would need to host it on our servers.
Amity Web Solutions
drupalgardens.com seems to be
drupalgardens.com seems to be a hosted/saas service, whereas we would need to host it on our servers.
Amity Web Solutions
Here are some of the key
Here are some of the key feature of aegir http://community.aegirproject.org/node/217. Keep in mind it is deployment and management system for drupal multisites ... it is not a server administration system like cpanel. If you are hosting many client sites you need a real system admin anyway as cpanel will not cut it. The best solution for email is setting up google apps for your clients, using aegir for drupal site deployment and management and then having a part time sys admin to help you keep your web server, databases, security, and performance fine-tuned. I really don't see any other option if you want to make a serious business out of hosting clients websites. you simply won't have much flexibility with cpanel or drupalgardens.
Thanks for the input. I
Thanks for the input. I should be Ok at setting it up on a Linux VPS or Dedicated. My main objective is having a suitable user interface to setup and manage mutliple Drupal sites for a non technical person, so an admin interface. I'm actually a Joomla man at the moment, and Drupal is new to me, but the Joomla Multi Site extension is in itself far to complex for a non technical person, hence me looking at Drupal options. I am so used to using Cpanel to manage the server though, from email accounts, FTP, databases etc. WHM is great at reconfiguring Apache and PHP if need be, and a LOT more. So not having that, and relying on employing or outsourcing a server admin at cost, is a big concern.
I'll take a look at Aegir on a development platform and see what its like.
Thanks
Amity Web Solutions
p.s. took me all day to post
p.s. took me all day to post the last message, the captcha was not working
Amity Web Solutions
Thought I might install
Thought I might install Ubuntu under Parallels on my iMac to try Aegir, but it wont install using the automated method followed on the Aegir site (think there is a problem with aegir-provision). I am going to try installing Debian. Dont know if its Mac related or whether there are issues installing Aegir using apt-get install. Might give up after this, otherwise it looks like I WILL need a Linux expert to try it!
Amity Web Solutions
I assume you're using these
I assume you're using these instructions here: http://community.aegirproject.org/node/400
The manual install instructions didn't look too bad either: http://community.aegirproject.org/node/389
After looking at the Aegir website there were was a general installation page and then those two i listed above. I didn't look closely enough and it took me a bit to realize that the auto install requires adding the repo to the apt sources list. But if you followed those instructions that's not the issue.
Yes the first link you posted
Yes the first link you posted http://community.aegirproject.org/node/400, followed each step. I get an error at the aegir-provision install when at the apt-get install aegir stage, then the aegir-hostmaster and aegir itself fail because they are dependent on it. Cant find this specific error online at all, v. strange. The Aegir website states somewhere it works on Debian and Ubuntu, hence I tried Ubuntu. I am going to install Debian as a OS under Parallels on my Mac, and if that fails order some low cost Debian VPS to try it, just in case its some Debian on Parallels on Mac issue.
Anyway, I am not giving up yet, I really would like to give Aegir a go!
Thanks
Amity Web Solutions
Try manual install
I would try the manual install instructions if you can follow them. I noticed though, that they aren't to clear about how to install provision. They tell you how to download it with Drush, and where to install it, but don't seem to give the exact command. Maybe post something at the aegir project page. Especially of you figure out a way that works.
Also, did you try this to get
Also, did you try this to get more info:
env DEBUG=yes apt-get install aegir
That may tell us more
Getting started
Hi there, gonna give this a go on a fresh SSH server. The installation instruction seem to be a bit confusing.
On http://community.aegirproject.org/installing/manual it says:
"LAMP / LEMP
LAMP / LEMP are used to run Aegir and provide the frontend interface, as well as provide those same tools to your managed sites. These components are further detailed in the following sections. While you can install Aegir alongside an existing LAMP installation, ***** THIS HERE**** "it is generally considered easier (and thus recommended) to start with a fresh server.""***** THIS HERE****
Does that mean Aegir installs LAMP? Or do you run "apt-get install apache2 php5 php5-cli php5-gd php5-mysql postfix sudo rsync git-core unzip" prior to Aegir installation?
@bcm24feet Yes I tried the
@bcm24feet Yes I tried the debug but gave the same output
I am going to give up with Aegir I think. I have wasted far too much time. For info, I tried installing on Debian 5 and Ubuntu 10.4 on Mac (under Parallels) AND a Debian 5 VPS. All were clean installs. I ordered a low cost Debian VPS in case it was the Mac/Parallels issue. BUT I had the exact same error on all 3 servers.
So I then tried to follow manual install, and the prerequisite server setup, but I get errors again. Different ones. Following the manual install I get as far as running a drush command, drush is not even present, no such file or directory.
Here's the report on the Aegir site where the automated process output file is if interested. http://community.aegirproject.org/node/533
I think my only option if I want to use the server pre-installed by this company http://omega8.cc/aegir-mini-order. Then if it works and the system is suitable, we'll probably get them to set it up on our own server. Just a costly way to test a system!
Amity Web Solutions
amityweb, your original post
amityweb,
your original post asked if there is a way to automate drupal site installs with a user-friendly gui... the answer is "yes" and it is called aegir. However, as great as aegir the setup is it is most suitable for very technical people and not a "wizard" type install. if you can find the financial resources for a professional install you will be very happy with aegir. but to say you are giving up on it due to your inability to install it is a little absurd. no, this is not the typical drupal module... in fact, it is far far more. when and if you get a professional to install it you will be very happy.
You are right, I posted this
You are right, I posted this in frustration having wasted all day trying to install it. I've never seen such difficulties installing a system on Linux! Anyway, after a little calm time, I decided to order a VPS from http://omega8.cc/aegir-mini-order and am in the middle of using testing it. If this is suitable we can then consider a more dedicated server and support for this system for us.
Thanks
Amity Web Solutions
Please post your experience
Please post your experience with this service as it's very intriguing. Always wanted to run Aegir but definitely don't have the server knowledge to get it up and running.
Ex Uno Plures
http://elmsln.org/
http://btopro.com/
http://drupal.psu.edu/
I'd like to recommend
omega8cc - great service, fast, superb - very helpful indeed.
Here's my experience so
Here's my experience so far...
Aegir Install
I don't think the install process is good at all. I have moderate Linux experience, but am no expert. I have setup many Linux boxes, installed many Linux software, am OK on the command line (but would prefer to avoid). BUT I could not get Aegir to install the automated or manual way, on a couple of different Linux boxes (Ubuntu and Debian). I think this needs improvement if it is to be more widely adopted. I think only the Linux experts can install and support this, which will limit most people and businesses using it.
Omega8cc
I therefore decided to go for an install by omega8cc. The setup was fast and everything works well. So I have my Aegir box and am happy at the moment. I have not used it much yet though (see below). Although I have a Aegir Mini server with no support as a trial, omega8cc have been helpful and quick to reply, the detailed initial email and the help they have given have been very good ( I am not supposed to get support on this mini server - I think the mini therefore is only good for trialling Aegir). If Aegir works out and we proceed with it we would probably go for an Aegir install on our own server, supplied and supported by omega8cc.
Aegir Documentation
I am new to Drupal also, and although omega8cc told me there are lots of Aegir help with what I need online, I don't think there is. At the moment I am building a drupal site and its ready to be turned into a Platform for Aegir. But I just cannot find anywhere how to do this. There are some sites that talk about Drush but I cant see how to deal with the database and content I have pre-installed? I am struggling with this at the moment. There are some modules for Drupal that can make packages I think, but they go up to Drupal 6. Maybe I should not have started with Drupal 7 because there's so many modules like these not developed yet. So at the moment this is where I am stuck, how to make my own custom platform for Aegir from a custom Drupal site I have.
Once I figure this out everything should be Ok from there on, as I can create platforms which I then use Aegir to duplicate.
So in summary, Aegir looks promising, omega8cc have been helpful and I think required in order to setup and support, but I don't think Aegir documentation is good, certainly not for Drupal newbies or non-Linux experts. I am slowly working my through but its taking time because of this.
Its satisfying when you eventually do make progress though, I look forward when I can make my own custom platforms and use Aegir to roll them out.
Will post some more here when I progress some.
Amity Web Solutions