I want to use several of the platforms installed by Octopus, but I need to make modifications to them like adding other modules and themes. This isn't site specific, but platform specific because I want these to update on all the sites that use the platform when these modifications are updated.

For instance, I want to add my own theme and the Secure Site module to OpenPublic so that I can password protect the dev version of these sites.

I've been reviewing and reviewing references like:
http://community.aegirproject.org/node/47 and other handbook pages
http://developmentseed.org/blog/2010/sep/11/aegir-04-alpha-13-drush-make... and other Dev Seed pages
http://greenbeedigital.com.au/content/drupal-deployments-workflows-versi... and other greenbeedigital pages
and anything else I can find on the web related to the subject but none of it has helped enough for me to complete the task at hand.

And frankly, I'm now just very confused because I can't seem to match what I'm reading to what I'm seeing. Here a few of things that are really confusing me that I can't find answers for that I think is all related to my original question. Perhaps they deserve separate posts or maybe I should post them at http://community.aegirproject.org and I'm sure you'll tell me if that is the case.

Anyways, things that are confusing me and that I can't find answers to that I think are related to modifying existing platforms and install profiles:

  1. From the Aegir interface when creating a new site you select the Install Profile first and that changes the available Platforms. This seems completely backwards to me. I would think that I would pick the platform (code base) first and then the Install Profile. Do you know what am I missing here that makes this make sense the way it's working.
  2. Related to #1, do all of the distributions released with Octopus at are based on Drupal 6 or Drupal 7 share the same code base? It appears to me that each have their own, but the description of Octopus says they that code is shared between all created instances. I guess what I'm trying to understand is a distribution like OpenPublic which is on Drupal 6.20 on a common platform with all the other Drupal 6.20 sites. Ultimately, I'm trying to figure out how and where do I put in my own modifications to these so that I can upgrade them the sites to Drupal 6.22.
  3. Am I suppose to create a Install Profile for every site I want to create? From everything I've read it doesn't seem possible to upgrade site specific modules and themes without this. And there is no place to upload a Drush Make file for a site, just platforms. But this seems like over kill to me if there is are just a few modules and/or available themes that one site has that another doesn't.
  4. Are there Drush Make files for the Octopus distributions some where so that they can be modified? Can they be generated using drush make-generate some how? I tried to do this but when I try to do it with from o1.ftp user it fails because that user doesn't have sufficient privileges to write the generated .make file. The o1.ftp user doesn't have sudo privileges either, and for some reason the root user doesn't have the "Other commands (drush_make,drush_make_d_o)" available to it on my system. There listed when I do drush help from o1.ftp user, but not from root.

I realize that much of my confusion is coming from not understanding the "Aegir Way" yet, but I've yet to find the "Missing Manual" I need. I hope my questions have made sense and I'll understand if any or all of it is "out-of-scope" for getting an answered. I don't want to wear out my welcome to getting help, but I'm at my wits end with all of this.

Thanks, once again, for your help and patience in advance,
Steve

Comments

wickwood’s picture

wickwood commented

First, I would like to apologize to everyone who has tried to read my previous post for the numerous typos. I'm a poor editor and proof-reader to begin with and I get worse when I'm stressed out and frustrated.

Second, please don't let my frustration be taken as any kind of criticism of the incredible work done by you, Omega8, and the other Aegir Developers. I'm more frustrated with myself in not getting this yet.

With that said, I'm going to try to restate my questions more coherently and state the answers that I have come up with so far. If I could delete that previous post, I would, but it appears that I can't so this will have to be the next best thing.

OK, so here is the main issue at hand:
I have BOA installed and all of the distributions are very nice, but I need to make my own modifications to them to achieve the desired results. This includes adding non-site specific modules and themes, having as many sites working off of the same code bases as possible to minimize the work required during upgrades. I also want to be able to upgrade these distributions on my own schedule and not be dependent on the release of BOA updated scripts.

Q1. In Aegir, why do we pick the Install Profile first and then select the Platform?
A1. I have no answer for this one yet, I think I just need to create more Platforms and Install Profiles and perhaps with more experience this will make more sense to me.
Q2. Do all of the distributions released with Octopus that are based on Drupal 6 or Drupal 7 share the same Drupal code base respectively?
A2. As far as I can tell, the answer to this No, but I might be wrong about this. I've been trying to understand the file structure here and the Platform/Site interface in Aegir, and it appears to me that each of these distributions, even if based on the same version of Drupal 6, each have their own copy of Drupal to make up their own platforms. Again, I expect that with more Aegir experience this will begin to make sense to me.
Q3. Am I suppose to create a Install Profile for every site I want to create?
A3. Yes, an Intall Profile along with a copy of Drupal make up a Platform or what Mig5 calls a Platform Build in his tutorial at
http://greenbeedigital.com.au/content/drupal-deployments-workflows-versi...
I guess that when I create a new version of the site with new modules and/or themes I will have a modified Install Profile/Platform Build, to migrate the old site too.
These new install profiles and platforms are created with Drush Make files which I keep in Git version control
Q4. How do I, or can I, add an Install Profile to an existing Platform on Aegir like any of the Distributions preinstalled with BOA or any previously existing platform?
A4. Right now, I think the answer to this is you can't and it is probably my own inexperience with Aegir and doing things the "Aegir Way" that confuses me as to why I can't or wouldn't want to.
(Question 4 here was part of Question 3 in my original post.)
Q5. Are there Drush Make files for the Octopus distributions some where so that they can be modified?
A5. Maybe for some, but from what I see in the Octopus script I don't think so. I think if I want to make own modifications to these Distributions I need to just create my own Drush Make files that pull the source codes for the distributions like the Octopus Script does.

The more I think about this, the more I think these questions are mostly about the general use Aegir and I probably should have posted originally at http://community.aegirproject.org , but since I'm primarily interested in modifying the Distributions installed Octopus I posted the question here thinking I can't be the only one who wants to do this.

Thanks again and any guidance from anyone will be greatly appreciated.

Steve

wickwood’s picture

wickwood commented

Here's the answer to #4 I think:
Migrating sites from one Aegir platform to another with a different install profile

The author and myself thank you, Omega8cc!

Steve

omega8cc’s picture

omega8cc commented

I believe it is a perfect new thread candidate for our upcoming (soon I hope) BOA group on g.d.o, as it not just Octopus related or specific.

And yes, we need a good docs also for BOA and maybe docs on c.a.o could be still improved.

As for the sites migration between different install profiles - there is a very simple, already built-in in Aegir method I explained on the IRC a few days ago: http://hefring.mig5.net/bot/log/aegir/2011-06-06#T79665 - look for old_short_name trick there.

omega8cc’s picture

omega8cc commented

Our BOA group on g.d.o has been finally accepted, so I would like to invite you to join us and re-post this issue as a new discussion there!

http://groups.drupal.org/boa

wickwood’s picture

wickwood commented

I'm sorry I missed this response. I'm dealing with a pinched nerve and it's putting a "cramp" in my workflow. Pun obviously intended ;-)

I've edited and reposted this tread at http://groups.drupal.org/node/158669.

Thanks again for all the help and support!
Steve

omega8cc’s picture

omega8cc commented
Status: Active » Fixed

Thank you!

I'm closing this issue, and we will continue on g.d.o then.

Status: Fixed » Closed (fixed)

Automatically closed -- issue fixed for 2 weeks with no activity.