Too late for multi-site configuration?
I bought a shared web host plan, installed Drupal, and themes, put in some content, and I’m up and running. I’m using the registrar’s name-server with Google mail servers. I bought more domains through the same registrar because I am starting a much more complicated unrelated site. I say unrelated but I would like to sync some database info from the first site with the second. The first site would have very few records.
Because the second site is a brand new crowdsourcing project, I am considering OpenIdeal. I will probably start with a social media theme like Journal Crunch because I need a quick prototype and I want to play around with the content and appearance. The circumstances of the project could possibly mean acquiring tens of thousands of users very rapidly with a limited number of users actually contributing. It also has a potential commercial aspect with a limited product line. If it does grow rapidly as hoped, I would be open to migrating to Pantheon simply because they seem to have the experience.
I read “Alternate installation method using links for your Domains and Drupal Installations” instructions but not yet knowing how all of this fits together is problematic.
The alternate method looks like sound advice but what do I do to create the second site now that I’ve already created my first site? My web host states the following if I view the Drupal app in the control panel:
“Drupal72
Static/CGI/PHP-5.4
Web346
This creates a Static/CGI/PHP-5.4 application in the ~/webapps// directory.
This application is served by a shared Apache web server instance
Files with ".py" and ".cgi" extensions are treated as CGI scripts. Files with the ".php" extension are treated as PHP 5.4 scripts.
The DirectoryIndex is set to: "index.html index.htm index.cgi index.py index.php"
I’m guessing that nested directories are not possible based on the above info from the host.
I also don’t know how to to “Create a symbolic link”
Can I simply move things by editing files and using SFTP?
Will I be wasting time by creating the 2nd site on my host using the Journal Crunch theme or would it be better to start building on Pantheon?
I have already opened a free Pantheon account but with very limited time available I am confused as to whether I should begin experimenting on Pantheon yet.
I sincerely appreciate any advice!
Comments
There are few questions
There are few questions there. First, the advantages to using Drupal multi-site are pretty small now we have drush which allows fast updates. If you want to use some kind of multi-site then you might use Pantheon or an Aegir based hosting company. However, generally, if you are not familiar with multi-site I advise that is may cause more problems than advantages.
Yes you can copy across with ftp or any other way. But the new site will need a new database. You can use symlinks, but again, I advise just making a new site unless you know what you are doing and have a good reason for using this method.
If you are sharing content across sites, you can use Domain Access. Otherwise, just make a new site because it is less trouble. I undersand that you are hoping that by simply copying the site you will have less work but my experience suggests that this is not true.
Digit Professionals specialising in Drupal, WordPress & CiviCRM support for publishers in non-profit and related sectors