Nature Counts admin

Tracking issues / features / bugs

Use the GitHub repository issues: https://github.com/Sheffield-Rotherham-Wildlife-Trust/NatureCounts/issues 

Maintaining the Nature Counts platform

The Nature Counts sites are on a Drupal multisite system https://www.drupal.org/docs/multisite-drupal 

This means each site has their own userbase and database for content - however the core Drupal modules are all centralised and it all runs from one 'server', although we used cloud based services rather than a physical server. This means that some individual/group must be designated as the admin for managing the Nature Counts platform.

Our server is hosted by Clook https://www.clook.net/

Regular back ups

We don't need to worry about regularly backing up the biological records, they are backed up by the BRC who host our records. However, we do want to back up the drupal sites which contains all the configuration that from their set-up, and users.

Drupal database

We can do backups with the backup and migrate module: https://www.drupal.org/project/backup_migrate 

This is the current backup schedule for all NC sites (and will be applied by default to any new sites through the cloning process):

Drupal files

The backup and migrate module will make backups of the site database, but not the files (images etc). We can do backups of the files that the Drupal multisite runs on through Cpanel. Log into CPanel and click on Backup

You are then given these options:

You can then download a full backup. Save this file somewhere, or store it online like google drive. 

This is not an automated process so do this every so often, or after a significant piece of work has been done with involved changing files such as a Drupal core update, updating modules, or setting up a new NC site. 

You may need an external developer to help with the restore from the back-up but at least you have the files.

Updating Drupal modules

https://www.drupal.org/docs/user_guide/en/security-update-module.html 

Updating Indicia Iform module

Get the latest version from: https://github.com/Indicia-Team/drupal-8-module-iform

Typically this is done by an external developer.

Because of the multisite set up this only needs to be done once overall, rather than once for each NC site on the platform.

Updating indicia survey builder module

Get the latest version from: https://github.com/Indicia-Team/drupal-module-iform-layout-builder

Typically this is done by an external developer.

Updating Drupal core

Here is the help page for updating drupal core: https://www.drupal.org/docs/updating-drupal

Typically this is done by an external developer.