how to install and config sites for connected subdomain microsites, maintaining signon
Permalink
hi - i am very new to c5, and i need some advice about how to install and configure c5 for the site(s) i plan to build.
the plan is to have several (20-50) microsites, each under its subdomain, but "connected" by a master "home" microsite at the main domain.
for example,
maindomain.com is the usual home/about/contact/etc. and has just summary info about the many divisions and products, with links to microsites for each.
producta.maindomain.com is complete site all about product a, with a 'home' link back to maindomain.com
productb.maindomain.com is complete site all about product b, with a 'home' link back to maindomain.com
and so on.
while i think this is readily doable, one complication may be signing in. specifically, i would like users to be able to sign in (including facebook connect and other social logins) at any of the microsites, and stay logged in as they move between the microsites (eg. if they get to productb microsite from a search engine link, sign on, then navigate to the main/home microsite and from there to productb microsite, they are still logged in.
can this be done using the microsite/maindomain+subdomain structure?
for my windows server environment, would i install c5 for each subdomain and maindomain?
thanks in advance,
les
the plan is to have several (20-50) microsites, each under its subdomain, but "connected" by a master "home" microsite at the main domain.
for example,
maindomain.com is the usual home/about/contact/etc. and has just summary info about the many divisions and products, with links to microsites for each.
producta.maindomain.com is complete site all about product a, with a 'home' link back to maindomain.com
productb.maindomain.com is complete site all about product b, with a 'home' link back to maindomain.com
and so on.
while i think this is readily doable, one complication may be signing in. specifically, i would like users to be able to sign in (including facebook connect and other social logins) at any of the microsites, and stay logged in as they move between the microsites (eg. if they get to productb microsite from a search engine link, sign on, then navigate to the main/home microsite and from there to productb microsite, they are still logged in.
can this be done using the microsite/maindomain+subdomain structure?
for my windows server environment, would i install c5 for each subdomain and maindomain?
thanks in advance,
les
I have a micro-site theme awaiting approval in the PRB (just submitted it last night)! It'll be responsive, and will have single-page navigation. Take a look at the demo site:
http://c5.gclocal.net/themes/brochure...
It basically allows each page to be it's own micro-site. I think there's a few other "singe-page-website" themes in the marketplace, too.
Also, I think the "domain mapping" add-on might be useful, too.
http://c5.gclocal.net/themes/brochure...
It basically allows each page to be it's own micro-site. I think there's a few other "singe-page-website" themes in the marketplace, too.
Also, I think the "domain mapping" add-on might be useful, too.
Thanks!
In looking at your micro-site theme (which looks nice), I noticed that I may be using the wrong terminology. In my case, each microsite will be a full multipage site dedicated to a specific product line.
I look forward to having a look at your domain mapping add-on.
Les
-----Original Message-----
From: concrete5 Community [mailto:discussions@concretecms.com]
Sent: Sunday, April 22, 2012 2:21 PM
To: les.cseh@ally-business-services.com
Subject: how to install and config sites for connected subdomain microsites, maintaining signon : Installation Help
In looking at your micro-site theme (which looks nice), I noticed that I may be using the wrong terminology. In my case, each microsite will be a full multipage site dedicated to a specific product line.
I look forward to having a look at your domain mapping add-on.
Les
-----Original Message-----
From: concrete5 Community [mailto:discussions@concretecms.com]
Sent: Sunday, April 22, 2012 2:21 PM
To: les.cseh@ally-business-services.com
Subject: how to install and config sites for connected subdomain microsites, maintaining signon : Installation Help
If you also want to look at our multiple domains add-on it's in demo here:
http://multisite.mainiotech.fi
And if you want admin access there, just PM me.
http://multisite.mainiotech.fi
And if you want admin access there, just PM me.
Yeah, and by the way with that you can actually do multi-page product microsites for each domain.
Here is a domain mapping add-on currently in the marketplace that might do what you're looking for:
Domain Mapper:
http://www.concrete5.org/marketplace/addons/domain_mapper/...
Domain Mapper:
http://www.concrete5.org/marketplace/addons/domain_mapper/...
I also updated our demo, so that you can see it serves your needs 100%. I setup two subdomains there and you see that they even use different themes on the same concrete5 instance:
http://multisite.mainiotech.fi/...
Also, if you go and browse under the sub-domains, you see that your addresses don't have the full page path at the end like they would with the domain mapper add-on.
So e.g. actually the page for domain 1 lies here:
http://multisite.mainiotech.fi/domain-pages/domain-1/...
BUT if you go to domain 1 (or click that link that will redirect you there), all its subpages don't have the full page path, but rather they will ONLY have the trailing part, so the subdomains are actually working FULLY under that page, not just faking it. ;) This means under domain 1 you will have addresses like:
http://domain1.multisite.mainiotech.fi/domain1-subpage-test/...
etc.
Although the full path would be:
/domain-pages/domain-1/domain1-subpage-test/
This is extremely important for you SEO that the full page path is not visible there because it has basically nothing to do with your micro-site.
Edit:
Just to note: to my knowledge I believe the domain mapper add-on is only meant for the purpose where you have only 1-page microsites but I really believe our add-on is more what you're looking for as it allows you to run multiple pages under each mapped domain.
http://multisite.mainiotech.fi/...
Also, if you go and browse under the sub-domains, you see that your addresses don't have the full page path at the end like they would with the domain mapper add-on.
So e.g. actually the page for domain 1 lies here:
http://multisite.mainiotech.fi/domain-pages/domain-1/...
BUT if you go to domain 1 (or click that link that will redirect you there), all its subpages don't have the full page path, but rather they will ONLY have the trailing part, so the subdomains are actually working FULLY under that page, not just faking it. ;) This means under domain 1 you will have addresses like:
http://domain1.multisite.mainiotech.fi/domain1-subpage-test/...
etc.
Although the full path would be:
/domain-pages/domain-1/domain1-subpage-test/
This is extremely important for you SEO that the full page path is not visible there because it has basically nothing to do with your micro-site.
Edit:
Just to note: to my knowledge I believe the domain mapper add-on is only meant for the purpose where you have only 1-page microsites but I really believe our add-on is more what you're looking for as it allows you to run multiple pages under each mapped domain.
We can also offer you consultation on your server setup if you need some.
Hi Manio,
Is this ADD ONN for subdomain management alreay available? If so, could you send me the link?
Thank you!
V.
Is this ADD ONN for subdomain management alreay available? If so, could you send me the link?
Thank you!
V.
*Thanks* mainio and growthcurv - i will take a close look at your recommendations as we work through the design.
Just wanted to let you know the add-on was released this week to the marketplace:
http://www.concrete5.org/marketplace/addons/multiple-domains/...
http://www.concrete5.org/marketplace/addons/multiple-domains/...
We have and add-on for this purpose coming up in the PRB (peer review board) currently and it should be released shortly.
With that add-on you can manage structure like this from one concrete5 installation. All you need to do is to map all the wanted domains to be served from that concrete5 installation and then with this add-on you can select which domains map to which pages.
If your different sites have different layouts, that's no problem because internal concrete5 functionality already allows you to select different themes for different pages.
So, this basically offers you a really much simpler way to handle these "microsites" than having an own concrete5 installation for each.
The subdomain login is also possible but most of the web-servers store session information domain-specifically so if you want to have this working properly, you should setup your server configuration so that it allows you to do so.
If interested about this, please PM me, we can sell it straight to you because it takes a while to get passed the final review in PRB (it has been there for 4 months now).
Best,
Antti / Mainio