This document discusses using a single eZ Publish installation to manage multiple websites (multisite). It covers visual design considerations for efficient multisite creation, using responsive design, eZ Publish multisite features, advantages like shared resources, questions to ask before development, and whether to use a single or multiserver setup. The presenter is from Exove, an agency that provides technology, design and development services including content management with eZ Publish, WordPress and Drupal.

1. MULTISITE
MANAGEMENT WITH
EZ PUBLISH
Jani Tarvainen / Exove

2. Agenda
 About Exove
 What multisite?
 Visual design for efficient multisite creation
 Responsive Design
 eZ Publish multisite features
 Advantages of a multisite installation
 Questions before starting development
 Single server vs. Multiserver
 Q /A

3. About Exove
 Established in 2006
 ~45 employees in Helsinki and Tallinn
 A one stop shop
 Technology
 Concept Development
 Graphic Design
 Web Development (LAMP platform)
 Content Management (eZ Publish, WordPress, Drupal)
 Custom Web Applications
 Mobile Applications

4. What multisite?
 Multiple websites running on a single eZ Publish
installation
 Sharing resources, guidelines and possibly
design
 Information architecture, visual and technical
aspects need to be considered

5. Visual design for efficient
multisite creation
 Work with a base design (grid)
 Global layout changes can be done more efficiently
in the future
 Define elements, styles, etc. that will be
common and which will be variable
 Always assume that you will have variable text
length, different items in the menu, etc.

6. Responsive Design
 A separate mobile site (www.example.com vs.
m.example.com for example) is not ideal
 The ideal way is to design a single set of
templates to work across all devices (Desktop,
Smartphone, Tablet, ???)
 Design phase must be done right
 Possible limitations with online advertisement

7. eZ Publish Multisite
features
 A single eZ Publish can run one or more sites
 Virtually unlimited number of sites
 Each site can have a distinct design
 In a multi language site
 Sites can share content and other resources or
be totally independent
 Using the built in permission system you can
define access in a flexible manner

8. Advantages of a multisite
installation
 Shared resources
 Common software resources are shared
 Less maintenance overhead
 A single installation
 Cost efficient replication of existing site setups
 Implementing a multisite ready installation does
not cost more than a single site installation

9. A few questions before
starting development
 How many sites will you have?
 Will you have language versions?
 Do you plan to have campaign sites, etc.
 Discuss with your vendor about the path
 Turning a single site installation to a multisite
installation may be costly
 Performance
 Estimate the performance requirements for all sites

10. Single or multiserver?
 We can run all our sites on a single installation, but
should we?
 It all depends…
 Splitting a service on to multiple servers is some
times ideal when you have
 A site with high loads, especially ones with peaks
 Lots of visitors from all over the world
 A multiserver setup complicates resource sharing
 Cost will rise

11. Q/A
 Thank you!
 Questions?
 Email: jani@exove.com
 Web: www.exove.com