Open Atrium is a Drupal package specifically tailored for use as an intranet (or extranet) solution. The system is based on the Drupal 6.x core and comes bundled with a number of modules that are specially configured to sing in harmony. The modules include a blog, a calendar, a project and task management functionality, a shout box and a threaded discussion feature that can also be used to add shared files. Open Atrium relies heavily on Organic Groups, which allows the administrator to group users with common interests and provide for each group their own sharing and collaboration space. It is, in short, a way to get either an intranet or a basic project management system up and running quickly.
Open Atrium has been at the center of a fair amount of press in the past few weeks. The system was recently purchased from the originators (Development Seed) by Phase2 Technology. Shortly after the purchase, the first Beta release hit the streets (despite having been around for a while, Open Atrium had been in alpha release limbo for ages!). If you’d like to take a look and see what all the fuss is about, we’ve put together a short tutorial to help you get off to a smooth start with your installation. For this article, we’re using Beta 1.0.
Note, text shown in bold and italic indicates text you see on the screen.
Special Note: Open Atrium System Requirements
The version of Open Atrium tested relies on the Drupal 6.x series. The requirements for installation largely reflect those for Drupal 6, with some small variations. While the requirements should be within the capabilities of most shared hosting environments, you must always make sure your web host can support the system prior to attempting installation; if you don’t you’re just asking for problems. Here are the basic requirements. (Source: http://openatrium.com/documentation/requirements)
| webserver : | Apache with mod_rewrite (for SEF URLs) |
| database : | MySQL 5 + |
| PHP : | 5.2 + with PHP GD extension |
STEP 1: Download the files & get them on your server.
Open Atrium is not a distinct and separate system; it is actually an installation profile for Drupal. This means that you can either download the individual components one at a time and assemble it yourself, or you can download a pre-packaged collection bundled as a single installer. The latter choice is much simpler and the option that the vast majority of people will select.
To download your copy of the most recent version of the packaged installer, visit http://openatrium.com/download. You can select the file in your choice of archive format – either .zip, or .tar.gz . If, on the other hand, you are bound and determined to do it the hard way, visit https://community.openatrium.com/documentation-en/node/1420 to learn how to cobble together your own Open Atrium installation by assembling the various packages that make up the installation profile.
There are quite a few files in the core package, so if you are comfortable moving up to your server the compressed file and extracting it on the server, you will want to do so — its a bit of a time-saver. If not, then extract the files locally and move them to your server with either FTP or your web host’s file manager. In terms of placement on the server: While you can install an Atrium site anywhere inside the directory structure, for the vast majority of people, installing Open Atrium means putting the files in the root directory.
STEP 2: Create a new database.
The Open Atrium automated installer will do a lot of the work for you but you will need to first create a database for the installer to use. For most of you, that means either firing up the phpMyAdmin installation on your web host, or using whatever tool they give you inside your web hosting control panel. When you create your DB, make sure you note your (1) Database name; (2) Database username; (3) Database password; and (4) Database host. You will need all four pieces of information in STEP 8, below.
STEP 3: Set up your configuration file.
Your OpenAtrium installer will setup your configuration file during installation, but you need to make the file ready for the installer. In order to do this, you must access the directory /sites/default inside your OpenAtrium files. In that directory, you will find a file named default.settings.php. Copy that file, then rename the copy to settings.php. That’s all there is to it. You are now ready to run the installer.
STEP 4: Run the installer.
This is simply a matter of pointing your browser to the URL where you set up the files. So, if your new site will be located at http://www.yournewsite.com, then simply visit that address. Atrium will do the rest.
STEP 5: Select the Open Atrium Installation Profile.
Step 5, Select your Installation Profile
The screen on the left is the first thing you will see. This prompts you for a decision whether to install the full Open Atrium package, or to simply install Drupal. In our case, we want to select the option Open Atrium. Once you have made your selection, click the Save and Continue button.
STEP 6: Select your Language.
Step 6, Choose your language from the lis
Choose your preferred language from those shown on the screen (shown here at right). After you have made your choice, click Select language and the system will advance to the next step.
STEP 7: Verify requirements.
IF the system requirements are sufficient to support Drupal, the Installer will skip this step and move ahead to the next step (Set up database). IF NOT, then you will see the Verify requirements screen, which will contain a listing of the issues that you need to remedy before you can move on. Once you have sorted out all the issues, hit refresh and see if Drupal agrees that the changes are sufficient for the installation to continue. If you successfully addressed all the issues, the Installer will automatically advance to the next step, discussed below.
STEP 8: Set up the database.
Step 8, Set up database
On the screen shown at left, enter the details about the database you set up earlier for your OpenAtrium installation. Select the appropriate Database Type, then enter the Database Name, the database Username, and the database Password – all information you should have noted down when you created the database for your new installation in STEP 2, above. Note the Advanced options link on the page can be clicked to expose more choices. Under Advanced options you will find fields that allow you to specify your Database host (the system presumes it is localhost), a specific Database port, or your own Table prefix.
Once you have populated all the required field and made your selections, click the button labeled Save and continue to move on to the next step.
STEP 9: Install Profile
Step 9, Install profile, showing the status update screen
During this step the Open Atrium installer is doing all the work. As the system builds the database tables and populates them, you will see a status screen, like the one shown at right. When the process is completed successfully, the installer will automatically move you on the next step, Configuration, discussed below.
STEP 10: Configure site
Step 10, Configure your site
This screen requests a variety of information necessary to customize the identity of your site and to enable administrator access. First, provide a name for the site in the field Site name. Second, set up a default email address for the site in the field Site e-mail address; this is the address that will be shown in the From field in all emails generated by the site. Next, set up your first administrator account by entering a Username, E-mail address and Password in the fields provided. Make sure you make a note of the username and password you have entered — you will need it later to log in to the admin system of your new site!!
In the Server settings section, set the Default time zone for your site (if you leave this blank, the system uses the server’s time settings). In the next section, select Enabled if you wish to use Clean URLs (SEF URLs) on your new site. Finally, in the Update notifications section, select Check for updates automatically if you want Drupal to notify you when new updates, upgrades and releases are available.
Once you’ve completed the fields and made your choices, click the Save and continue button and you’re almost done.
STEP 11: Final installation
Step 11, The final confirmation page -- you're done!
The system will now attempt to install the remaining modules and finalize the installation. No further action is required on your part – the Open Atrium installer does all the work here. While the system is working, you will see on the screen a status update page, like the one you saw during STEP 9, above.
Upon successful completion, the system will display a confirmation page, shown here on the right. Click the link You may now visit your new site to see your new Open Atrium installation.
Assuming a good connection and a bit of confidence with the tools, the total time from start to finish (including moving the files up to the server and creating the database) should be about 20 minutes.
First Look
Your new Open Atrium site.
When you first visit your new Open Atrium installation, you are shown the system as it appears to an authenticated site administrator. The screenshot at left shows you what you will see.
In the default configuration, access to the site is only available to authenticated users. To view the site as a normal user, you will need to create a new user account, with only basic access privileges. Once you have created the new user, you can log out, then log back in as your new authenticated user to see the site as it will appear to a standard user.
Note in the screenshot at left, there is a video in the largest of the boxes in the content area. If you are setting up Open Atrium on a closed network with no internet connection, this will not be visible. If you have an Internet connection, it will appear automatically for both the site administrator and for the users (you can modify this when you configure your site and establish the block visibility within the dashboard area).
Enjoy!
