Apache Solr on abernathy.mayfirst.org

​Apache Solr is an indexing and searching program that can replace the Drupal core search engine with a much improved system.

abernathy.mayfirst.org is a dedicated Apache Solr Server that is available for use by any May First/People Link member. Open a ticket or contact the support team if you want to use Apache Solr on your website.

Enable Apache Solr on Drupal

Drupal 7: ApacheSolr module

To enable Solr you have to install ​Apache Solr Drupal module which is done best through drush:

drush dl apachesolr
drush solr-phpclient

Drupal 7 & 8: Search API with Search API Solr

​Search API module with the ​Search API Solr module

Configure Apache Solr on Drupal

You will need to arrange a search index on abernathy (see contact details above). When you have access details these will need to be added to the module's configuration.

Server: abernathy.mayfirst.org
Connection: https
Core: /solr/solr_name_provided_by_admin
Basic Auth:
 Username and Password provided

If you are using Drupal 7 the search index ('core') will already be configured. If you are using Drupal 8 you will need to export the configuration files from the server 'files' tab, and pass these back to the solr admin. If you update you field schema on Drupal (change entities, fields, and most importantly enabled languages) you might have to download the 'files' configuration again and get the solr core configuration update.

Administrators

See instructions in ansible abernathy.mayfirst.org host vars.

Presently:

# To add users with cores.
#
# 1. Add server to the firewall rules if it's not already there.
# 2. Add core name to solr_cores: with obscured name.
#    Advice is one core per index. For a lot of uses multiple indexes can
#    go on the same core, but it could cause issues depending on requirements.
# 3. Add a username:pass to solr_auth_users: with password.
# 4. Add username: "users" role in solr_auth_users_roles.
#
# 5. On the server a core will have been created with the 'example' config.
#    /var/solr/data/core_name/conf
#    Replace this with the configuration required:
#     - for Drupal 7 search_api_solr there is a copy of the config in /root
#     - for Drupal 8 search_api_solr it require the site admin to export the configuration from their site administration interface; this can change if the schema or languages change. After configuring the core there is a tab to download it.
#       https://git.drupalcode.org/project/search_api_solr/blob/8.x-3.x/INSTALL.md
#     - for WP?
#   When a configuration has been replaced reload the core, can be done from admin ui.