Drupal advice?
Given that I'm not a web HTML programmer, and
not a PHP programmer (but I can play one in a pinch),
and I am not a Drupal guy (having never touched it),
Here is the task before me:
Setup a Drupal based site.
This site must run what another site is currently
running. The current site provides me with
a weekly backup.
Within the backup, I have a Mysql dump file
and a directory structure related to the
web root dir.
Code review shows that the custom code was
written by smart experienced people, but
sometimes they were constrained and had to
throw some crap against the wall. Some of
the crap stuck. I have scrape some of it
off, and polish it up.
This system is currently running on a Centos
box (if it matters).
I want it running on my Linux box running
Ubuntu 10.10 if possible for development, and
and an additional dedicated box for deployment.
Whatever is best to administer for deployment.
If a 3rd party Drupal hosting site is appropriate,
please point me to it,
BUT: This is PCI data!!!!!
If I can't get 100% control or a 100% assurance,
I can't use them.
Once running, I need to learn enough about Drupal
to use the site and admin it, including Drupal
patches when needed (which means code review for
conflicts!).
After that point, I need to pick up enough PHP
to modify and expand if required, OR, to direct
a real PHP programmer. Which means I'll need
enough knowledge and experience in the area so
I don't ask a vendor to do something stupid and
drive up programming hours.
I have access to 2 sources of PHP coders.
#1 - small company, 10 (or so) coder / owners, most
code farmed out to next level people, but they
are usually good.
Hours can BALLOON due to misunderstandings.
They have a PM that is good, but her loyalty
is to them, not the real role a PM plays as
scorekeeper.
I have top level access, but that means top
level cost. They host and cover all patches
and possibly code review on patches, but this
is not an inexpensive service.
They coded it originally, but they do not display
their institutional knowledge very well, so
I do NOT have a core "MUST USE THEM" feeling.
#2 - TINY company, primary focus inhouse databases
using OLD tech with a new pretty face. Several of
those coders. And 1 PHP guy.
We have long term experience with them for our
inhouse system. They are smart and have treated
us well.
Their 1 guy is very smart. He took the dumps,
reviewed them, made good comments and suggestions,
and gave a detailed plan for a variety of changes that
we requested him to look into. While they are
primarily a Windows company, this guy know his Linux
as well.
Yes, we ARE paying him for these "prelim" hours.
But his company will NOT host. He can recommend
some 3rd party hosting environments, but we
will need a serious PCI review before we can go
in that direction.
Also, no backup person. 1 guy. If he leaves, we
need a fallback position.
His proposed cost is much lower, as expected. He does
not have the job and is in sales mode. On the other hand,
his overhead is lower and historically we are OK with
what this company has charged us.
This is the difference between a 1-off web vendor trying
to maximize income, with many people to pay for, VS a
long term partner who gets a reasonable amount of cash
on an ongoing basis, and REALLY wants the customer to
be happy.
And we are not a big fish, so the web vendor isn't happy
when they quote a job for 20 hours and I show them how to
do it in 1 hour. Bad for cash flow.
I'd really like to use this guy, and move to him
for long term, but I can't transfer any real
responsibility until I'm safe with the site's
ongoing operation.
I can grant the PHP guy access to the active running
site, but if he changes their code I'm in for a
finger pointing shit storm the 1st time a problem
pops up.
So that might mean hosting an instance at a colo,
setting up all the layers of environment, yadda
yadda yadda, and then being responsible for the
ongoing admin.
Who wants to direct me (Drook?), and how long
should each of these steps if I truly allocate the
time to it?
And if you want to make it official, I have a
tech support budget (not a lot mind you), and
if you wanna bill for hours, I will get you
paid.
And maybe someone would like the ongoing
admin hours?
