How to _NOT_ create the default directory structure (/home/usrname) for newly added domains.

Submitted by gnat on Mon, 06/22/2009 - 10:46

I have setup a server template that keeps the home directory for some domains shared. (Useful for a multi-site CMS setup) While modifying the Apache Website directives I was successfully able to do that, Virtualmin still creates the default user Home Directory (/home/username). Since these directories are redundant for such shared domains. Is there a way by which I can avoid creating them altogether?

Thanks

-jayesh

Status: 
Closed (fixed)

Comments

Submitted by JamieCameron on Mon, 06/22/2009 - 12:19

This may be possible .. what features do you have enabled for these domains though?

Also, you might want to consider creating alias virtual servers that point to your multi-site CMS. Aliases don't need to have a home directory, they just have a DNS domain and an entry in the target's Apache config so that it accepts requests for the alias domain too.

Submitted by gnat on Tue, 06/23/2009 - 01:41

Minimal Features - - MySQL Database/User - Webalizer Reporting / Log file rotation - Apache Website (defaulting to the common path) And - No Email handling - No BIND DNS

Alias virtual servers might be a solution, but they don't allow stats. (or do they?)

Thanks,

-jayesh

Submitted by JamieCameron on Tue, 06/23/2009 - 08:05

Yeah, you can't have a database in an alias domain, nor separate webalizer reporting.

Another option is to create a sub-server which uses the top-level server's web directory, and so can share a single CMS install. This thread discusses doing that with Drupal : https://www.virtualmin.com/node/9813

Submitted by gnat on Thu, 06/25/2009 - 00:52

Thanks JamieCameron,

The shared folder option for virtual servers is already resolved, but since I need the MySQL Database and Statistics working I would keep the domains as Top-level virtual servers and 'live' with the redundant directories created -- just because this allows a flexiblity that Sub-level servers might limit.

Again, all I wanted was not to create a user when creating the virtual server (and have only the Apache Website -- shared root i.e. and a MySQL database created). I have also disabled creating the Webmin Login, but that still does not stop the user being created.

Thanks for replying, -jayesh

Submitted by JamieCameron on Thu, 06/25/2009 - 12:53

Yeah, a user is needed in order to own the home directory.

Sub-servers are better in that they don't have a user or a Webmin login, but can have everything else a top-level serve can. So maybe that is the best way to go?