Use an SMTP server for email functions
I don't have a mail server on my system. Instead, I use an offsite mail handler that accepts the SMTP/POP3 protocols. Drupal can be configured to route its mail through SMTP/POP3 as well. If you are using SMTP, make sure outbound port 25 is open. If using secure SMTP (i.e. through SSL), then make sure outbound port 465 is open.
Install PHPMailer
- Install the PHPMailer libraries on Ubuntu:
sudo apt-get install libphp-phpmailer
- Install PHPMailer into Drupal:
cd /etc/drupal/6/sites/all/modules sudo wget http://ftp.drupal.org/files/projects/phpmailer-6.x-2.1.tar.gz sudo tar zxvf phpmailer-6.x-2.1.tar.gz sudo rm phpmailer-6.x-2.1.tar.gz
- Copy the necessary files from the libphp-phpmailer Ubuntu package into the module directory:
sudo mkdir /etc/drupal/6/sites/all/modules/phpmailer/libraries sudo cp /usr/share/php/libphp-phpmailer/class* /etc/drupal/6/sites/all/libraries/phpmailer
- Note: If you wish these modules to be available to only one subsite, then install them instead into the /etc/drupal/6/sites/mysite_x/modules folder.
- Note: You must update after module installation.
- Drupal -> Administer -> Modules -> Mail -> select PHPMailer module functions to enable
- Enter your SMTP settings:
- Drupal -> Administer -> Site configuration -> PHPMailer
Add an online store to your website
Drupal has a completely free and powerful online store called Ubercart. Other solutions include Zen Cart and osCommerce.
Set up PayPal Website Payments Standard
- Establish a bank account at your financial institution to be used exclusively with PayPal. Do not use your regular bank accounts, as PayPal will have access to both deposits and withdrawals from this account. (You can use a savings account, as all transactions between PayPal and the account will be electronic.)
- There are basically two types of payment schemes for PayPal:
- Website Payments Standard -- no monthly fee. 2.9% + $0.30 per (attempted) transaction. The customer goes to the PayPal site for payment then returns to the website.
- Website Payments Pro -- $30 monthly fee. 2.9% + $0.30 per (attempted) transaction (less if significant volume). All transactions are performed through a gateway, without leaving the website.
- In addition, there is Express Checkout for PayPal registered customers. The customer goes to the PayPal site then returns.
- Until your needs are greater, Website Payments Standard is the least expensive solution to use. Create a PayPal Premier account. (The Premier account allows you to both buy and sell items.) Verify your email address and bank account. To verify your bank account, use the "Confirm deposits" method. (The instant verification method involves giving your secure online banking information (regarding your bank account) to PayPal, which is strongly advised against.) Verification of your bank account is a 4 day process, in general.
Create a PayPal Donate button
- While logged in to the PayPal site, create your button(s) for donations (or payment or checkout) through the PayPal website.
- PayPal -> Merchant Services -> Create Buttons -> Donate
- Customise your button(s) as desired. When you "Create button" or "Save changes," the code for the button will be displayed. Copy the PayPal button code.
- On your Drupal website, create a new block in which to display the newly created button. In this example I will place this new block in the right sidebar.
- Drupal -> Administer -> Site building -> Blocks -> Add block ->
- Block description: PayPal block
- Block title: Donations
- Block body: Paste the code from your PayPal button here
- Input format: Full HTML
- Customize other settings as desired -> Save block
- Place the newly created block into the right sidebar:
- Drupal -> Administer -> Site building -> Blocks -> PayPal block -> Disabled -> Dropdown: Right sidebar -> Save blocks
Install Ubercart on Drupal
cd /etc/drupal/6/sites/all/modules sudo wget http://ftp.drupal.org/files/projects/token-6.x-1.12.tar.gz sudo tar zxvf token-6.x-1.12.tar.gz sudo rm token-6.x-1.12.tar.gz
cd /etc/drupal/6/sites/all/modules sudo wget http://ftp.drupal.org/files/projects/ubercart-6.x-2.0.tar.gz sudo tar zxvf ubercart-6.x-2.0.tar.gz sudo rm ubercart-6.x-2.0.tar.gz
- Note: If you wish these modules to be available to only one subsite, then install them instead into the /etc/drupal/6/sites/mysite_x/modules folder.
- Note: You must update and adjust permissions after module installation.
- Drupal -> Administer -> Modules -> Ubercart -> select the Ubercart module functions you intend to use
- PayPal requires cURL. Install the curl-php library in Ubuntu/Kubuntu (see this link for more info):
sudo apt-get install php5-curl sudo /etc/init.d/apache2 restart
- Read the Ubercart documentation to set up your online store/services. Run:
- Drupal -> Administer -> Store administration
Setup PayPal with Ubercart
- Undergoing revisions.
- Check that a payment has been processed:
- Drupal -> Administer -> Store Administration -> Orders -> View by status: Payment received
Trigger functions based on payment
The benefit of using Ubercart in Drupal is that access to website functions can be triggered based on a payment regimen. For example, access to webcam modules (such as videochat or webcams) can be enabled (using the ContentAccess module) after payment is processed by Ubercart through Paypal. This allows consumer-based telemedicine, a very desirable service for physicians.
Ubercart allows actions to be triggered, predicated on conditions being met (such as a PayPal payment notification being received). This can include the startup of other modules.
- Drupal -> Administer -> Store administration -> Conditional actions
Add realtime videochat to your website
(This section under construction).
The following modules add videochat to Drupal:
Add BigBlueButton API
- BigBlueButton is a standalone videoconferencing server. Install the BigBlueButton API that is able to call the BBB server from within Drupal:
cd /etc/drupal/6/sites/all/modules sudo wget http://ftp.drupal.org/files/projects/bbb-6.x-1.x-dev.tar.gz sudo tar zxvf bbb-6.x-1.x-dev.tar.gz sudo rm bbb-6.x-1.x-dev.tar.gz
- Note: If you wish this module to be available to only one subsite, then install it instead into the /etc/drupal/6/sites/mysite_x/modules folder.
- Note: You must update and adjust permissions after module installation.
- Drupal -> Administer -> Modules -> Big Blue Button -> select the Big Blue Button module functions you intend to use
- Test the BigBlueButton settings:
- Drupal -> Site administration -> BigBlueButton Conferencing -> Test connection.
- Change the URL to the address of your BBB server (e.g. http://mybbbsite.dyndns.org:81/bigbluebutton/) and the Security Salt (found in bigbluebutton.properties on the BBB server in the
/var/lib/tomcat6/webapps/bigbluebutton/WEB-INF/classes/bigbluebutton.properties
- configuration file, in the setting:
beans.dynamicConferenceService.securitySalt=your_security_salt_number_here
- Create a new content type named Teleconference:
- Drupal -> Administer -> Content management -> Content types -> Add content type
-> Name: Teleconference -> Type: teleconference -> Big Blue Button settings -> Treat this node type as conference: (ticked) -> Show links to join / start a meeting beneath the node: (ticked) -> Display meeting status on node: (ticked) -> Save content type
- Create a new node of content type Teleconference:
Drupal -> Create content -> Teleconference -> Conference settings -> ...
Add Kaltura video services
- See these instructions for adding the API for the community edition of Kaltura, a video editor and manager for your website.
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