Is Drupal an Enterprise Solution?

See http://2007.oscms-summit.org/node/301. I think the two topics have some overlap.

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Ken Rickard
http://savannahnow.com/user/2
http://ken.blufftontoday.com/
http://ken.therickards.com

We won't really be talking about performance and optimization so much as capabilities and weaknesses. We won't really be focusing on "tips" for enterprise usage so much as whether or not Drupal developers can confidently present Drupal as a complete solution for their clients.

Then I think the answer is a qualified Yes.

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Ken Rickard
http://savannahnow.com/user/2
http://ken.blufftontoday.com/
http://ken.therickards.com

High-traffic, high-end (HTHE) website is not equivalent to, congruent with, or even majority intersected with enterprise web solution. Nor is "large-scale deployment" equivalent to either of the foregoing.

HTHE sites might occasionally be part of an enterprise solution, but often will not. Websites themselves are only a part of an enterprise solution. An HTHE site might or might not be a large-scale deployment. Likewise, an enterprise solution might large-scale, or not.

This talk is wrongly named. It should be titled something like "A panel discussion of a few higher-traffic Drupal sites".

Not really, in my case, since part of the story of SavannahNow is the story of using Drupal methods within a 5,000+ person organization that has existing hosting, availability, and security standards (such a single-sign-on using SAP and MS Exchange).

That story is "how does Drupal fit into an established enterprise?"

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Ken Rickard
http://savannahnow.com/user/2
http://ken.blufftontoday.com/
http://ken.therickards.com

Agreed. "Enterprise" means something that helps a business or large organization run its business. An HTHE is not an "Enterprise solution"; it's an application. The MTV project is an application, not an Enterprise solution or even "Enterprise application". Furthur more, it's stand-alone and does not integrate with anything (AFAIK). Oracle Finanacials, or even Drupal running E-Commerce module back-ended to SAP and then integrated with project module to release custom builds of applications that get their source from Rational Rose that a client pays for (i totally just made that up) could be argued as an Enterprise solution. Dupal is "part" of it. It seems this talk is about optimization for High Traffic from the knowledge base of the panel. As I see only one person on the panel who seems to know what he is talking about (SavanahNow). However, jjeff has done HTHE's, and I don't see the relavance of his knowledge on "Enterprise". Same with teamsugar; unless they have some backend integration much like SavanahNow.

I am not "blasting" or anything; I am just voicing my opinion. I am always disturbed at the misuse of the term "Enterprise".

can you please record this in Drupal dojo style?

complete with screencast and audio (audio is skype)

http://groups.drupal.org/node/3097 has instructions

thank you!

I thought the above anonymous criticisms were very unnecessary.

I would say a large percentage of consistently high-traffic sites have to be enterprise sites in some sense, because very high traffic sites are expensive to maintain, and do not tend to be funded by some ordinary individual's spare cash.

Okay, so the session is about high-traffic sites, that's fine. The title was close enough to get my attention.

I would certainly like to hear what all 3 of the speakers have to say, and I think they are all very qualified to speak on this subject.

I think all the critics are saying that is true is that
(a) enterprise sites can be low traffic, not just high traffic
(b) enterprise sites may have very tight security needs that a high traffic site may not have. For example, a bank's site would have need very tight security.

I think there was no need to be so negative in your remarks.

This is the number 1 panel I am looking forward to. I am hoping they will tape it since I will not be able to attend.

because there is a whole area of DRUPAL that should be about the enterprise and if this is about web sites then its just missing the boat. And the sadness is nowhere else in these days is the true notion of what constitutes ENTERPRISE needs requirements and considerations being addressed, and it ought it be as it constitutes a very large pafr of the the drupal community. This is misnamed and the fact that it is so indicates a lack of understanding and experience with regards to the enterprise.

In terms of tone - well i'm not sure there - But it is frustrating as an ENTRPISE drupal user (and a quite a large one in terms of capital investment) to see the self selecting process for these events misunderstand and ignore the needs of this sector of the community. And while im sure that we can all get along and continue the great work that is happening - I think real expertise about real enterprise problems needs to be there and seemingly (with he exception of the Savanah bits) - its lacking

You are the community. Everything that gets done gets done because someone wants it to happen enough to where s/he will do it him or herself or hire someone to do it and give it back to the community.

I was wondering if there is a posting of the list of enterprise questions/issue the guy from Firebryght brought up during this session.

don't take me for granted....companies have done that in the past - and i assume you have little idea what our role has been in the community - otherwise such a trite response would be a bit offensive.