Joomla 1.5 Extensions Recommendations - Ramblers-Webs

This is a list of Joomla Extensions that that are recommended for Ramblers-Webs websites. Versions of these Extensions can be downloaded from http://www.ramblers-webs.org.uk/ (You must be a registered user). Note: that some of these Extensions are commercial packages and the versions stored on the above site have been purchased for use by Ramblers web sites, they MUST not be used for other purposes.

Some extensions are optional others are considered mandatory.

Mandatory

These extensions are used to protect your site from hackers etc.

• Akeeba Admin Tools
• Akeeba Backup
• Eyesite
• JHackGuard

Recommended

• JCE Editor and Mediabox

• Simple Image Gallery Pro or Sigplus

• RamblersFooter

MUST NOT

J2Top - extension that put up a button to scroll back to the top of the page. The extension works but can slow down the speed of loading page both in the front and backend of a web site.

Description of Joomla Extensions

A large number of extensions are available for Joomla. Below is a list of those that may be installed on your web site. For Ramblers-Webs administrators copies of these extensions are stored in the Download section of http://www.ramblers-webs.org.uk/

Admin Tools - Mandatory

This extension has a number of tools to change the settings on the web site to be more secure. These are

• Password Protect Administrator - this puts a usename/password on the /administrator folder of your site. Admins will need to enter those values before they see the normal Admin logon page. Set these values and email them to the other Administrators so they can be logged. If you don't do this then other Admins will not be able to access the site.
• Super Administrator ID - this changes the default Admin userid account so it does not have the standard ID value, this will stop some hacks
• Fix Permissions - this sets the appropriate file permissions for your Joomla site. (Use this in preference to the normal one in your control panel)
• Clean Temp Directory - this removes any code from the Temp Directory or items you have installed

http://www.akeebabackup.com/

Akeeba backup - Mandatory

This package is installed to take a regular backup of your web site. It copies all the files installed on the server and all the MySql tables associated with the web site. Akeeba has a plug in that will take the backup every few days, this is typically set to take a backup every 7 to 31 days.

Install this extension as soon as possible. The default setting are normally fine, with one exception.

• Go to Components > Akeeba Backup > Backup Now
• Select the Component Parameters option
• Set up the email options to send an email to admin@yourdomain.org.uk, set the Subject and Email body text to suitable values. This will send an email after every backup so the Admins for the site know it is operational.

Once installed test the Backup to see that it operates using the Backup Now option

If this works okay then go to Extensions > Plugins

• Look for the Akeeba Backup Lazy Scheduling item
• Open this item and
• Make sure it is enabled
• Set the Backup frequency, in days to a suitable value, usually between say 7 and 31.
• Set the Backup time (00:00-23:59), it is best to do this at some time in the early hours, choose an odd value so that all backups are not done at the same time
• Save these changes
• Monitor your emails to make sure that regular backups are taking place.

http://www.akeebabackup.com/

Eyesite - Mandatory

See Monitoring a Joomla site for hacking - using Eyesite for how to install this extension

JHackGuard

jHackGuard is designed by SiteGround to protect Joomla websites from hacking attacks.

http://www.siteground.com/

DOCman

This facility allows users to download documents, you can control who can download what, have categories of document. DOCman also logs downloads so you can see what has been accessed.

http://www.joomlatools.eu/products/docman.html

RawContent

Display Raw, Unformatted content inside your content with a minimal effort, this is useful to include items such as PayPal buttons.

http://atlanticintelligence.net/

Community Builder

This a popular extension to the Joomla User Management, it has many options to maintain the users registered on your web site.

http://www.joomlapolis.com/

Simple Image Gallery Pro

This provides the facility to display a number of images as thumbnails and it allows the user to display the full size picture. You can choose the size of the thumbnails and whether all the images are displayed or just the first one. You can also supply titles for each picture.

http://www.joomlaworks.gr/