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Release and Deploy a plugin

.. index:: release a plugin

1. Release a plugin

Releasing a plugin consists in keeping all the plugin related files together in one .pluginfile and makes the plugin production-ready, ready to be deployed.

In order to release a plugin, go to the plugin directory and enter the run the following command from the root directory of the plugin: 

make release

Then a {plugin name}-{version}-1.metwork.mfdata.plugin file is created, where:

  • {plugin name} is the name of the plugin
  • {version} is the value of the version parameter defined in the plugin config.ini file you enter when you create the plugin (default value is ${MFMODULE_VERSION})

You can change the version in plugin config.ini file: 

# Version of the plugin (X.Y.Z)
# If the value is [MFMODULE_VERSION],
# the current module version is used
version=1.0.0

.. index:: deploy a plugin

2. Deploy a plugin in a production environment

In order to deploy a plugin in a production environment:

  • Metwork have to be installed on this environment (at least MFDATA and its dependencies MFEXT).
  • the plugin you want to deploy have to be 'released' in a .plugin file (refer to Release a plugin)

2.1 The 'basic' way

You be logged in as {METWORK_MODULE} user, e.g. mfdata user.

In order to deploy the plugin on a production environment, put down the .plugin file in a directory on this target environment, e.g. ~/released_plugins

Then, install the plugin by entering:

plugins.install ~/released_plugins/{your_plugin_released}.plugin
Then, check the plugin is installed, enter:

plugins.list

In practice, the plugins are installed in the ~/var/plugins directory.

2.2 The 'well-done' way

** This is the recommended way to deploy a plugin in a production environment**

You be logged in as root user.

In order to deploy the plugin on a production environment, put down the .plugin file into /etc/metwork.config.d/mfdata/external_plugins directory.

Then to install the plugin, you just restart the {METWORK MODULE} service by entering service metwork restart {METWORK MODULE} command, e.g. service metwork restart mfdata.

Then, check the plugin is installed, enter the command `su --command="plugins.list" - {METWORK MODULE}`, e.g.:

```bash
su --command="plugins.list" - mfdata

Override a plugin configuration

Refer to :ref:configure_a_metwork_package:How to configure plugins during production deployment process ? section.