Scott Joudry

<p>The User Access Hub is a service that allows administrators to manage users, user access, and roles across a network of CMS sites.</p>
<h3>User Access Hub</h3>
<p>The User Access Hub is a service that allows administrators to manage users, user access, and roles across a network of CMS sites and will significantly simplify the administrative tasks associated with managing multiple websites. Some reasons why using such a service can help an administrator effectively manage all their CMS sites:</p>
<ol>
<li>Centralized User Management: The User Access Hub provides a single, centralized dashboard where administrators can manage users across all connected CMS sites. This means that instead of logging into each site separately, they can control user access from one location.</li>
<li>User Account Creation and Deletion: Administrators can grant a user access to one or all CMS sites and revoke/delete user access to one or all CMS sites simultaneously. This is particularly useful when onboarding new users or removing access for users who no longer require it.</li>
<li>Role Management: Administrators can assign CMS site defined roles to users for each CMS site, allowing fine tuned access to each CMS site for each user. Permissions will be assigned to roles that are configured on the CMS site.</li>
<li>Single Sign-On (SSO): The User Access Hub allowing users to log in once and access all connected CMS sites without the need for multiple logins. This enhances user experience and security.</li>
<li>Audit Trail and Logging: The hub maintains detailed logs and an audit trail of user activities and changes made by administrators. This is essential for tracking changes, diagnosing issues, and maintaining security.</li>
<li>Scalability: As the network of Drupal sites grows, the User Access Hub can easily scale to accommodate new CMS sites and users without significantly increasing administrative overhead.</li>
<li>Automation: The User Access Hub service is built on the API first methodology and most of the operations that can be performed in the UI can also be performed using the User Access Hub API.</li>
</ol>
<p><a href="https://www.useraccesshub.com/" rel="nofollow ugc">Create a free account to get started.</a></p>
<h3>Additional features</h3>
<ul>
<li>Drupal CMS support</li>
<li>Core Updates Reporting</li>
<li>Plugin Updates Reporting</li>
<li>Theme Updates Reporting</li>
</ul>
<h3>Requirements</h3>
<ul>
<li>This plugin requires the openssl_verify() PHP function, which is part of the <a href="https://www.php.net/manual/en/book.openssl.php" rel="nofollow ugc">OpenSSL library</a> for PHP.</li>
<li>This plugin requires an account on <a href="https://www.useraccesshub.com/" rel="nofollow ugc">User Access Hub</a>.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Configuration</h3>
<ol>
<li>Enable the plugin. This will create an API key at User Access Hub > Authentication. None of the fields on this form can be edited through the UI. The ‘Enabled the Handshake Endpoint’ checkbox should be checked.</li>
<li>Select the roles that should be handled by the hub’s SSO functionality at User Access Hub > Roles.</li>
<li>Add the site to the <a href="https://www.useraccesshub.com/" rel="nofollow ugc">User Access Hub</a> hub, setting the API key that was generated from step 1.</li>
<li>In the hub, use the ‘Connect’ operation to allow the hub to handshake with the site. Once this is complete, settings on User Access Hub > Authentication will be updated – ‘Private Key’ will be populated, ‘Site ID’ will be populated and the ‘Enabled the Handshake Endpoint’ checkbox will be unchecked.</li>
<li>To enable all User Access Hub functionality, the final step is to check the ‘Enable all of the User Access Hub functionality.’ checkbox on User Access Hub > Settings.</li>
</ol>
<h3>Overriding Configuration</h3>
<p>In many cases, the configuration that exists in the database will need to be overridden. The case of different config values for different environments springs to mind. This can be accomplished by overriding the configuration in a wp-config.php file:</p>
<pre><code>define( 'USERACCESSHUB_ALLOW_LOCAL', true );
define( 'USERACCESSHUB_API_KEY', 'string' );
define( 'USERACCESSHUB_DEFAULT_ROLE', 'role' );
define( 'USERACCESSHUB_ENABLED', true );
define( 'USERACCESSHUB_HANDSHAKE_ENABLED', true );
define( 'USERACCESSHUB_PUBLIC_KEY', 'string' );
define( 'USERACCESSHUB_REDIRECT', '/redirect/url' );
define( 'USERACCESSHUB_ROLES', array( 'role1', 'role2' ) );
define( 'USERACCESSHUB_SITE_ID', 1 );
</code></pre>
<h3>Commands</h3>
<h3>Enable Handshake</h3>
<p>This WP CLI command will enable the handshake endpoint so a site can be reconnected with the Hub.</p>
<pre><code>wp enable-handshake
</code></pre>
<h3>Disable Handshake</h3>
<p>This WP CLI command will disable the handshake endpoint.</p>
<pre><code>wp disable-handshake
</code></pre>
<h3>Regenerate API Key</h3>
<p>This WP CLI command will re-generate the API key used for the handshake.</p>
<pre><code>wp regenerate-api-key
</code></pre>


User Access Hub

The User Access Hub is a service that allows administrators to manage users, user access, and roles across a network of CMS sites.

Themeisle

<p>Add a maintenance page to your blog that lets visitors know your blog is down for maintenance, add a coming soon page for a new website or create a landing page for an existing site. User with admin rights gets full access to the blog including the front end.</p>
<p>Activate the plugin and your blog is in maintenance-mode, works and only registered users with enough rights can see the front end. You can use a date with a countdown timer for visitor information or set a value and unit for information.</p>
<p>Also works with WordPress Multisite installs (each blog from the network has its own maintenance settings).</p>
<h4>Features</h4>
<ul>
<li>Fully customizable (change colors, texts and backgrounds).</li>
<li>Subscription form (export emails to .csv file).</li>
<li>Countdown timer (remaining time).</li>
<li>Contact form (receive emails from visitors).</li>
<li>Coming soon page;</li>
<li>Landing page templates;</li>
<li>WordPress multisite;</li>
<li>Responsive design;</li>
<li>Social media icons;</li>
<li>Works with any WordPress theme;</li>
<li>SEO options;</li>
<li>Exclude URLs from maintenance;</li>
<li>Bot functionality to collect the emails in a friendly and efficient way;</li>
<li>GDPR Ready;</li>
</ul>
<h4>Bugs, technical hints or contribute</h4>
<p>Please give us feedback, contribute and file technical bugs on <a href="https://github.com/andrianvaleanu/WP-Maintenance-Mode" rel="nofollow ugc">GitHub Repo</a>.</p>
<h4>Credits</h4>
<p>Developed by <a href="https://themeisle.com" rel="nofollow ugc">Themeisle</a></p>
<h4>What’s Next</h4>
<p>If you like this plugin, then consider checking out our other projects:</p>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://optimole.com/" rel="nofollow ugc">Optimole</a> – Optimole is your all-in-one image optimization solution for WordPress & beyond.</li>
<li><a href="https://wpshout.com/" rel="nofollow ugc">WPShout</a> – In-Depth WordPress Tutorials for Developers</li>
<li><a href="https://revive.social/" rel="nofollow ugc">Revive Social</a> – Revive Old Posts helps you keep your content alive and in front the audiences that matter.</li>
<li><a href="https://www.codeinwp.com/" rel="nofollow ugc">CodeinWP</a> – CodeinWP stands for all-things-WordPress. From web design to freelancing and from development to business, your questions are covered.</li>
<li><a href="https://domainwheel.com" rel="nofollow ugc">DomainWheel</a> – Free Short Website name generator, with the help of AI, for instant ideas.</li>
</ul>
<p>Check-out <a href="https://themeisle.com/blog/" title="Themeisle blog" rel="nofollow ugc">our blog</a> to learn from our <a href="https://themeisle.com/blog/category/wordpress/reviews/" title="WordPress Reviews" rel="nofollow ugc">WordPress Reviews</a> and see other <a href="https://themeisle.com/blog/category/wordpress-plugins/" title="WordPress Plugins Comparisons" rel="nofollow ugc">WordPress plugins</a>.</p>


LightStart – Maintenance Mode, Coming Soon and Landing Page Builder

I discovered some times ago that there is an add for Otter Blocks in Custom CSS setting in Gutenberg. I did not investigate and the last update of Lighstart force to install Otter Blocks when you go to Gutenberg management for Maintenance Page. Deactivating Lightstart resolves the problem. So don’t install this plugin, there is a bunch of alternative.

Add Ad for Otter in Custom CSS setting in Gutenberg


Initially I installed the plugin and there was an "optimize images" checkbox (enabled by default), that I did not look carefully into. After the plugin was installed, I noticed that some kind of optimization plugin had been installed. That was fine as I felt it was my mistake for not looking into that more carefully,



Today I find another plugin on our site, a plugin called "Otter Blocks".



This is quite a shady practice - probably done to boost the installs and visibility of the other plugins.


Installs other plugins without notice


After installing a plugin that initially appears uncomplicated and straightforward, you are immediately greeted with aggressive promotions for Otter – Page Builder Blocks & Extensions for Gutenberg. In a short span, a new message emerges: "Elevate your content's visibility with ease! Discover Revive Old Posts, a state-of-the-art plugin from the creators of Otter – Page Builder Blocks & Extensions for Gutenberg. Effortlessly reshare both old and new content on social media platforms, attracting unprecedented traffic."



Given that "unprecedented traffic" seems to be just a catchy phrase coined by marketers to lure in users, the entire promotional tactic can be overbearing for those seeking a clutter-free experience. Such aggressive marketing feels intrusive, disregards user preferences, and does not align with a community-oriented ethos.


Bombarded with excessive promotions


This plugin installs other crap ware on your site. Stay away.


Installs crapware


Theoretical this is a great plugin allowing users to design and change their "Maintenance" page in Gutenberg. But in reality it hung my WP admin upon activation. And the site is not available. Too many re-directs.Also the so called templates do install an extra plugin "Otter" which might be handy. But a little confusing. 


Looks great, but has issues

Easy Drag & Drop Page Builder that adds a splash page to your site that it's perfect for a coming soon page, maintenance or landing page.

User Access Hub vs LightStart – Maintenance Mode, Coming Soon and Landing Page Builder