How to Setup a Drupal Site on Pantheon from Scratch

Pantheon is a powerful hosting platform tailored for developers and organizations that want to build fast, scalable, and secure Drupal sites. Setting up a Drupal site on Pantheon may seem complex, but with the right steps, it becomes an intuitive process. This guide will walk you through the detailed steps of setting up a Drupal site on Pantheon from scratch. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced developer, this tutorial will help you get started.

Why Choose Pantheon for Drupal?

Pantheon is widely recognized for its efficiency and developer-friendly tools. Here are some of the reasons why Pantheon is an excellent choice for hosting your Drupal site:

1. Scalability

Pantheon’s architecture ensures your site can handle large traffic spikes without compromising performance.

2. Performance Optimization

Pantheon’s built-in tools like Redis caching and a Content Delivery Network (CDN) ensure fast page load times.

3. DevOps Support

Pantheon provides an intuitive dashboard, integrated version control, and a structured workflow (Dev, Test, Live environments).

4. Security

With automated backups, HTTPS, and enterprise-grade security, Pantheon keeps your Drupal site safe from vulnerabilities.

5. Developer Tools

Pantheon offers robust developer tools, including Terminus (Pantheon’s command-line interface) and multidev environments for collaboration.

Step-by-Step Guide to Setting Up a Drupal Site on Pantheon

Step 1: Create a Pantheon Account

Before setting up your Drupal site, you’ll need to create an account on Pantheon. Follow these steps:

1. Visit Pantheon’s official website.
2. Click on “Get Started Free.”
3. Provide your email address and other required information to create an account.
4. Once registered, log in to the Pantheon Dashboard.

Step 2: Create a New Site

After logging into Pantheon, you can create a new Drupal site:

1. In the Pantheon Dashboard, click the “Create a new site” button.
2. Enter a name for your site. This will also determine your site’s Pantheon subdomain (e.g., sitename.pantheonsite.io).
3. Choose Drupal as your CMS platform. Pantheon supports both Drupal 9 and Drupal 10; select the appropriate version for your project.
4. Click “Deploy” to initiate the site creation process.

Also read: What Are Events in Drupal?

Step 3: Set Up a Development Environment

Pantheon automatically sets up three environments: Dev, Test, and Live. The Dev environment is where you’ll do most of your initial work.

1. Navigate to the Dev environment from your site’s dashboard.
2. Click “Visit Development Site” to access your new Drupal site.
3. Install Drupal by following the on-screen prompts, such as selecting your language, configuring your database (Pantheon handles this for you), and setting up your admin account.

Step 4: Install and Configure Drupal

Once your site is set up, complete the Drupal installation process:

1. Provide your site’s name and admin user credentials.
2. Set up basic configurations like the time zone and regional settings.
3. Install any desired modules and themes to customize your site’s functionality and appearance.

Step 5: Use Git and Version Control

Pantheon integrates version control with Git, enabling developers to manage code efficiently.

1. Clone the site repository to your local machine using the Git command provided in the Pantheon Dashboard.
2. Make changes to your site locally and push updates to Pantheon using Git.
3. Test changes in the Dev environment before deploying them to Test or Live.

Also read: Why Drupal CMS Is Best For Your Business In 2025?

Step 6: Configure Multidev (Optional)

Multidev environments allow teams to collaborate on separate branches of the site. To set up a Multidev environment:

1. Access your Pantheon Dashboard and click on “Multidev.”
2. Create a new branch for feature development or bug fixes.
3. Deploy the branch and work on it independently without affecting the main site.

Step 7: Migrate Content (Optional)

If you’re building a new site from scratch, you may skip this step. However, if you’re migrating an existing Drupal site to Pantheon:

1. Export your current site’s content using the Migrate module or a similar tool.
2. Import the content into your new Drupal site on Pantheon.
3. Verify the content migration to ensure accuracy.

Step 8: Test Your Site

Before deploying to the Live environment, thoroughly test your site:

1. Use Pantheon’s Test environment to simulate a live environment.
2. Check for issues like broken links, performance lags, or missing content.
3. Use tools like Google PageSpeed Insights or GTmetrix to analyze and improve your site’s performance.

Step 9: Go Live

Once you’re satisfied with your site, deploy it to the Live environment:

1. From the Pantheon Dashboard, click “Deploy to Live.”
2. Configure your domain name and DNS settings to point to Pantheon’s servers.
3. Enable HTTPS for a secure connection.

Step 10: Monitor and Maintain Your Site

After going live, ensure your site remains functional and secure:

1. Use Pantheon’s monitoring tools to track site performance and uptime.
2. Regularly update Drupal core, modules, and themes to patch vulnerabilities and add new features.
3. Schedule automated backups via the Pantheon Dashboard.

Tips for a Successful Drupal Site Setup on Pantheon

1. Leverage Pantheon’s Support: Pantheon offers extensive documentation and a responsive support team to assist you.
2. Use Terminus: Automate workflows and manage your site more efficiently using Pantheon’s CLI tool.
3. Optimize for Performance: Use Pantheon’s caching tools and CDN to ensure fast load times.
4. Collaborate with Teams: Utilize Multidev environments for seamless teamwork and version control.

Conclusion

Setting up a Drupal site on Pantheon from scratch may initially seem daunting, but with this step-by-step guide, you can navigate the process smoothly. Pantheon’s developer-friendly tools, robust infrastructure, and unparalleled support make it one of the best platforms for hosting Drupal sites. By following the outlined steps, you can create a fast, secure, and scalable Drupal site tailored to your needs.

Ready to build your Drupal site on Pantheon? Dive in and take advantage of everything this platform has to offer!