Your Solr server is up and running, so now it is time to give it something to search. That happens through a core, and connecting one to your site only takes a few minutes.
What is a core?
A core is a single search index. Think of it as one searchable copy of a collection. A server can hold multiple cores, and the usual setup is one core per site, which keeps each site's search separate and tidy.
Create a core
From the Solr Servers page, open your server and go to the Cores tab. Click the button to create a new core and give it a name. Like your server's name, this is mostly for your own reference, so naming it after the site it will serve works well.
📷 Screenshot: The Cores tab on a Solr server, with the new core form open and a name typed into the Core Name field.
Find your connection details
Once the core exists, its row in the table shows everything your site needs to connect:
- A connection address. This is a web address that ends in your core's name.
- A username.
- A password. This one stays hidden on screen for safety.
Each of these has a copy button, so you never have to type them out by hand. The password's copy button copies the real password even though it is hidden on the page.
📷 Screenshot: A core row in the Cores table showing the connection address, username, and hidden password, each with a copy button.
Connect your Omeka site
Your site talks to Solr through a search module. If you have not installed one yet, you can add it the same way as any other module. Our guide on installing from the directory shows you how.
With the module installed, log into your Omeka site's admin area and open the module's settings. Paste in the connection address, username, and password you copied from the core row, then save.
That is it. Searches on your site are now answered by Solr. If you run several sites, just repeat the process: create another core on the same server and connect each site to its own core.