Extra modules available in all platforms

QIs there a list of contrib modules added by default in all 6.x and 7.x platforms, even in my custom platforms created in the /static directory?

AThe list of extra contrib modules available in all 6.x and 7.x platforms can be modified with every new BOA release/upgrade, and for latest stable release you can find it here. All those extra modules coming by default with our 6.x and 7.x platforms will be instantly added (symlinked) also in all your custom platforms, on the first Verify task you run when adding new platform in Aegir.

QWhy all those extra contrib modules are symlinked in the platform core modules directory and not in the sites/all/modules or in the profiles?

AFor 6.x platforms the extra contrib modules are symlinked in the platform root /modules /o_contrib directory and for 7.x platforms in the platform root /modules /o_contrib_seven directory. We did it for two reasons – to not modify original, built-in contrib space normally located in the platform root /profiles /name /modules space and to give you possibility to override them with your own copies / versions either in the platform-wide space /sites /all /modules or site-specific space /sites /foo.com /modules. It is possible thanks to Drupal native logic, where platform-wide space takes precedence over profiles and core modules space, while site-specific space takes precedence over platform-wide space. One warning however – we recommend to never use /sites /foo.com /modules, as this space is never checked by Aegir for compatibility on upgrade / migrate between platforms and may even cause some serious problems during clone / migrate tasks.