Dizkus

I adminster a PostNuke 0.7.5.0 site for a non profit .ORG the site is quite well used and has about 180 members with a lot more casual users.

Problem:
I originally installed it through Fantastico into a subdirectory /QLD/
The site is working quite wel,l but I have had to juggle some code in a few modules to make it happy with the location.

I feel that the site should be upgraded to version 7.6 + but really I should migrate it to the root before I upgrade. Although I think I can handle most of the general problems, I have great fear of loosing all my user data, either during the migration or the upgrade.

This site is important to the dancing community, and I volunteer a great deal of my time to it.
Can anyone offer suggestions on which way to SAFELY handle the job.

Thanking you in advance

Best advise I can give to start with is to BACKUP everything before you start.

There are two backups necessary.

1) SQL Database
2) All the HTML files.

If you have these, (or better 2 copies of each), you can have the piece of mind of restoring should it go wrong.

It seems like many people have done this upgrade so should you run into problems the chances are it has been resolved before.

I would read the upgrade instructions a couple of times as well before you start.


Good luck

Set your theme to Extralite

backup your DB.
backup your DB again.

This is very important.... Completely! remove the core files from .5 or install it into a fresh directory...and rebuild your module and theme set.

For best results follow the directions.

--
David Pahl
Zikula Support Team

Oh, it is better to upgrade than becomprimised with the weaker security functions of .5

--
David Pahl
Zikula Support Team

Actually your in a sweet possition since your moving to the root anyways. After following the advice above regarding Backing Up, check your backups just in case ;) .

After that you can set up one of your backups in the root and try upgrading that until you get it right without interfering with your current site.

--
Under Construction!

Thank you all for your rapid response and help.
Something more to confess. -- I am no GURU.

Sorry but in this is where the problem lies, I have never backed up any MY-SQL data -- I simply dont know how.
Yes I have been to php_My Admin and it has all sorts of capabilities including copy ( which I think may be what I have to do) But copy to where, I have not been game to try (another copy on the server) or where?
Sorry I am so thick.
I have been in and altered data for some modules. but that's it.

Yes I have even "fixed" some code in some modules, but these were only small text or variable based. For which I downloaded the module attacked it with ztree, found the references or pointers and changed them them upluaded the changed module.

PS I have a complete copy of the PN site on my Xandros and Windows machines.

But DATA ?????

There should be an options in PHP Admin to Export the database or maybe as you say copy.

I'm taking the assumption that the site is remotely hosted. You should be able to export the database and save it to a local file on your PC. You can normally export into many different formats but you want to stick to the SQL format.

There maybe a more step by step process in the forums but I think a google search would find something more suitable.... Something like

http://www.tamba2.org.uk/wordpress/backup/

A backup from phpadmin is the same regardless of whether it's a PostNuke site or not.

Hope this helps.

Ok well bless you for not starting before you understood how to back up your data... I find it easier to type extra posts explaining things than to type one telling you your screwed.

Browsed to your database in phpMyAdmin there should be a tab at the top labeled "Export", that's the one you want. The defaults should be ok, but just in case.

Make sure under "Export" that 'SQL' is checked, under "SQL Options" that 'Structure' and 'Enclose table and field names with backquotes' is checked, and that "Export Type" is 'Insert'. At the bottom check "Save as file" and add a date to whatever is in the name box.

Do this twice and name them slightly differently... just because. Also make sure you've created 2 copies of the directory were you now have PostNuke... do this twice as well each time from the origional files.

Only other thing that hasn't been already mentioned is tha you should proly create a new database for this re-install, but make extra sure you use the same dbusername/password and that you update config.php to reflect the new database name.

Good luck and keep us posted.

--
Under Construction!

If you use cpanel, there is an easier option of downloading a backup under backups... do it twice (as suggested). If you use plesk, I am sure there a similar plesk (i haven't used plesk in years though). I am not sure what other backend interfaces there are? I got used to cpanel when I was a noob, and that is the only thing I use for my clients...

--
David Pahl
Zikula Support Team

Ok all understood on backup.
- I will complete every step as suggested.
But once I have full backup (x2) I might see if I can con the Guys who run the server into just block moving it and see what happens.
I will be doing all this after the first of next month, as I accedently went over my 10G limit this month and I am throttled back to 56k (speed).
If you wish to follow the mess at it transpires dsq.org.au(/qld) is where it will happen.

Thanks again and I will keep you posted.
Best Regards
Llew

My first recomendation would be to find a better host... 10G transfre limit per month is not very reasonable, at least not to me...

You can find a slew of hosts that can give you way more transfer per month... cheap.

--
David Pahl
Zikula Support Team

I'm thinking that's his ISP throttling him rather than a host... I did over 10G down once at home here, that was a LOT of movies but I was depressed and needed distraction LOL.

--
Under Construction!

I was actually very supprised that I overshot the 10gig (download) I have never been anyware near that before.
I took all the evasive action (password and stuff) in case I had been hacked.
But I actually could have done it I did download a lot and I spent a lot of time looking at weather maps and satelite infa red stuff and I was hanging 2 Xandros machine and 1 windows machine of it.

Ok Guys.
Full backup of the site: memory stick and hd
2 full backups of MySql Data (different names) Memory stick and hd

at what point should I (try) to create this other database, now or after I have asked the server guys to move everything?

Also I tried an update at one other time and something worked badly (for me)
I could no longer get the on line editor to work.(possibly to do with the subdirectory)
and unlike the version I am now using the new version defaulted to opening the user(who logged in)'s page.

The way this version works is just perfect.
not logged in --- (same in both versions-- front page)
logged in ( registered members noticeboard) -- (not user-page)
Will I be able to set the new version to do this?

Thanks again for your time and patience.