Yes. You could have extended downtime - if you don't install it correctly and you didn't backup your database. If you backup database and pay attention to what you are doing, even if you destroy your 2.0.18.8 installation. You can recover provided you saved all the files in your vanilla 2.0.18.8 and can restore them and you can restore the database.
I don't know if upgrade works in 2.1 - absolutely no one has ever stated that they have automatically updated from 2.0.18. Most people upgraded manually moving tables. If you can find someone who did /utility/update from 2.0.18.x to 2.1 or greater - more power to you.
You will need to learn alot. that means reading more, studying more vanilla, and asking questions after you spend a few days reading up on it by searching the forum. But you will be better off in the long run, if you spend the time which you said you have.
I suggest you make a duplicate forum and experiment with 2.1. If and when you are satisfied with new feature and it works for you then you can attempt migration.
and back up your old database and source before you install 2.1 and intend to fool around. several people have not heeded that warning and have paid their host to restore things.
I would follow peregrine's advice if I were you. Set up a Vanilla installation on your local computer (localhost). Install the exact backup (plugins & themes) of your forum on that computer.
Now make a copy of Vanilla in a new database to 'mess around with'
The thing with our forum is simple : a user can either ask 'how do I install Vanilla on my local computer?' Or he can ask : 'I googled for how do I install Vanilla on my local computer and couldn't find it'
If you can see the difference between those 2 and make the right choice, there is no problem in asking millions of questions.
I visited the links, they go back to 2010, contain lots of errors and rabbit-trails, and are as confusing as they are helpful. But I reviewed them just the same.
Note 1: We own both oachegroup.org and oachegroup.com
The current Version 2.0.18.8 install is on oachegroup.org and I planned to point oachegroup.com at it.
I could create a whole new Version 2.0.18.8 install via MojoMarketplace on Bluehost vanillaforums.org/docs/installation#step1 using oachegroup.com, complete the rest of the new install Steps, overwrite that with 2.1, then experiment with it there.
Once satisfied I could wipe the oachegroup.org install and point it to the fully-functioning 2.1 install at oachegroup.com
Would that be a way to be sure the existing Forum remains intact while the updated version is established?
(I would have to copy or re-enter the members list - I'm guessing it's a file somewhere I can copy or that it may be imported.)
(On the next upgrade I could un-point oachegroup.org and reverse the process.)
Upgrade your Vanilla Forum
Upgrading is a one-way process. There is no way to downgrade. so it's a good idea to make a test upgrade on a backup, before proceeding with the real upgrade.
1. Create a Backup
Back up your database
Back up your uploads/ folder
Back up your conf/config.php
I copied everything inside my Bluehost.com hosted public_html/oachegroup/ ... a gazillion files and folders (including .htaccess, uploads/, conf/config.php) to my laptop and then also to an external USB drive.
Q: Is there anything, apart from all of that, which I might have missed?
Note 2: If my suggested - different domain - method (see above) seems OK I still want to be doubly-certain I don't break the working install,and if I do I can just copy back anything I mistakenly damage.
Update your files
Upload your new version of Vanilla 2
Delete all the .ini files in your cache/ folder
Navigate to the page in your forum that updates your database: www.yourforum.com/utility/update (or www.yourforum.com/index.php?p=/utility/update)
I see nothing anywhere about /utility/update/ in the current installation - is created via the 2.1 (or any other update/upgrade) upload?
How Vanilla URLs work
This was very old (most recent post 2 years ago), a wandering thread without conclusion; somewhat confusing.
Test
If you can't log in to your forum after upgrading, clear your cookies and restart your browser.
So, what do you think, please?
Am I misunderstanding or over-complicating things this way?
I found this https://siteground.com/tutorials/php-mysql/mysql_export.htm
Export appears to be what I need.
The default is:
"Save on server in the directory /home/nevilsst/tmp/" but I will also copy to my external USB drive just in case.
So, I would recommend you install vanilla 2.2 with a fresh new database name and play with it for a week or two (testforumA)
if you like it and all of the plugins you need are there. then. You have a backup in case your installation messes up your live forum of 2.0.18.x
then if you are happy.
I would backup live database
I would install a new separate test forumB with version 2.0.18.8 with new database name
then import database you got from live.
then overwrite source to 2.2 in the new test forumB
then run utility update to see if it works. play with it for a week if it works.
then do the real thing.
I may not provide the completed solution you might desire, but I do try to provide honest suggestions to help you solve your issue.
I have printed peregrine's post as I'm in the midst of trying to get our son enrolled in college, our daughter transferring HS's, and just changed versions of Linux on two laptops (including this one), plus life's usual daily adventures.
I really appreciate the help and patience and apologize for seeming often-obtuse.
2) then use this to install 2.2 on you linux laptop. It couldn't get any easier - assuming you have nginx or apache and curl and php and mysql installed.
@DavidColburn said:
I really appreciate the help and patience and apologize for seeming often-obtuse.
As long as you show you're trying, it's ok. Besides : all these advices are good information for on the Vanilla Wiki. There's just someone that might ask you to add it there
Comments
I'd love to!
Any likelihood the upgrade might break things or result in an extended down time?
If not I can do it later today.
Where do I find 2.1 and are there any gotcha's to the upgrade process, please?
See the announcement. there are gotchas. make a duplicate. Instructions are scattered through the forum.
I may not provide the completed solution you might desire, but I do try to provide honest suggestions to help you solve your issue.
Yes. You could have extended downtime - if you don't install it correctly and you didn't backup your database. If you backup database and pay attention to what you are doing, even if you destroy your 2.0.18.8 installation. You can recover provided you saved all the files in your vanilla 2.0.18.8 and can restore them and you can restore the database.
I don't know if upgrade works in 2.1 - absolutely no one has ever stated that they have automatically updated from 2.0.18. Most people upgraded manually moving tables. If you can find someone who did /utility/update from 2.0.18.x to 2.1 or greater - more power to you.
You will need to learn alot. that means reading more, studying more vanilla, and asking questions after you spend a few days reading up on it by searching the forum. But you will be better off in the long run, if you spend the time which you said you have.
I suggest you make a duplicate forum and experiment with 2.1. If and when you are satisfied with new feature and it works for you then you can attempt migration.
and back up your old database and source before you install 2.1 and intend to fool around. several people have not heeded that warning and have paid their host to restore things.
http://vanillaforums.org/discussion/21303/how-to-duplicate-your-forum-or-move-it-to-another-directory
http://vanillaforums.org/discussion/21428/destroyed-a-completely-functional-installation-trying-to-upgrade-to-2-0-18-4
http://vanillaforums.org/discussion/20866/urgent-help-needed-all-discussions-page-empty
I may not provide the completed solution you might desire, but I do try to provide honest suggestions to help you solve your issue.
I would follow peregrine's advice if I were you. Set up a Vanilla installation on your local computer (localhost). Install the exact backup (plugins & themes) of your forum on that computer.
Now make a copy of Vanilla in a new database to 'mess around with'
The thing with our forum is simple : a user can either ask 'how do I install Vanilla on my local computer?' Or he can ask : 'I googled for how do I install Vanilla on my local computer and couldn't find it'
If you can see the difference between those 2 and make the right choice, there is no problem in asking millions of questions.
There was an error rendering this rich post.
I visited the links, they go back to 2010, contain lots of errors and rabbit-trails, and are as confusing as they are helpful. But I reviewed them just the same.
I'm going to use vanillaforums.org/docs/installation-upgrade as my overview-template for the upgrade process because it is concise/simple.
Note 1: We own both oachegroup.org and oachegroup.com
The current Version 2.0.18.8 install is on oachegroup.org and I planned to point oachegroup.com at it.
I could create a whole new Version 2.0.18.8 install via MojoMarketplace on Bluehost vanillaforums.org/docs/installation#step1 using oachegroup.com, complete the rest of the new install Steps, overwrite that with 2.1, then experiment with it there.
Once satisfied I could wipe the oachegroup.org install and point it to the fully-functioning 2.1 install at oachegroup.com
Would that be a way to be sure the existing Forum remains intact while the updated version is established?
(I would have to copy or re-enter the members list - I'm guessing it's a file somewhere I can copy or that it may be imported.)
(On the next upgrade I could un-point oachegroup.org and reverse the process.)
I copied everything inside my Bluehost.com hosted public_html/oachegroup/ ... a gazillion files and folders (including .htaccess, uploads/, conf/config.php) to my laptop and then also to an external USB drive.
Q: Is there anything, apart from all of that, which I might have missed?
Note 2: If my suggested - different domain - method (see above) seems OK I still want to be doubly-certain I don't break the working install,and if I do I can just copy back anything I mistakenly damage.
I see nothing anywhere about /utility/update/ in the current installation - is created via the 2.1 (or any other update/upgrade) upload?
This was very old (most recent post 2 years ago), a wandering thread without conclusion; somewhat confusing.
So, what do you think, please?
Am I misunderstanding or over-complicating things this way?
Back up your database
You go to myphpadmin and click manage backups then select the database and back it up .
You can install in a subfolder of the same domain. oache.org/forum
That is in your database.
❌ ✊ ♥. ¸. ••. ¸♥¸. ••. ¸♥ ✊ ❌
Bluehost uses the label phpmyadmin and offers Export - do I take that to mean the same thing as Backup?
I found this
https://siteground.com/tutorials/php-mysql/mysql_export.htm
Export appears to be what I need.
The default is:
"Save on server in the directory /home/nevilsst/tmp/" but I will also copy to my external USB drive just in case.
OK.
I presume that is what I needed to accomplish?
look at it.
as you are aware tmp is cleaned up by most systems on a periodic basis.
I may not provide the completed solution you might desire, but I do try to provide honest suggestions to help you solve your issue.
standard phpmyadmin export is a backup if you choose to backup entire database.
as far as Bluehost special uniqueness I know not.
I may not provide the completed solution you might desire, but I do try to provide honest suggestions to help you solve your issue.
I have it copied to my laptop and to the external USB drive.
It contains all of the databases, Vanilla and some little-used blogs.
So, I would recommend you install vanilla 2.2 with a fresh new database name and play with it for a week or two (testforumA)
if you like it and all of the plugins you need are there. then. You have a backup in case your installation messes up your live forum of 2.0.18.x
then if you are happy.
I would backup live database
I would install a new separate test forumB with version 2.0.18.8 with new database name
then import database you got from live.
then overwrite source to 2.2 in the new test forumB
then run utility update to see if it works. play with it for a week if it works.
then do the real thing.
I may not provide the completed solution you might desire, but I do try to provide honest suggestions to help you solve your issue.
See Peregrine's advice. It's the exact advice for all beginning users.
Remember : if you question a 'howto' google first please unless it's really really specific to Vanilla.
You can also use google on the Vanilla site.
'"How do I backup my forum" site:vanillaforums.org/discussions/'
When you add that little piece ~~~site:vanillaforums.org/discussions/
Google will only return results from that site
There was an error rendering this rich post.
I have printed peregrine's post as I'm in the midst of trying to get our son enrolled in college, our daughter transferring HS's, and just changed versions of Linux on two laptops (including this one), plus life's usual daily adventures.
I really appreciate the help and patience and apologize for seeming often-obtuse.
1) back up database (you said you did).
2) then use this to install 2.2 on you linux laptop. It couldn't get any easier - assuming you have nginx or apache and curl and php and mysql installed.
http://vanillaforums.org/discussion/comment/187377#Comment_187377
I may not provide the completed solution you might desire, but I do try to provide honest suggestions to help you solve your issue.
As long as you show you're trying, it's ok. Besides : all these advices are good information for on the Vanilla Wiki. There's just someone that might ask you to add it there
There was an error rendering this rich post.
too bad its all in a thread that has a title with nothing to do with first time install and we'll have to repeat the same thing for the next user.
@minion get sisyphus
@heracles split and merge
and bring some twinings with some lemon too! and one for underdog and lincoln while you're at it.
I may not provide the completed solution you might desire, but I do try to provide honest suggestions to help you solve your issue.
I solved the displaced-thread content problem.
See this new thread:
I'm on a mobile device, can't split
Title change is Topic Report (PM to me)
There was an error rendering this rich post.