Triple Ox's Thread of Upgrading Enlightenment

[Triple Ox]

Ok i'll go from the start. I currently have 3.0.0. No hacks installed, just a few altered files such as header, footer and navbar.

My first question is:

Which back up should i use? Which is the best method? In the past i've used phpmyadmin and done a full download of the forum from there. It's currently 27mb or so. I didn't really know what setting i should've set, tables etc.

[Zachery]

If possible you should backup via ssh using mysqldump. If you have never used a command line interface like dos, it can be abit scary, but its nothing to be afraid of.

This thread here will walk you though every single step for SSH.

You should also backup your files/ images for good measure.

Once this is done, go to the vBulletin members area, and download the vBulletin 3 package, without images (as if you are using custom images you won't need a new defualt set). unzip it and upload the files to your server, overwriting all of the old files.

Then its just a matter of running /install/upgrade.php and clicking the buttons

[Triple Ox]

This thread here will walk you though every single step for SSH.

Should i turn my forum off first?

[Zachery]

It would be a good idea, but not 100% nessary.

[Triple Ox]

I put the IP in the Hostname field and pressed open. Put in the username then the invisible-when-typing password and it said:
Shell access not available, contact system administrator if you want this option.

[Zachery]

Then as it says, You will need to contact your host.

You can make a backup from phpmyadmin but it may not be complete.

[Triple Ox]

Right, i've had a look at my hosts forum and they don't allow ssh for security reasons.

Please could you advise how to back up from phpmyadmin?

[Zachery]

another host that doesnt allow ssh for "security" reasons.

http://www.vbulletin.com/docs/html/maintenance_phpmyadmin_backup

That will give you all you need to know.

I would advise you to be on the lookout for a new host that will allow it, as your forumg grows it will be harder to get off that host or make proper backups without ssh access.

[Triple Ox]

Right. Backups done. I've saved the edited files. I've downloaded everything from my forum folder.

Once i've uploaded the new files. How do i run the install.php file? Just locate the file from a browser?

[Zachery]

Not install.php, upgrade.php

mysite.com/forum/install/upgrade.php

[Triple Ox]

That's the one. I'm now uploading the news files including the edited config.php file. What i can't work out is - will i have to set up all my forums settings again from the admin panel??

[Mark.B]

That's the one. I'm now uploading the news files including the edited config.php file. What i can't work out is - will i have to set up all my forums settings again from the admin panel??

Nope...everything will be exactly as it is now. All will be fine.

I can understand where you're coming from being worried about doing this for the first time. I was like that too, but now it's a breeze and I get it over with in about 5 minutes!

[Triple Ox]

I've done it!!!!!

Thanks ever so much, Zachery

[Zachery]

It wasn't that bad was it?

[Triple Ox]

Well.... it was and it wasn't. It's rather nerve racking. I enjoyed the click the buttons bit

I have got one slight problem and that's the fact that buttons/quote.gif doesn't exist in my images folder. It seems that's the only one. I checked in the backed up forum folder and wasn't there either. Odd that.

Shouldn't be too hard to fix, i'll just save the quote button from here and upload it.

Thanks again