Test Site Help

[myagentcam]

I have a live vbull site, version 4.2.2. I'd like to set up a test site with vb5 and mess with that before I upgrade my 4.2.2 site.

Is there ANYTHING I need to do, or not do to either my live site or my test site so that my live site isn't affected in any way with this new test install? I backed up my current db and will be using that as a new db, and not sharing the same db as the live server.

[Brandon Sheley]

I assume you want to test vb5 with your vb4 data?
In that case, you'll want to close your vb4 site while you make the backup and then open it back up again.

On your test site just make sure it's closed to the public. Good luck with vb5 and you might want to get a stiff drink.. You'll need it ;)

[ozzy47]

Read through this, http://www.vbulletin.com/docs/html/main/upgrade_testsite

Or this, http://www.vbulletin.com/forum/forum/vbulletin-3-8/vbulletin-3-8-questions-problems-and-troubleshooting/vbulletin-quick-tips-and-customizations/258835-step-by-step-create-a-test-forum-based-on-a-snapshot-of-your-live-one

Or here, http://www.vbulletin.com/forum/articles/how-to-install-upgrade/4023387-creating-a-test-site

[myagentcam]

I assume you want to test vb5 with your vb4 data?
In that case, you'll want to close your vb4 site while you make the backup and then open it back up again.

On your test site just make sure it's closed to the public. Good luck with vb5 and you might want to get a stiff drink.. You'll need it ;)

LOL. That's exactly what I want to do; test the vb5 before I upgrade my live site. I just don't want to somehow have my test site screw up my I've site. If it were on different domains, then it wouldn't be a concern, but because they'll be on the same domain, I don't want to them to clash somehow. Having said that, can I install the test site on another domain? Is that permitted?

[HM666]

I think you'll find that you are not going to like vB5. Pretty much no one uses it as its really not very stable.

[Lynne]

Your license allows you to set up a test site. Just make sure it is .htaccess protected so it isn't open to the public.

As Brandon said, shut down your live site to make the backup. What he didn't say is that after you shut it down, change the Forum URL to the test site URL and set the Cookie Domain and Cookie Path to default (nothing) and then make the backup you will use for your test site. Then change those back and open up the live site. That will save you having to change those things in the database especially since it is save as serialized data in the datastore table (and most people don't know how to deal with serialized data).

Also, if you put your vb5 files in a /directory, you will need to change this line in your .htaccess file:

#RewriteBase /

to this line:

RewriteBase /directory/