Getting Around DownTime?
 

How do you guys get around you websites downtime when upgrading VB? I need to perform a massive upgrade to the new series, and it will be quite a project, considering I'm going to have to either revert all my templates, and overwrite all my old files with the new ones OR setup an entirely new database, import all my data, and reset my styles all over again.

In any case, it'll take a few weeks by time I do everything and reinstall hacks. How do you guys work around this? Do you setup like a test forum (almost like a virtual forum) where your users can go and post? Obviously alot more work. Or do you just take down ur site and have ur guests deal with it.


Lookin for some options here. :cool:

A lot of work can be done while the forum is actually up - you just have to warn users that strange things may happen until it's complete. However, we have a test forum that we direct people to if the live one is completely dead (and yes, it has it's own licence before anyone asks ;))

I prepare and test everything on a 1:1 copy of the life board.
Prepare all new template edits, optimizing the upgrade process.

When going live I "only" need to upload the new files (including all hacks), import the prepared style(s) and products and go online again.

Usually the downtime of the live board is < 1 hour :)

Right, both your guys statements make sense, however how do you get around the post/thread differences. I mean, they'll never match. If I prepare a 1:1 copy of my board, and import all the data, the live board will have new data while the copy has the old data. Whats your solution for that problem?

I don't "copy back" the 1:1 copy I make.
I only use it to prepare everything, so I don't have to edit the sytles on the live one and such.

I then upgrade the live board and import all the prepared stuff (I exported from the copy install) and delete the copy afterwards.

Ok that makes sense. Now are there some hacks for 3.5 that make database changes, additional tables, etc? Because if thats the case, Im not sure how you would upgrade the live board with that stuff. Because what I'm understanding is you have your live board (w/ its own database) and you have your copy (w/ its own database). When you import everything to the live board, your essentially just importing your new customized styles, and uploading the new modified 3.5 files. Then you run the upgrade wizard.

Yes, then you import all the products and plugins as well.

In theory if you've done it properly everything should match up.

I did mine like this and it (largely) worked, there are always a few things need tweaking though.