When Upgrading What To Backup?
 

Hi,

Im currently running the vBulletin versin 3.6.5.

I never wanted to upgrade due to loosing alot of the pre-installed mods I had but its getting to the point where I have to so im gonna just do it.

I dont mind if I loose my mods ill just install them again or better ones, just like a fresh start.

But main things I dont wanna loose are members, posts, topics, vbcredits, arcade games and scrores and other really significant things.

Is there something I can do to make sure I dont loose the main stuff as that will piss off alot of members.

Thanks in advance,

Rowan

Create a database backup and a backup of the files.

So just do a normal mysql database backup in AdminCP, and also take a copy of the FTP Files and Folders too?

Also, im in two minds whether I should upgrade to the Latest Stable Version: 3.6.8 Patch Level 2 or Latest Unstable Version: 3.7.0 Beta 5..

If I do the unstable and install some of the new modifications that are out, will there be a patch so I can upgrade to stable without going through all of this again?

Don't rely on a database backup created from the AdminCP!!!!!!!!!

The only reliable method of backing up and restoring a database is with shell access via telnet or ssh. This is because backing up with a PHP script like that in the Admin CP or phpMyAdmin can result in PHP timeouts errors and an incomplete backup file. Please see the instructions here:

Backup:
http://www.vbulletin.com/docs/html/m...nce_ssh_backup

Restore:
http://www.vbulletin.com/docs/html/m...ce_ssh_restore

P.S. If you don't have shell access, some people have also reported success with these scripts:

MySQLDumper:
http://www.mysqldumper.de/en/index.php

MySQLHotxcopy:
http://www.vbulletin.com/forum/showt...t=mysqlhotcopy

Bigdump:
http://www.ozerov.de/bigdump.php

Thanks alot m8,

And like I was saying if I do install the 3.7 BETA when it comes time to install the FULL version of it there will be a patch I take it instead of installing a whole new forumboard again?

Aka, I can use and then just patch to fix?

--------------- Added [DATE]1204733187[/DATE] at [TIME]1204733187[/TIME] ---------------

Ok I managed to upgrade my forum, im removed alot of mods but a few things ive noticed since upgrading is:

1) When I hit "Quicklinks" the box doesnt pop up it doe nothing.
2) When you hit "Search" the box doesnt pop up it just takes you to the search page.

Is this due to JAVA being turned off cause its BETA?

Upgrading from 3.6/3.7 Beta to 3.7 Gold will be like any other upgrade (overwrite files/run upgrade script/done).