Pulling the trigger from 3.8 to 4.x

[Bulldog Stang]

I am really nervous about doing this as I know this is a big jump in upgrading, but here are my thoughts on how to do this ...

I am wanting to keep my site up and running while I do this, so I am wanting to basically make a copy of my site as it currently sits, and get all the bugs worked out while my site is moving along.

Here is what I am thinking .....


I have created a sub domain on my server. I have also made a copy of my current database through the "mysqldump" program and renamed it (NEW DATABASE). Once I did create the sub Domain, I called it (NEW NAME) and it placed a new folder called NEW NAME into the public_html folder. I am assuming that this is the folder that I need to copy my current FORUMS folder to. Once I do that, I am also assuming that in order to access that copy, I will have to go to www.mysite.com/public_html/NEWNAME/index.php (Am I correct in thinking that way???)

If I am able to access the above, then I will delete all of the old hacks and mods and prep the site for the upgrade. Once I do all of that, then I upload the new files into the same above folder (correct ?). I will then edit my config.php file to reflect the new backed up database that I have copied to the MYSQL database side (This way it won?t screw up the original database). Once that is done, I will go into the /install/upgrage.php file with the same path as above, and I will upgrade the site.

Once the upgrade is completed, we will get the site edited with colors and all that cool stuff ?.. Then, when we are ready to go live with the site, I will delete (or rename) the old FORUMS folder, which contains the main site and I will put the new site in its place. I will then also change the previously mentioned config.php file to be directed to the old database (Which will be current with recent post, etc ? ) and WHALAA, we have a live up and running site ???

Please let me know if my thinking is correct. I really do not want to screw anything up while doing this ?.


Bulldog Stang