Searched the forum, but can't find a detailed guide to installing a test site, say for those who want to test and play with 5.
I saw the brief guide on where to install, and that you can have 1 test installation on the same domain, but specific instructions don't seem to be very specific on the details..
Let's say I create a new folder at www.myforum.com/test
I then upload all the new downloaded dir files to that location, and go through the installation of V5. I assume that's the first step. But I assume that would then have zero posts and members. i guess a test site wouldn't be populated with any existing posts or members? I'd be creating a new database for the test site, correct? To uninstall the test site, I just delete the test dir and that database?
If I wanted members to get used to the format and assist with the testing, they are able to register new memberships and test it, or is that not allowed under the testing T&C's?
It's not a commercial site, so there wouldn't be any commerce done under the test site anyways...just getting ready for the transition. Most of my members are over 50, so they are horrified at the thought of any change...lol.
What else do I need to know about the test installation and settings, to make sure I don't mess with the existing install/forum? Any errors or incompatibilities can be solved by deleting the dir and database and trying again?
Btw, it's a self hosted site. Non-profit free forum, so don't have the funds to finance cloud hosting unfortunately.

Thanks in advance.

Edited February 13Feb 13 by Nihonto

You would actually create a test site by copying your live site files, copying your live database, then changing the conf_global.php file to point to the new set of data. If you have stripe set up, you would also want to switch the keys to use test keys from your stripe account.

In terms of licensing, you cannot have it open to the public as per EULA. It should be used for limited testing purposes only

@Marc
Assuming a medium sized forum over 15 years old, does that mean duplicating the entire uploads/attachments folder to the new site? Because that is hundreds of thousands of files and would use up a huge amount of space. Any tips on maybe doing this without having to copy over all the attachments...or a way to link them to the existing folder?
How exactly do you copy over a database to a new database separate from the existing one? I think these are the sort of detailed explanations that could really be added to an article.
So I do a new installation of 5 in the new folder, correct?
Then exactly which directories do I copy over? Not worried about stripe. I can't be the only not-100% technically-minded guy looking to do this.

 

I then upload all the new downloaded dir files to that location, and go through the installation of V5. I assume that's the first step. But I assume that would then have zero posts and members. i guess a test site wouldn't be populated with any existing posts or members?

That's a correct assumption. Installing a brand new forum will have 0 content.

 

I'd be creating a new database for the test site, correct? To uninstall the test site, I just delete the test dir and that database?

That's correct on both accounts. While technically you can install many forums using the same database (each forum must have a different database prefix), it's best to use a separate dataabse for the test forum

 

If I wanted members to get used to the format and assist with the testing, they are able to register new memberships and test it, or is that not allowed under the testing T&C's?

It's allowed imo, but as mentioned above the test forum must remain closed for the public.

 

What else do I need to know about the test installation and settings, to make sure I don't mess with the existing install/forum?

You don't need to worry about that because changes done to the test forum will not affect the main forum in any way, shape or form.

 

Any errors or incompatibilities can be solved by deleting the dir and database and trying again?

That's correct again.

At the blow article there is some information on the test install.

 

How exactly do you copy over a database to a new database separate from the existing one? I think these are the sort of detailed explanations that could really be added to an article.

If you are using cPanel there is an option there for backups and restores. There you can perform both operations, backing up the dataabse and restoring it too.

That said, if you want the test install to just get familiar with Ipb and test things out then a fresh install is the best way to go about it.

If you want to prepare for an upgrade from say 4.7. or lowerer versions to Ipb 5 making a duplication of your main forum to the test forum and upgrading that first is the best way to go about it imo.

Question is how to elegantly resolve mail sending on test site. I would expect config file parameter to disable mail sending for entire site (probably not for Admin).

Any suggestion?

@Miss_B Thanks.
To clarify, at this point I am not talking about a test full upgrade to see how it goes. I just want to install 5 on a test forum so I can play with the features and get used to how it works and become familiar with the features as an admin before I upgrade the main forum. Would hate to be just as unfamiliar with 5 as the members are by the time we go live.
I'm guessing Marc's reply was geared towards having an exact duplicate of the forum to see how an update proceeds. That isn't my intention yet, just want a version of 5 running so I can see what i will need to change, how to manage it and become familiar with it.

 

@Miss_B Thanks.

You are welcome.

 

To clarify, at this point I am not talking about a test full upgrade to see how it goes. I just want to install 5 on a test forum so I can play with the features and get used to how it works and become familiar with the features as an admin before I upgrade the main forum. Would hate to be just as unfamiliar with 5 as the members are by the time we go live.

In that case personally I think that installing a fresh Ipb 5 forum, using a separate database is the best way to go about it.

Edited February 13Feb 13 by Miss_B

Appreciate it @Miss_B

Now, since it was brought up, and would indeed be helpful, let's say someone does want to clone the entire forum, and attempt an upgrade to see if there are any issues, is there nowhere that we have a step by step guide on which files to copy across, what settings to change etc? This would seem to be a logical detailed article to have on this forum. Can't assume everyone just knows the process as it's not a 5 minute job.
Know how to backup and restore a database with CPanel, but how do you "restore" a new database into the new test forum so that it is separate from the old one?
Do you copy across every single file from the old forum into the new folder including config.sys etc etc and only edit conf_global.php?
Would all the logins including admin CP etc etc all be the same (yes...using emails instead of username) and what files need to be edited to allow this to function as a test install.
I assume you install the test version 5 as a new installation using the test serial. Then you overwrite all the files with a copy of the new ones. Nothing that should not be overwritten?
Then an admin can just log in, go to the test Admin CP and update to 5 there?
Sorry for all the questions, but once this is all clear, I am sure this thread will be of use to others looking to do this.

Btw, if someone were to only copy across a few hundred of the latest attachment uploads just to see how it goes....(as the thought of copying across hundreds of thousands of files gives me nightmares) what would the downside be aside from a lot of dead links to images? Or would that cause other more serious errors in the upgrade?

Edited February 13Feb 13 by Nihonto

 

Question is how to elegantly resolve mail sending on test site. I would expect config file parameter to disable mail sending for entire site (probably not for Admin).

Any suggestion?

Yes, there is a constant that can be used.

define( 'EMAIL_DEBUG_PATH', "..\_email" );

Or this:

define('EMAIL_DEBUG_PATH', '/dev/null');

Some info here about it:

 

Now, since it was brought up, and would indeed be helpful, let's say someone does want to clone the entire forum, and attempt an upgrade to see if there are any issues, is there nowhere that we have a step by step guide on which files to copy across, what settings to change etc? This would seem to be a logical detailed article to have on this forum. Can't assume everyone just knows the process as it's not a 5 minute job.

To make an exact replica of your main forum to a test forum you must treat this as a kind of a server move. You will have to upload the whole forum folders/files of the main site to the test forum's folder and then import the main forum's database to that of the test forum's database and change the details of the conf_global.php file as mentioned by @Marc above, to pint to the test forum's database details. After the duplication has been successfully completed, you can proceed with upgrading your test forum to Ipb 5 version. Have a look at the Server Move guide link too at the bottom of this post..

 

but how do you "restore" a new database into the new test forum so that it is separate from the old one?

You can restore it from the Restore section of your cPanel. If your database is small or medium sized, you can install it directly from the phpmyadmin too. You will have to select the name of the test database first and then you can proceed with the restoration.

If you have a big database, then you can use a third party tool such as bigdump that handles large files quite well to restore it That is because most hose have placed a size limit restrictions on their phpmyadmins which will result in a incomplete/corrupted restore.

 

Would all the logins including admin CP etc etc all be the same (yes...using emails instead of username) and what files need to be edited to allow this to function as a test install.

All logins will be the same. There will be no need to edit any files.

 

Btw, if someone were to only copy across a few hundred of the latest attachment uploads just to see how it goes....(as the thought of copying across hundreds of thousands of files gives me nightmares) what would the downside be aside from a lot of dead links to images? Or would that cause other more serious errors in the upgrade?

If you want to make an exact replica of your main forum to the test forum then everything must be copied over imo.

 

Sorry for all the questions, but once this is all clear, I am sure this thread will be of use to others looking to do this.

There is no need to be sorry for asking questions imo. That's how we all learn, by asking.

Hope it helps.