My system is now quite old and I would like to upgrade. However I have been having a problem with my host, who has not been able to provide a suitable platform.

I currently run version 4.6.12.1 of Invision Community on a server with PHP 7.3.25

The new server has up to date versions and is suitable for the latest release of Invision Community. However, because of an incompatibility with the version of PHP I am using and that of the new server, I can't transfer my current setup to the new setup and then do an upgrade.

My question is - can I install a the current version of Invision Community on to the new server and then take a backup of the old version data and then restore this backup to the new server?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

14 minutes ago, David_UK said:

However, because of an incompatibility with the version of PHP I am using and that of the new server, I can't transfer my current setup to the new setup and then do an upgrade.

Actually this is the correct thing to do. You would move your files and data across, and update your conf_global as normal. (I appreciate your site will be broken because of PHP version). Once you have done that, upload a fresh set of files for the latest release, and run the upgrader directly from /admin/upgrade

Hi Marc

Thank you for the quick response. I think I may need a step by step of operations here sorry.

Do I:

1. Take a backup of my current site from the old server.

2. Restore the backup of the old server onto the new server.

3. Modify config_global (not sure what would need modifying here)

4. Run upgrader directly from /admin/upgrade

I really appreciate your assistance on this

So to explain more fully

1. Take a backup of files and database from the old server

2. Restore the database on the new server

3. Restore the files on the new server

4. Edit your conf_global.php file to change the mysql connection details to that of your new server

5. Go to your client area and download the latest release you want to upgrade to

6. Upload those over he current files. You should be overwriting anything that already exists, but merging folders (so you wouldnt delete anything)

7. Run the upgrader from /admin/upgrade

2 hours ago, David_UK said:

My question is - can I install a the current version of Invision Community on to the new server and then take a backup of the old version data and then restore this backup to the new server?

Yes, that is a way to go about it imo. However the restore of the old forum database on the newest Ips version in itself isn't enough. The upgrade will have to be run so the database can be upgraded too so it can match the files of the newest forum version. However, imo it would be better to first upgrade your forum in the current server to 4.7.20 version, then disable all your third party stuff and switch to the unmodified default theme and english language. Then install the latest version of Ips 5 in the new server, restore the database of your 4.7.20 forum and then run the upgrader. Modifying the conf_global.php file in this case isn't necessary as it will contain the correct database info from the install.

Or you can first migrate the forum as it is on the new server, but make sure that you use the older php version there that it's supported by your forum version. And once ithe forum has been successfully imported in the new server, you can proceed with updating the php and upgrading your forum. In this case you will have to edit the config_global.php file after the move so that all the database details in there will match those of the database in the new server.

Below are 2 guides on how to perform a forum transfer to a new host and how to do a manual upgrade. Hope it helps.

3 minutes ago, Miss_B said:

Yes, that is a way to go about it imo. However the restore of the old forum database on the newest Ips version in itself isn't enough. The upgrade will have to be run so the database can be upgraded too so it can match the files of the newest forum version. However, imo it would be better to first upgrade your forum in the current server to 4.7.20 version, then disable all your third party stuff and switch to the unmodified default theme and english language. Then install the latest version of Ips 5 in the new server, restore the database of your 4.7.20 forum and then run the upgrader. Modifying the conf_global.php file in this case isn't necessary as it will contain the correct database info from the install.

Or you can first migrate the forum as it is on the new server, but make sure that you use the older php version there that it's supported by your forum version. And once ithe forum has been successfully imported in the new server, you can proceed with updating the php and upgrading your forum. In this case you will have to edit the config_global.php file after the move so that all the database details in there will match those of the database in the new server.

Below are 2 guides on how to perform a forum transfer to a new host and how to do a manual upgrade. Hope it helps.

Thanks Miss_B

The problem I have is that the my old server does not support a version of PHP that will allow me to upgrade in situ, and the new server does not allow an older enough version of PHP to allow me to migrate the current version of Invision Community to the new server!

1 minute ago, David_UK said:

Thanks Miss_B

The problem I have is that the my old server does not support a version of PHP that will allow me to upgrade in situ, and the new server does not allow an older enough version of PHP to allow me to migrate the current version of Invision Community to the new server!

Yes, you would need to follow this path.

13 minutes ago, Marc said:

So to explain more fully

1. Take a backup of files and database from the old server

2. Restore the database on the new server

3. Restore the files on the new server

4. Edit your conf_global.php file to change the mysql connection details to that of your new server

5. Go to your client area and download the latest release you want to upgrade to

6. Upload those over he current files. You should be overwriting anything that already exists, but merging folders (so you wouldnt delete anything)

7. Run the upgrader from /admin/upgrade

Thanks Marc

8 minutes ago, David_UK said:

Thanks Miss_B

The problem I have is that the my old server does not support a version of PHP that will allow me to upgrade in situ, and the new server does not allow an older enough version of PHP to allow me to migrate the current version of Invision Community to the new server!

In that case there is only an option, to migrate the site as is and then perform the upgrade as outlined in details by Marc above. Good luck with the upgrade and keep us posted.

Thanks Miss_B, will do.