I can’t seem to find any sort of definitive checklist to hit to try and solve this problem.

I just moved my dev site to the live server, which is still bring referenced with an IP address. I physically moved all the files, then exported the DB with phpMyAdmin. I think Imported the DB at the new server with phpMyAdmin. Pretty standard stuff. The CP looks like crap after first moving, as usual, so I log in to change the paths to themes, like I always do…except my changes won’t stick. I’m just trying to change dev.someserver.com to xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx at Admin > System Preferences > General Configuration but no dice!

When I attempt to make an update I get kicked right to the site homepage. What would be the first thing you check? This usually works fine for me.

I was able to turn on the SQL Queries. Then I went back to update the IP address, and got kicked to the homepage. The SQL returned a few queries, with #11 being most interesting:

11
SELECT group_id FROM exp_template_groups WHERE group_name = ‘500.shtml’ AND site_id = ‘1’

(0.000019) - Begin Template Processing -
(0.000174) URI: /500.shtml/
(0.000190) Path.php Template: /
(0.000211) Retrieving Template
(0.000230) Parsing Template URI
(0.001896) Determined Template: site/index
(0.001927) Retrieving Template from Database: site/index
(0.003776) Template Found
(0.004218) Retrieving Template from File
(0.004430) Template Type: webpage
(0.004556) Parsing Site Variables
(0.004637) Parse Date Format String Constants
(0.004665) Parse Current Time Variables
(0.004692) Parsing Segment, Embed, and Global Vars Conditionals
(0.004975) - Beginning Tag Processing -
(0.004995) - End Tag Processing -
(0.005046) - End Template Processing -
(0.005060) Parse Global Variables
(0.006150) Template Parsing Finished
Memory Usage: 2,936,268 bytes

I am using MSM on this install, if that helps. I CAN update the database. I tried updating a few entries and that worked - I just can’t do the settings so I can see my control panel!

Also:

ExpressionEngine 1.6.3
Build:  20080421

Also, where in the world are those site settings stored? Can’t I go into the DB and change those manually?

No- don’t want to change the db directly- but you can override the db settings by manually entering the config variables in config.php- check the wiki for a semi-complete list- add the crucial ones in and then double check the config.php is writable (666).  Adding them that way- can you then go in and make edits stick?

What should take me less than an hour is of course taking all day…arrrgh.

I just completely started over.

1) I exported the DB (phpMyAdmin)
2) I tarred up the site through terminal, moved it to the new box, untarred it, checked permissions on the files - everything appears fine.
3) I import the DB (phpMyAdmin). I update the config.php file.
4) I go to the Control Panel. Today, at first, after having done all this over, it wouldn’t even let me log in - I just stay right there on the ugly white lookin’ login screen. I deleted every cookie in my browser, then I was able to log in. Then I try to update anything that has to do with config settings and boom - I get sent right to the homepage of the site. This is the sort of stuff I read other people fighting with, but I never normally run into this. I can see how one becomes enraged rather quickly

I also have a global variable set, which I can’t change, if I’m lucky enough to be able to log in.

Robin, I tried adding some config vars to config.php (at least a couple that I know I can’t update through the CP:

I can see the templates on the front page of my site now (I’m saving templates as files).

This is insane. The site is sitting at a dedicated IP address - I should be able to put the IP in and use that but I’m locked out of my own DB, apparently! I tried changing the mySQL user and NOT updating config.php and got the expected result: cannot connect to DB.

I have no idea what to do. I went through the whole migration exercise twice and am getting nowhere right now. This should have launched this morning at the IP so I could troubleshoot, then we change the A record and update the CP…boom, live site, crack a beer and get ready for a long weekend..but now it’s after noon here and I’m as stuck as I was last night at 2am!

Another, Different Attempt, or “Still Getting the Shaft”

I tried something utterly unrelated to the first install.

First, I ran the server wizard, eveything checks out.

Then I created a subdomain/subfolder, ‘dev’ on this server. I put a fresh set of EE files in there. Created a new mySQL DB with a new user. Everything on this second test install is brand new.

Went through the EE install process and got stuck right here:

That appeared to kick me right out to the homepage of the parent site! Might this have anything to do with MSM? This is the first time I’ve ever had to migrate an MSM site(s).

Is there something up with mySQL? Seems like something is amiss on this server.

Blarg- ok, let’s focus on the install borking, because it’s less complex.  If we spot what’s up there, may give us a hint on the site.  Did the page 5 load- and then bork after submitting?  And do you have an htaccess file on the site?

Page 4 of the install is the whole server set up page. DB settings, etc. I put everything in there and clicked the “Click Here to Install…” button.

I do have an htaccess file at the top level (not in the /dev/ folder), with this:

When that is enabled, clicking the Install button for the ‘dev’ install takes me to the homepage of the main, top-level site. However, if I comment out all the .htaccess lines and go to submit, I get a 500 error.

Now, I figured that is because I’m in the subfolder called ‘dev’, but it’s reading the .htaccess file from the top level. So I put an empty .htaccess file in the dev subdirectory, and tried submitting again. Straight up 500 Internal Server error.

One thing to note: the site was developed on a box running PHP4, and is now on PHP5.

This may be beyond basic EE stuff - I’m calling the host. I’ve never experienced this!

Fresh Install, Server 1
I removed all files, wiped all databases at the new server. Uploaded fresh EE files, latest version and build. Ran the wizard.php file to make sure all was well (it was). Then I tried going through the install process. When I got to “/install.php?page=4”, I didn’t enter anything…just scrolled to the bottom and clicked “Install” - and I got a 500 Internal Server Error. The form won’t even submit.

Fresh Install, Another Server for Comparison
So, I go over to my VPS, which is at the same host (different box). I set up a dev subdomain, and upload fresh EE files, latest version and build. I go through the install process and get to Page 4. Again, I fon’t evter any info at all, and click “Install” - and I go right to “/install.php?page=5”, with errors at the top telling me I forgot to fill out fields - and that’s exactly what is supposed to happen! Perfect!

Any idea why that might not be happening on the first server? Something with POST variables? Something larger and more sinister?

Ryan, I hate to add anything to the mix, but since you mentioned IP addresses… would it be possible for you to modify your hosts file to match up the IP with a domain name?

Sue, I do have root access to the server. I’m sure I can go in and edit the hosts file. Can EE not be set up at an IP address? Does it require a domain name?

For now, we put the live site on an account running off my VPS, but we do want to move it back to the dedicated box we purchased to host it!

Let me make sure I totally understand what I’m supposed to do:

Go into the hosts file and add something like 00.000.00.000 dev.sitename.com? I’m assuming we then point the dev subdomain we make to this IP address? (The domain is at godaddy, with DNS at godaddy.) Probably have to restart Apache after updating the hosts file as well?

Ryan, when I said modify the hosts file, I was speaking of *your* local hosts file.

On my Windows box, that file is at:

C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc

I’m sorry for not being more specific.

Here’s a real life example:

You then remove those lines *after* the domain has propagated.

I usually have several machines I work from, but only of them with this hosts file.

Boy, I need to hire someone that’s more familiar with this stuff so I can concentrate on what I’m good at !

Heh- usually it’s cake.  But I’ll admit, I’ve generally got a dedicated server guy to dump those types of issues on.  (And normally I haven’t had troubles installing using an IP- but I am leaning toward it being something server side.)

Where are we on this one- still stuck?

Yeah, I’m still stuck on this one. I really believe it’s something server-side. I can’t imagine why there would be a problem using the ip. We even set up a domain to point there: test.oursite.com and I tried installing EE using that, and no dice. There’s a ghost in the machine! I’ll try to get a resolution this coming week. Thanks!

Any news? Still poking?

Well, I just had another client sign up for an account (VPS this time)at the same host. We’ll see if I have the same issues. Because their domain already exists, I’d like to just use the IP (dedicated IP address) in this instance like I was trying to do before. We’ll see how it goes. Three big deadlines on other projects in the next couple days, though - ouch!

OK, so we leave this thread open for a little longer. Let us have your news when you can

For crying out loud, this all turned out to be a mod_security issue. We scaled that back a little (I have half a mind to disable it entirely, after how much time I spent trying to install EE on this server…) and I changed permissions on some files. Everything seems to be working fine now.

Thanks, everyone! Mark it solved! And remember: look out for mod_security!

Ah, mod_security, of course. I have nothing good to say about it, so I won’t Marked as Resolved for now.