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Changing Web Domains - Need to set up on new environment first

June 22, 2010 11:16am

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  • #1 / Jun 22, 2010 11:16am

    DrewP

    11 posts

    Hi All,

    We have been using Expression Engine for a number of years and our site has never been upgraded from v 1.6.0.

    We are looking to change our web domain from one to another. Instead of a straight swap of information, we are looking to set up the new web domain with all the information in the back end to test that everything is working (admin mode) and have web crawlers etc run over it, also an outside company will test our SEO etc to make sure it does not have a much effect etc.

    Anyway i am rambling explaining the situation.

    We have purchased a new Commercial license for this effect (we will use the old one on the old site still as we will redirect alot of the information but not all).

    To cut a long story short, copying all the files over has obviously linked all the information and any change on one, changes on the other. Is there any way to dislike it and put the new code in without it effecting the other? Or do i need to remove all the files from that server, install a brand new expression engine and import from scratch? Over 6000 articles, 15000 members (i heard something about phpmyadmin).

    My Technical knowledge is fairly limited so ANY pointers will help. I am currently backing all the information up once again to our server to ensure no problems.

    Kind Regards,
    Drew

  • #2 / Jun 22, 2010 11:29am

    Sue Crocker

    26054 posts

    The first thing I would do is upgrade your existing version to 1.6.9. This way, you’d have the same version on both sites.

    Then install your new license on the new site, make sure everything works out of the box, and then work on getting the legacy information into the new site.

    Yes, you’ll need to have PHPMyAdmin or something similar.

  • #3 / Jun 22, 2010 11:54am

    DrewP

    11 posts

    Hi Sue,

    Is it essential to have both sites at the same upgrade? I would rather not have to touch the site that is live at the moment if i don’t have to? (I have a tendency to crash sites hehe).

    Is there any topic that you know of addressing exactly what i would need to extract and how to import?

    Thanks for the reply, you have already cleared up alot of my doubts!

  • #4 / Jun 22, 2010 4:18pm

    Ingmar

    29245 posts

    I am not entirely clear what you’re trying here, can you clarify? You have an existing site running on EE 1.6.0, correct? Now you want to change the domain, is that all? If so, why not simply copy your files and database to the new server, then upgrade that? Moving servers is discusses in the Wiki, too.

  • #5 / Jun 23, 2010 11:36am

    DrewP

    11 posts

    Hi Ingmar,

    We are looking to move our website from http://www.aboutseniors.com.au to www.yourlifechoices.com.au

    My boss is concerned with losing Google SEO etc which we know will happen and wants to minimise all those effects. My boss also wants it to transfer with absolutely no problems, therefor i have been asked to move all the files over, have it all up and running in offline mode (admin only) while the current site is still up so that we can flick the switch immediately and put a redirect on http://www.aboutseniors.com.au to www.yourlifechoices.com.au and it will all work.

    Are you saying that i should forget installing from scratch and importing databases, and instead i should transfer all the files over and try and manually change important items? My problem was i tried that to start with and changing items in the online system/index.php online changes in both websites. I guess if this is the way i need to do it, i need to change a simple file to stop it linking? I have 2 serial codes (1 for aboutseniors and 1 for yourlifechoices, so there is no problems with that?)


    Cheers

  • #6 / Jun 23, 2010 5:40pm

    Ingmar

    29245 posts

    Are you saying that i should forget installing from scratch and importing databases, and instead i should transfer all the files over and try and manually change important items?

    If all you want to do is move EE to another server (+domain), yes, all you’d have to do is move a few files and the database. See this article for more details.

    I have 2 serial codes (1 for aboutseniors and 1 for yourlifechoices, so there is no problems with that?)

    I don’t think this is licensing issue, no. My suggestion would be, again, to upgrade your current site to 1.6.9, then simply move your site to another server running the same version. If you keep good backups this shouldn’t be much of an issue.

  • #7 / Jun 24, 2010 1:05am

    DrewP

    11 posts

    Hi again,

    I followed the information as best i could.

    Firstly when i transferred files across to my website (http://www.yourlifechoices.com.au) i instantly got a error message (Unable to locate the forum theme folder) and when i navigate to it, i cannot access on the server unlike all other pages that exist (apart from home page of course).

    I think the main reason is that it is grabbing Database information from the old server still and all my attempts to change this have failed, i guess im not changing the right file?

    I have updated the system/config. My db_hostname is exactly the same as the old one but i have a new username, password, db_name and cp_url. And have updated that but it seems to still be pulling from the old one.

    When i visit http://www.yourlifechoices.com.au/phpmyadmin, it gives the following (which it was giving before i changed anything after copying the files over).

    Cannot start session without errors, please check errors given in your PHP and/or webserver log file and configure your PHP installation properly.

    Cheers

  • #8 / Jun 24, 2010 1:26am

    DrewP

    11 posts

    Found this topic when searching so may try it while await a response 😊

    http://expressionengine.com/wiki/Moving_Servers/

  • #9 / Jun 24, 2010 2:20am

    DrewP

    11 posts

    *update*

    While waiting i decided to give it a shot and see what removing config.php would do and try reinstall and it couldnt write to a blank config.php even through i changed all info as required to make it writable, going to contact host and see if that helps?

    Above topic didn’t help.

  • #10 / Jun 24, 2010 2:27am

    John Henry Donovan

    12339 posts

    DrewP,

    before going any further can you run our Server Wizard on your new server please?

  • #11 / Jun 24, 2010 2:34am

    DrewP

    11 posts

    Hi John,

    The only item not supported is: URL Segment Support

    and the test below was successful.

    The MySQL server test was successful. You MySQL user was able to connect to your database properly and all permission were found to be correct. Congratulations, your server is ready for ExpressionEngine!

  • #12 / Jun 24, 2010 2:48am

    John Henry Donovan

    12339 posts

    DrewP,

    Is this new server a Windows server?
    What type of server is your previous one?

  • #13 / Jun 24, 2010 2:51am

    DrewP

    11 posts

    Hi John,

    Somewhat good news, windows i just found out after an hour waiting on hold so waiting for them to help… back on hold waiting for a tech…, sigh LOL!

  • #14 / Jun 24, 2010 3:05am

    DrewP

    11 posts

    Hmm its very strange, i got all of the permissions set and i just put a copy of the config.php file onto my computer to see any changes and it has refilled itself out with the old server information that i had updated. This is not the first time either in this process that it has happened. Is there a certain file i have not edited that i need to that points directly to pick up the old information?

    I feel very lost it has to be said in what is happening =/

  • #15 / Jun 24, 2010 8:37am

    Sue Crocker

    26054 posts

    Did you manually clear your cache folders?

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