creating a smf development forum snapshot from a smf live forum

[sunseeker]

smf live (LIVE) and development (DEV) environment

i want to to be able to test things and not use the live smf site.

when i test i want to be able to take a complete snapshot of the live site adn copy it into development.

i want it so that the entire db and the smf files are copied over.

i want to make any and all changes to my DEV smf (db or files) and not effect the LIVE smf at all.

ok this is what ive seen so far:

- smf files reference the database.
- smf db references specific file locations such as themes.
- so they both reference each other. that presents the problem of having to change everything to make sure it only points to the DEV smf (files and db).

questions:

how do i do this for the files?
how do i do this for the db's?

isnt there an easier way to move this entire set of files and db adn create a new snapshot environment in which i can test my changes?

anybody that has experience with this i would appreciate your input.

thank you!