Upgrading My Forum to Latest SMF 2

[Cheese Head]

My forum is currently running on SMF 2.0 Beta 3 on HostGator.com web hosting. I have no plug ins, and while I am not very IT literate, I have tailored a few files to follow the theme of my forum (ie gifs and colours). I have had zero problems todate with SMF (or HostGator), congratulations!

I'd like upgrade to the latest SMF 2.0 Beta 4 next weekend to 1) keep it fresh and 2) so that there is less of a jump for my Members to SMF 2.0 Beta 5 when it is released and I install as many of my members are not at all IT literate.

Before I upgrade, I assume I should back up my Forum configuration, posts, and attachments (pictures)? If so, how do I do that, is there a guide?

Thanks in advance for your advice.

[babjusi]

My forum is currently running on SMF 2.0 Beta 3 on HostGator.com web hosting. I have no plug ins, and while I am not very IT literate, I have tailored a few files to follow the theme of my forum (ie gifs and colours). I have had zero problems todate with SMF (or HostGator), congratulations!

I'd like upgrade to the latest SMF 2.0 Beta 4 next weekend to 1) keep it fresh and 2) so that there is less of a jump for my Members to SMF 2.0 Beta 5 when it is released and I install as many of my members are not at all IT literate.

Before I upgrade, I assume I should back up my Forum configuration, posts, and attachments (pictures)? If so, how do I do that, is there a guide?

Thanks in advance for your advice.

Yes, making a thorough backup before an upgrade is always the best move. If I were you, I would backup the forum files and the database too.

To backup the forum files you can do it through a ftp program. Whereas to backup your database, use phpmyadmin or mysqldumper.

[N3RVE]

Babjusi,
Why don't you post a link to your backup and restore tip/trick thread. A bunch of users have found that useful

-[n3rve]

[Cheese Head]

babjusi

So I should backup all my forum files except for the sql database which I assume is one file which I should download using phpmyadmin (in my case on US based HostGator.com) somehow?

If you get a moment I'd appreciate that you help me find that link as I'm banging my head against desk for last 2 hours trying to figure out how to do this.

Sorry for being such an amateur.

[babjusi]

babjusi

So I should backup all my forum files except for the sql database which I assume is one file which I should download using phpmyadmin (in my case on US based HostGator.com) somehow?

If you get a moment I'd appreciate that you help me find that link as I'm banging my head against desk for last 2 hours trying to figure out how to do this.

Sorry for being such an amateur.

Yes. You can backup all your forum files through a ftp program or even through the File Manager section in the Cp of your host, provided your host has one. And yes to your second question too, you can use phpmyadmin to make a backup of your forum''s database. After you do all that, then you can start with the upgrade. For more info, have a look here

http://docs.simplemachines.org/index.php?board=3.0;sort=subject

[greyknight17]

Cheese Head, is this issue resolved yet?

The topic by babjusi should have more than enough methods for you to backup your database. Use whichever one you feel most comfortable with. I usually use phpMyAdmin or my webhost's backup feature to grab a copy of my forum database.

You may backup your attachments folder if you want to, but they should remain intact after the upgrade.

[B16Enk]

If you are still banging you head Cheese head I can give you some pointers, as a fellow Hostgator customer for some years now I know their Cpanel intimately

babjusi

So I should backup all my forum files except for the sql database which I assume is one file which I should download using phpmyadmin (in my case on US based HostGator.com [nofollow]) somehow?

If you get a moment I'd appreciate that you help me find that link as I'm banging my head against desk for last 2 hours trying to figure out how to do this.

Sorry for being such an amateur.

[greyknight17]

Cheese Head, is there any update on this issue? Were you able to upgrade to SMF 2.0 beta 4 now?