Admin changes require multiple submissions

[North East Man]

I am building a test site which I want to make a direct copy of my live site.

I have created the new subdomain, new database and database user which has all the required permissions.  I have uploaded the 2.0.19 file sets from SMF.  I have installed the files on my server and made sure that all the directories have the appropriate permissions.  I have installed the themes and mods I need to replicate my live site.  I haven't yet copied over the database from the live site.

The problem is that if I want to make any admin adjustments to the empty test site, I have to press submit multiple times - sometimes as many as 6 times before the change is registered.  Obviously this is a pain in the backside.  What could be the cause of this and what might the solution be?

[Arantor]

Ask your host to turn off Varnish caching.

[North East Man]

I have my own VPS - would I have the ability to turn it off?  Would that be in cPanel or WHM?

[Arantor]

Oh, in which case you'd know if you turned it on. I'm also guessing you're not using CloudFlare as again, you'd presumably know if you turned it on.

Which means it's probably SMF's caching rather than a cache sat above your server showing you old data... you can turn it off in the Server Settings part of the admin area.

[shawnb61]

The two other things to check here are http vs https & cookie settings.

For the first, look closely at repair_settings.php & ensure everything is https.

For the second, look closely at cookie settings.   If subdomain-independent is selected, look closely at the main domain provided.

[Shades.]

Which means it's probably SMF's caching rather than a cache sat above your server showing you old data... you can turn it off in the Server Settings part of the admin area.

This happened to me a while back and turning off SMF's caching like @Arantor said worked for me!  

[North East Man]

Many thanks, it was indeed the SMF caching as Arantor said.  I had to press the submit button about 12 times to disable it, but once it registered I could then make other admin changes.

One other question, when I upload the live site data into the test site database, will I have to run repair settings to point all the paths to the test site?

[Kindred]

yes

[North East Man]

Thank you.  Marked as solved.