[BETA] SMF Upgrade Guide [1.1 RC3 --> 1.1.2]

[Neol]

YAUG (Yet another upgrade guide)

0. First of all, choose a fast, reliable Internet connection that you can use for up to several hours.

1. Restrict access to site.
For security reasons, put your forum in 'Maintenance Mode'. Also take the site offline AND/or don't allow access to the site from anyone except yourself. You might be able to do that from cPanel, in .htaccess, or by editing the Apache configuration file and setting the "Allow from" directive for your account to your IP instead of "all". Details vary.

2. Reset the forum to SMF Default - Core theme.
Enter the Administration Center in the forum. Set the forum's default theme AND reset everyone's default theme to SMF Default - Core. If you have modified the Core theme (which you normally should not do), upload clean theme files from the distribution of the SMF version you have installed in your forum.

3. Perform maintenance in your forum.
Enter the Administration Center and go to Forum Maintenance. Perform these actions:
- Optimize all tables to improve performance. (This might not work for some large forums).
- Find and repair any errors.
- Recount all forum totals and statistics.
- Empty out unimportant logs.

4. Backup the database.
If you use cPanel, you can get a database backup from the Backups page. I don't know how often does your cPanel backup your DB, so you'd better check.
Note: If your database tables and data are in a different charset than the DB server charset and DB connection charset, some characters may become garbled. Be sure to test the database backup for any such issues; they are not caused by SMF.

5. Backup site files.
Again, if you use cPanel, you can get a backup of your home directory. Alternatively, you can use a FTP program to download the entire site.

6. Delete site files.
You do have a backup, right?

7. Upload the contents of your forum directory to / (or whatever subdirectory you want).
Modify .htaccess if necessary.
(Optional) If your forum was in a subdirectory and you want to move it to / (the root folder of your site), you can do that too.

8. Upload and run the tool repair_settings.php
Make sure that the information and paths are correct. It's usually safe to use the paths recommended by the tool.

9. Delete repair_settings.php
After you're done with it, of course.

10. Upload upgrade files for the new version.
Upload the contents of the new (preferably latest) SMF version upgrade to the same directory/folder where you reuploaded your forum files. Be sure to use the upgrade package, not the install package.

11. Run upgrade.php
Upgrade.php can be found in the directory where you uploaded the new files.
Enter required information.
Pay attention to error messages, if any.

12. Finish the upgrade.
At the end of the upgrade, check "Delete this upgrade.php and its data files now." when prompted.
If delete fails, use a FTP program or other means to delete upgrade.php by yourself.

13. Enter the new forum.
Do so when prompted at the end of the upgrade process, not earlier.

14. Reinstall mods and themes.
You may have to reinstall themes, mods etc. for the new forum; it's best to use versions that are compatible with the new SMF version your forum is running now.

Make sure everything works OK.

Bring your site online.

Done.