How to do a very cautious update

You should use this cautious method if it is critical to avoid even a few seconds of downtime for your visitors, if you are updating through several versions of Zenario at once, or if you have custom modules that need to be tested or migrated.

1. Take a database backup

Before you start, you should log into your site as an Administrator, navigate to Configuration -> Backups, then create a database backup on the server.

You should note down the name of the backup as well as the path to your backup directory (visible in the site settings) as you will need to enter it in step 2.

2. Install to the new location

Create a new directory or a temporary domain, then follow the installation instructions for a fresh install, with the following exception:

• On the license screen, choose "Restore from Backup" (rather than "Fresh Install"), then when prompted enter the location of the backup file you created in step 1.

Then continue the installation. You will need to log in with your Administrator account details to complete the installation.

3. Copy your zenario_custom directory

You will need to copy the zenario_custom directory from your live site to your new temporary site before you can use it.

4. Test your new installation

In particular, you should refer to the Change Log to see if any functionality has changed since the previous version.

5. Perform the upgrade of the live site

When you are happy with the upgrade, you should apply the changes to your live site. There are two possible different methods for doing this:

5.1 Preferred: Change the live site's URL to the new directory

If you have access to your site's Apache Virtual Host - either directly or through an admin interface provided by your host - you can point your site's URL to the new location.

Note that you must update the SUBDIRECTORY definition in the zenario_siteconfig.php file of your site's new location to the value in the zenario_siteconfig.php file of your site's old location before you change your site's URL to point to the new location.

This method will result in minimal downtime, but you should be aware that any changes made to your existing site made since you started the migration will be lost. This means that you need to declare a moratorium period on your site before beginning the upgrade.

If you do not wish to commit to a moratorium period before testing your site then you may need to perform this upgrade twice: the first for testing purposes, then the second when you are ready to upgrade for real.

5.2 Alternative: Perform a Quick Update on your existing site

If you do not have access to your site's Apache Virtual Host, or you do not wish to declare a moratorium period, you should then upgrade your live site directly by performing a quick upgrade.

Note that method 5.1 is better for critical sites, as your live site will be down while you are working on this update.