[SOLVED] Help Relocating Site

[Farrell]

This is my first exposure to CMSMS and this forum so please don't be too harsh if I ask apparently dumb questions or post in the wrong place.  I'm a Joomla developer so type slowly.

I have been asked to help a client move an existing CMSMS website to a new host.  The folloowing issues have come up:

1. We have 2 days until the existing hosting package expires.
2. The old host does not provide a Control panel of any sort so we have to depend on them to do any database dumps etc unless there is a module available. (we do have ftp access)
3. The version of CMSMS is 1.4 (does this have to be upgraderd before we backup?)

My big question is this.  Is there a backup module available for CMSMS and is it compatible with this version?  I am used to using Joomlapack which provides 1 click backup of Joomla files and database and almost as simple restore.  Is there a CMSMS equivalent?

[mcDavid]

http://dev.cmsmadesimple.org/project/list_tagged/backup

I must say you're a little late with this. If anything goes wrong during the transfer, you have about no time at all to contact your old hosting provider for a solution...

[Farrell]

Tell me about it - the client only contacted me today!

Seriously though - any help here would be appreciated.  I've looked at the link you posted.  Some of these projects are yet to be released and few have any really useful comments.  Are there any you can recommend from experience?

[jmcgin51]

You do NOT need to upgrade your site before backing up, and I probably would recommend that you NOT upgrade first.  It's just one more thing to worry about.  You'll have time to upgrade after you move to the new server.

Download all the CMSMS files/directories from your server, via FTP if that's all you have, or SSH, etc.

Ask your host for a db dump.  While you're waiting for them to respond, you may want to try dumping it on your own with a module like http://dev.cmsmadesimple.org/projects/mysqldump.  (I have not personally used this module.)  There are a couple of other mods in the Forge that you might also look at if MySQLDump doesn't work for you.  Do a search in the Forge for "db" or "database" or "dump" or "backup".

Once you have backed up your files and the db, you're ready to move to the new host/server.

Good luck!

[replytomk3]

http://mkrd.info/software-discussions/cms-made-simple/backin-up-and-restoring-cmsms.html. If you will email me with any questions I will respond quick. I can also do the backup for you.

[calguy1000]

Use the sitepusher module.
it's designed specially for this.

Install + configure the module, do the tests, hit 'start'... and wait while it pushes your new site (mysql only) from the current server to the new server.  database and all.

[Farrell]

Site Pusher module sounds like just the thing.  Does "MySQL only" mean only the DB files are pushed or does it mean all files are pushed for sites based on MySQL?  I presume the MySQL database needs to be setup first on the new server.

[jmcgin51]

Does "MySQL only" mean only the DB files are pushed or does it mean all files are pushed for sites based on MySQL?

It means that only MySQL databases can be used with Sitepusher.  If you're using another db type (PostgreSQL, etc), Sitepusher won't work.

I presume the MySQL database needs to be setup first on the new server.

Yes

[Farrell]

WoW.  Your speed of response is impressive.  Thank you.

My only concern is that the release notes refer to this module as a beta release although that was 2007.  Are there any known bugs that are going to bite me?

[replytomk3]

My page describes content that you need not only for a transfer of site, but for a full regular backup as well. Backing up content that I list creates a full backup of your content.

[jmcgin51]

Well, honestly I can't say, since I've never used that mod.  But at this point, I think you might have to risk it due to your tight timeline.  Or you can try some of the mods mentioned earlier in this thread.

[Farrell]

First error when testing ftp connection in sitepusher.  Hints please?

Fatal error: Call to undefined function ftp_connect() in /##################/modules/SitePusher/function.admin_tests.php on line 29

[SideshowBob]

I'm guessing that sitepusher and probably most other backup utilities depend on certain functions being available at the host. The host may have disabled the ftp_connect function which is why you are seeing the error message.

A common way to backup databases using php is to use the mysqldump command, this is a server level command and is often not available...

This package doesn't use mysqldump so you could try it and see if it works: http://www.phpclasses.org/browse/package/3498.html
I tried it on my local test server and it worked fine.

Ultimately (as jmcgin51 said), you should talk to the host to get a database dump and make them aware of your situation, they sound like a fairly small host so could be a bit flexible.

hth,
Bob

[Farrell]

SUCCESS (with much graying of hair).

Thanks to everyone who took an interest here and made suggestions.  We eventually browbeat the original developer into providing access details and got the hosting extended 48 hours and have succeeded in getting a dump of MySQL tables.  Still fine tuning config.php but the site is visible and now we have breathing space to fix the mess.

[replytomk3]

Go over my list to see if you got everything.