Creating a test site

[crystal]

I want to copy my site and database and make a test environment on my server so I don't disturb the users when I'm testing changes. Could someone please give me advice on the best way to do this (without running setup on the new test site)?

Thanks!

[Lhotch]

Originally Posted by crystal

I want to copy my site and database and make a test environment on my server so I don't disturb the users when I'm testing changes. Could someone please give me advice on the best way to do this (without running setup on the new test site)?

Thanks!

Create the database on your test server.

Copy over all of your live site files.

Create a backup (ie mysqldump) of your live database.

Open the database flat file and alter the URL for your site in the data to match your new site.

Edit the classifieds/connections.php file so the values work with your new database server.

Import your database on new host and you should be ready to go.

[crystal]

Originally Posted by Lhotch

Open the database flat file and alter the URL for your site in the data to match your new site.

Hi Larry,
Thanks for the reply. I copied over the site and now I am having trouble with the database. I did a backup into an SQL file. I do not know what the above line means. I made a new database and then imported the SQL file into it but I have not done the above step. I think this is where I messed up. Can you please tell me how to do this? Can I do this with phpmyadmin?

I edited the Connections/classifieds.php file to my new database info. So far my test site and the database are not connected. The template files will appear but there is nothing in it from the database. Your help is appreciated!

[Maffo]

Crystal, you should maybe consider setting up a server on your home machine. That way you make any changes you need, have lightening fast access to files, and keep a nice tidy web server with only the essentials.

There are many WAMP/LAMP systems. Simply search google. I personally use 'webserv'. Really easy to install and setup

[crystal]

Hi Maffo,

Thanks for the advice! I did end up getting my database to work. I did not do the flat file step that was in the post though. I am really nervous about the changes I'm making on the test site, because it's a clone and so close to the live site. I don't want to mess up the real one! I changed the templates to reflect the test site, but since it's on the same domain it's a littly scary.

It might be a better idea to have it on my home computer, I didn't know I had that option. I will look that up and give it a try.

Thanks

[Lhotch]

Originally Posted by crystal

Hi Larry,
Thanks for the reply. I copied over the site and now I am having trouble with the database. I did a backup into an SQL file. I do not know what the above line means. I made a new database and then imported the SQL file into it but I have not done the above step. I think this is where I messed up. Can you please tell me how to do this? Can I do this with phpmyadmin?

I edited the Connections/classifieds.php file to my new database info. So far my test site and the database are not connected. The template files will appear but there is nothing in it from the database. Your help is appreciated!

The database stores info, like the url to you web site that is used in displaying pages. If you have it loaded on a new server but the old URL is in the database things arent going to work right.

The SQL file is just a plain text file, open it and edit the data in it for the admin table and change the URL to the location of your new site before you upload the data.

Now that you have it uploaded though you should just be able to edit the table by hand (ie phpmyadmin etc etc) and change that calue.