How to duplicate a live site to use as a test site

[Paul B]

See the resource for the most up to date instructions.

How to duplicate a live site to use as a test site

These instructions explain how to create a test installation which is an exact duplicate of your live installation. On Your Server Create a new test database with a different database name, user name and password to your live installation...

xenforo.com

 

[Lee]

I honestly tried. As I've described above, what happens is that edits to my staging site affect my live site. The instructions do not refer to edits to the htaccess but I think they may be warranted

It is your config.php file. Not the .htaccess

 

[btmgreg]

@Brogan I've followed the steps to the T - Having issues with accessing the staging/test forum at all.

Page not found​

The requested page could not be found.

is the only message I get. That's from going to the site index, to trying the acp. Same message.

The database is copied over, all of the files including hidden files are copied over - I can't see what the issue would be.

Do you have any tips? Willing to share login details if needed - URL is as follows

https://www.behind-the-mask.net/staging/

Best wishes,
Greg

 

[btmgreg]

Anyone?

 

[btmgreg]

Anyone.. ?

 

[Paul B]

Probably something for your sysadmin or host to look into.

I've followed the steps in the guide many times without issue and the dupe installation works every time.

 

[rosal]

• Add the code below to the bottom of the new test installation /library/config.php file

  • $config['enableMail'] = false;
    
    $config['cookie'] = array(
    'prefix' => 'test_',
    'path' => '/',
    'domain' => ''
    );

If the new test forum will be at "domain.com/testforum/" what i need to change in the config.php?

Regards

 

[rosal]

Or i need to put this way?

$config['cookie'] = array(
'prefix' => 'testforum',
'path' => '/testforum/',
'domain' => ''
);

Someone knows this?

 

[Paul B]

Just change the cookie prefix to something that is different to your live site, if it is on the same server.

It can be anything.

 

[rosal]

Just change the cookie prefix to something that is different to your live site, if it is on the same server.

It can be anything.

Yes is in the same server and domain.

Thanks for the info.

 

[eDaddi]

I'm still getting a blank page on my dev site. This is the config file for the dev site:

ini_set('display_errors', true);

$config['db']['host'] = 'localhost';
$config['db']['port'] = '3306';
$config['db']['username'] = 'xxx';
$config['db']['password'] = 'xxx';
$config['db']['dbname'] = 'xxx';

$config['fullUnicode'] = true;
$config['enableAddOnArchiveInstaller'] = true;
$config['debug'] = true;
$config['development']['enabled'] = true;

$config['enableMail'] = false;
$config['removeThemeHouseBranding'] = true;
$config['enableLoginCsrf'] = false;

$config['cookie'] = array(
'prefix' => 'dev_domain_',
'path' => '/',
'domain' => 'dev.domain.com'
);

$config['adminColorHueShift'] = 250;

 $c->extend('options', function(\ArrayObject $options)
{
    $options->boardUrl = 'dev.domain.com';
    $options->boardUrlCanonical = false;
    return $options;
});

Anything else I could be missing?

 

[Paul B]

Try checking the page source or the console for error messages.

Other than that, look in the server/Apache error log.

 

[eDaddi]

Try checking the page source or the console for error messages.

Other than that, look in the server/Apache error log.

I got nothing in either. I get a Server Status of 200 when I hit the homepage. Source is blank

 

[Paul B]

Does navigating directly to admin.php work?

Are there any other (blank) index files in the XF root?

If not them I'm out of ideas.

 

[eDaddi]

Does navigating directly to admin.php work?

Are there any other (blank) index files in the XF root?

If not them I'm out of ideas.

No other index files.

I switched up my mysql query that updates the board info after copying the DB over, now I can get into the admin. I use rsync -a to copy the files from the live to dev folders ... somehow i'm getting these errors through:


Do I need to truncate any cache tables in the DB?

 

[Paul B]

Try rebuilding the master data at /install.

 

[eDaddi]

Try rebuilding the master data at /install.

Thanks man, that fixed it. can I call that URL directly from a bash script?

I was not copying any data from the /data or /internal_data, seems like I need to copy some of those sub folders as well

 

[Paul B]

Those two directories contain avatars, attachments, and cached template files so if you don't copy them across, you need to a master data rebuild.

can I call that URL directly from a bash script?

I don't see why not.

 

[Sonnie]

For creating the new directory on the server... our main forum files are located in the public_html folder. Should I create the /test folder inside of the public_html folder and copy all public_html files to public_html/test... or create the /test folder in the root folder outside of public_html?

 

[Paul B]

Should I create the /test folder inside of the public_html folder and copy all public_html files to public_html/test.

Yes.

 

[Sonnie]

I'm not understanding how to add a prefix to cache... here is the code from the original config file...

$config['cache']['enabled'] = true;
//$config['cache']['sessions'] = true;
$config['cache']['provider'] = 'Redis';
$config['cache']['config'] = [
//      'directory' => '/home/blahblahblah/www/cache'
    'host' => '127.0.0.1',
    'port' => 6379,
    'timeout' => 0.0,
    'persistent' => false,
    'persistent_id' => ''
];