[RESOLVED] Live and Staging Forums

[Vlasta]

So here is what my thought process tells me....

I have a bona fide license. I host the forum on a cloud server that I set up myself. My forum is up and running and is working just fine. However, I know it's only a matter of time until I install or change something that will mess stuff up.

What I have setup is the following:

I have my webroot as /var/www/my-domain/site-1. I also have a directory setup as /var/www/my-domain/site-2

I already set up Apache to point to the correct web root located in /var/www/my-domain/site-1

What I want to do is make a copy of site-1 into site-2 - just copy the files over from the command line. THEN I want to setup the files in site-2 and configs in site-2 to point to a copy of the DB (I can also copy the live DB easily in mysql), in effect making a direct copy of the live site but in another directory. In this way I can test and stage upgrades and when they work correctly I simply need to change the apache config files to point towards the correct webroot.

Is this a sensible approach? Any gotchas that folks have already come across?

 

[smallwheels]

Here's basically all you need to know:

P

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

Jan 22, 2014

Testing, testing

• Paul B
• XenForo tips & guides [2.x]

Additionally I'd recommend changing the color scheme of your testsite's frontend to something drastically different from your live site to avoid getting confused.
When you log into the ACP of your testsite for the first time care that you are using the correct URL for your testsite - as you have not changed the base URL yet simply using the link from the frontend will direct you to the ACP of the live site and when you don't recognize this and start changing the base URL or configurations things become nasty on your live site.

 

[frm]

Additionally I'd recommend changing the color scheme of your testsite's frontend to something drastically different from your live site to avoid getting confused.

Recommended, too.

Russ breaks down how to modify the default style's blue to green here in 1 easy step.

XF 2.3 Thread 'Setting like $config['adminColorHueShift'] for the Default style?'

Jun 15, 2025

I use $config['adminColorHueShift'] = #; in config.php to delineate between the ACP of a production (155 for red) and a dev instance (250 for green).

I'm quite keen on the Default style and would like to use it on multiple forums, with minor CSS changes for different effects (other than color).

So, I'm wondering if there is a config setting that changes the Default style (1) in the same manner or if I'll need to tweak the Color palette, etc. (and get into the nitty gritty if need be for other colors)?

• frm
• Replies: 3
• Forum: Styling and customization questions

Also as seen in the thread above, $config['adminColorHueShift'] = 250; in your copy's config.php would turn the ACP green, signifying it's safe to make changes as it'd be your development environment. For safety, you can put 155 for red on the main / production site (or simply leave it blue).

 

[Vlasta]

Awesome answers guys!! - many thanks.