Creating a test site

[Rainyplace]

Hi all,

Couldn't find anything about making a which is exactly like the live site.

I have the latest backup of my site and was thinking i want to try to add a couple of mods to my site.

I am wanting to know:

1, Can i upload my latest database backup to a publichtml/test_site folder?

2, Is this the best way of 'testing' new mods etc

3, Is there anything i should do if i do this, to not hurt my server or site securtiy

4, what about SQL and the new admin login page?

5, Is this a recommended way to go about it?

Thanks for your time

Cheers,
Grant.

[misty]

Try installing on your home computer using Wamp from

http://www.wampserver.com/en/

with

http://www.zen-cart.com/index.php?ma...roducts_id=586

[Rainyplace]

what am i suppose to do when it wants me to install ZC? I don't have the ZCinstall folders anymore as this is a backup of my live site?

The instructions are for a fresh new ZC install. Any suggestions?

Cheers
Grant.

[misty]

Download existing site into wamp, via ftp..
copy/download existing database, add to wamp..
connect together by altering config files.

[Rainyplace]

thank you Misty,

database,i assume you are refering to zencart.sql i have? and how do i add this to wamp

Sorry for the questons,but i'm new to this

Cheers
Grant.

[misty]

database,i assume you are refering to zencart.sql i have? and how do i add this to wamp

Via phpmyadmin option in wamp menu

[schoolboy]

What I do is create a SUB-directory on the remote server (the same place and URL of a LIVE site) and make a CLONE of the live site.

So, I have a duplicated database and a set of duplicated zencart files (exact duplications of the LIVE site).

Then, using HTACCESS, I make the entire sub-directory password protected. This not only stops others from getting into the site, but prevents SE spidering of any kind.

So my LIVE site would be:
http://www.mysite.com

And the TEST site would be:
http://www.mysite.com/test (password protected using .htaccess)

I COPY the site files and folders using the copy feature in the host c-panel function.

I COPY the database using phpMyAdmin, giving the new database a different user and password.

Then, it's just a case of adjusting the DEFINE PATHS and the database name, user and passwd in the two configure.php files .

Then I run the fix_cache_key.php file to point the database setting to the new cache folder. (This can also be manually done in the test shop admin panel - ADMIN >>> CONFIGURATION >>> SESSIONS... Session Directory).

I ALSO change the site and admin LOGO images to indicate nice and boldly that this is the TEST site - so I don't get confused later. Without this change, the sites would "look" almost identical, so it's a good way of seeing at a glance that I am in the TEST site.

I have managed to create fully cloned test sites in under 10 minutes using this technique, and now have it as a standard feature on all sites I build for my clients.

[Rainyplace]

Via phpmyadmin option in wamp menu

Does this look right for the config files?

// define our database connection
  define('DB_TYPE', 'mysql');
  define('DB_PREFIX', 'zen_');
  define('DB_SERVER', 'localhost');
  define('DB_SERVER_USERNAME', 'test');
  define('DB_SERVER_PASSWORD', '#######');
  define('DB_DATABASE', 'C:\wamp\www\ZenCart');
  define('USE_PCONNECT', 'false'); // use persistent connections?
  define('STORE_SESSIONS', 'db'); // use 'db' for best support, or '' for file-based storage

  // The next 2 "defines" are for SQL cache support.
  // For SQL_CACHE_METHOD, you can select from:  none, database, or file
  // If you choose "file", then you need to set the DIR_FS_SQL_CACHE to a directory where your apache 
  // or webserver user has write privileges (chmod 666 or 777). We recommend using the "cache" folder inside the Zen Cart folder
  // ie: /path/to/your/webspace/public_html/zen/cache   -- leave no trailing slash  
  define('SQL_CACHE_METHOD', 'database'); 
  define('DIR_FS_SQL_CACHE', 'C:\wamp\www\ZenCart\cache');

// EOF

(thank you schoolboy for your instructions, if this doesn't work out for me, i will certainly give your method a go. )