Hi,
I'm planning to deviate from the standard upgrade protocol, I'd appreciate it if anybody could poke holes in my plan.
MY PROPOSED STRATEGY (upgrading zc151 to zc154)
PART 1 – Prepwork
1. Create new subdomain (zc154.mysite), create new database, install fresh zc154.
2. Backup the live site db, import into fresh zc154, run the upgrade.
3. Install the responsive template.
4. Backup/import all the images from the live site.
5. Upgrade all mods, tweak until everything is running smooth.
Because time will have passed since Step2 above (upgrading Live site DB), I will need to manually capture any new customer data that may have occurred. So I will need to take the Live site db, upgrade it, dump the needed tables, and update the upgraded sites db. So...
PART 2 – Going live
1. Repeat Steps1&2 above on a new subdomain to get LIVE zc151 updated for zc154.
2. Track down and import all new traffic/customer data into the fully upgraded site db.
3. Port the upgraded site over to the Live domain.
4. Reinstall all modules (shipping, taxes, payment, etc) on Live.
5. Pray!
QUESTION
- Do you see any problems with this strategy?
- Can anybody tell me where I can find a list of tables that will change between db updating: address_book, orders, orders_status, admin_activity_log, and so on? If not, I can probably wing it. I may focus only on customers/orders because that is the most important bit and would limit the scope so I don't risk a screwup.
- Any thoughts? Suggestions to make this easier?
WHY DEVIATE FROM PROTOCOL?
This upgrade is about the toughest task I've ever faced (with web dev) and it's very much stretching my abilities.
I have three major problems. First, the site is heavily modded. Second, the site has tons of products, images, content (zipped, itweighs about 600mb). Third, the live version is active with new traffic, customers, orders, etc coming in every day.
One of the main goals I have is take the current template and upgrade it to a responsive version of itself. Since I'm trying to keep the same look for the primary version of the site (desktop), I need to work with all the categories/products/ezpages in place so I can match them up (style wise).
Because the site is so heavily modded (10+ addon mods, several of those have been heavily customized, plus there are few 100% custom mods), I have to upgrade the db numerous times as I upgrade the mods. I'm afraid that I'll forget critical database tweaks made subsequent to running various SQL updates. That could get super messy.
Plus, I'm very visual. I need to be able to see my progress and verify with my eyeballs that my changes are in place and working as they should. And the responsive version of the template is very different in some areas.
This just seems like the only way to go. For me.
What do you think?
Bookmarks