I have finished this..
I need to update the forum software to combat the aggressive spammers and their new tactics.
This will require a period of downtime when the FORUM (not the website) will be inaccessible. I have not yet scheduled this event as I am doing some local testing here to assure that the patches and upgrades work with the database we have.
SO that everyone is aware of what will be happening, here is what I have done on my local server and what I intend to do:
Done locally (offline):- Downlaoded / backed up the database.
- Setup the Forum using the same older version as we are running here
- Setup the Forum to use the downloaded Database, the same data you see running here
- Applied the recommended patches and upgrades
- Tested Logging in, posting and replying.
- Tested Admin access and capabilities locally
Everything worked well with one minor caveat, The custom theme I am using here, (the blue style) is an older version and did not play well with the new Forum code. I'm going to initially perform this upgrade using a simpler, more reliable theme. You may return to the forum looking different. But all functionality will be the same.
The update should not take more than 2 hours of actual updating but I may be offline longer as I test and tweak. If it takes a day for me to get it all sorted out I'd be really surprised...
What I Will do next:- Put the forum in Maintenance mode
- Apply the Patches and updates here online
- Use the default theme with logo and such modified
- Test
- Release
I'll update this thread when I know the time of the update. I MAY just jump into it if I get a break, as I am very busy at work here so this will likely be at night this weekend.
If you cant get in or see something odd this weekend dont freak .. give it a day or so..
Thanks
