If you don't already have a backup file to use, install JoomlaPack and make a backup of your site and download the .jpa file that is created.
These instructions will handle restoring your Joomla site onto a new server (server move) or back onto your own server (disaster recovery). Take the .jpa file that you downloaded after using JoomlaPack and upload it to the root of the server you want to expand it onto (ie. /www/) using an FTP program or your server hosts administration file handling software. Now, grab Kickstart and upload it alongside your .jpa file. Kickstart will allow you to log into your server through a web browser and handle the extraction of the jpa file online.
Once you have the Kickstart file and the JoomlaPack archive uploaded, browse to the location using a web browser (ie. www.2bluesolutions.ca/kickstart.php). If you can't find the file online, then double check where you uploaded it to and put in that address.
In most cases, you can just click the green 'Start' button to proceed to the unpacking stage. If not, see the bottom of this post for more notes. When the jpa file has finished unpacking, you will be presented with a couple of links. Read carefully and choose the first link that refers to setting up the installation and keep the current window open.
Review the server setup check that you are presented with. You should have all green OKs across the board and if you don't, double check the errors and see if you can fix anything (usually permission errors involving your configuration.php file). Click 'Next' in the upper right corner.
Now comes the database restore process which is the part that causes the most confusion. For most cases, the first 2 lines will stay the same (MySQL and localhost). If this is a new install onto a new server, you will need to enter your server's hosting admin page and set up a database with an admin (full permission) user. Even if this isn't a new install and you have a database installed, I like to create a new database anyways to prevent any issues.
Now, once you have a database setup and an username to use, you can fill in the remaining three text boxes in the DB Restore page:
These instructions will handle restoring your Joomla site onto a new server (server move) or back onto your own server (disaster recovery). Take the .jpa file that you downloaded after using JoomlaPack and upload it to the root of the server you want to expand it onto (ie. /www/) using an FTP program or your server hosts administration file handling software. Now, grab Kickstart and upload it alongside your .jpa file. Kickstart will allow you to log into your server through a web browser and handle the extraction of the jpa file online.
Once you have the Kickstart file and the JoomlaPack archive uploaded, browse to the location using a web browser (ie. www.2bluesolutions.ca/kickstart.php). If you can't find the file online, then double check where you uploaded it to and put in that address.
In most cases, you can just click the green 'Start' button to proceed to the unpacking stage. If not, see the bottom of this post for more notes. When the jpa file has finished unpacking, you will be presented with a couple of links. Read carefully and choose the first link that refers to setting up the installation and keep the current window open.
Review the server setup check that you are presented with. You should have all green OKs across the board and if you don't, double check the errors and see if you can fix anything (usually permission errors involving your configuration.php file). Click 'Next' in the upper right corner.
Now comes the database restore process which is the part that causes the most confusion. For most cases, the first 2 lines will stay the same (MySQL and localhost). If this is a new install onto a new server, you will need to enter your server's hosting admin page and set up a database with an admin (full permission) user. Even if this isn't a new install and you have a database installed, I like to create a new database anyways to prevent any issues.
Now, once you have a database setup and an username to use, you can fill in the remaining three text boxes in the DB Restore page:
- username: host_username + db_username (ie. myuser_admin)
- password: your password
- db name: host_username + db_name (ie. myuser_testdb)
It's not uncommon to run into a connection error at this point. Just review all your information and make sure it is correct and try again. Sometimes, it feels like it just works all of a sudden.
The next step is to enter your FPT login permissions. Once they are accepted, then you will be told that the install was a success. Now you can close that window and go back to the previous browser window that you didn't close and click the link that mentions resetting the .htaccess file. Once that is complete, you should be up and running.
- If the green 'Start' button doesn't work for you in the beginning, then it's most likely due to the security settings of your host. You will have to select the FTP option and enter your FTP permissions before clicking 'Start'.
- If your install stalls at any point, then go back the first page and choose Javascript Refresh instead of Ajax Refresh. This has gotten me through some install unpacking stalls.
- After install:
- Double check your configuration.php in the root Joomla install directory. Make sure it has full write permissions (ie...777) while you are working with your system.
- Also, if you are encountering issues with installing components / plugins, open up your configuration.php file and set FTP = '0', which seems to resolve these issues.
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