Need to update from 3.1.9 to 3.2.2 but web gui is unavailable

[zmax]

I have a forum which was started in 2004 but has not been active much for about 5 years. I had upgraded it from 2.x to 3.1.9 in 2016.
And since it's not active it's really just for reading and I didn't bother updating it further. My webhost this past weekend finally upgraded from php 5.x to php 7. Now the forum is unavailable via a browser because the database cannot be connected to. Obviously I have to update it now but I have to do it blind so to speak. I went through the documentation and instructions and I just wanted to run it by here to get any suggestions and there are a couple steps I'm not sure about or if it matters that I can't disable something from the browser.

To upgrade, perform the following steps:
1. Ensure that your server meets the requirements for running phpBB 3.2: Section 1,
“Requirements”

Yes done.

2. Make a backup of the original files

Yes done.

3. Make a backup of the database

Yes done.

4. Deactivate all styles except for prosilver

I cannot but I could remove them from the file directory?

5. Deactivate any extensions which are not compatible with phpBB 3.2. Check with the
extension author to find out if an extension is compatible or not.

I cannot but I could remove them from the file directory?

6. Set British English as the only language pack

I think it was the only one.

7. Download the phpBB 3.2 Full Package archive

Done

8. Extract the contents of the archive to your computer and open the phpBB3 directory

Done

9. Delete the following files from the package:
...

Done

10.On your website, delete all files from your board EXCEPT for:
...

To Be Done

11.Upload the contents of the phpBB3 directory from your computer to your forum's
directory. You may be prompted to overwrite the remaining files. If prompted to
merge or overwrite directories, choose to merge them.

To Be Done

12.Update the database:
Tip
For large boards, you may wish to update via the command line instead
of using a web browser. From your board's root, execute the following
command: php ./bin/phpbbcli.php db:migrate --safemode

It seems I have to do it this way.

13.Delete the install/ directory

And that should do it?

Thanks for any help, suggestions, answers!

[janus_zonstraal]

If you hava a good backup you can always start over again, so just try it

[sceptre]

There is a script available to reset to prosilver for 3.1 , scroll to the bottom of this topic .

viewtopic.php?f=466&t=2269196&sid=4a15b ... f5408bff9d

[zmax]

If you hava a good backup you can always start over again, so just try it

You mean start from scratch?
But then how would i get all the current forum discussions back into it? Is there an import function?

[janus_zonstraal]

I mean follow the guide you made and if something go's wrong , load your backup and try it again.
Nothing can go wrong as long you have a good backup.

[zmax]

I mean follow the guide you made and if something go's wrong , load your backup and try it again.
Nothing can go wrong as long you have a good backup.

Ah got it thanks!
OK I will and will report the results . . . .

[Mannix_]

Since you can't access the forum I would update it locally with the help of Xampp and upload it to the ftp/db after.

[zmax]

Since you can't access the forum I would update it locally with the help of Xampp and upload it to the ftp/db after.

That's a great idea!!
I have Xampp installed but I also use Bitnami WAMP.

[3Di]

FTW http://wampserver.aviatechno.net/

[zmax]

FTW http://wampserver.aviatechno.net/

Interesting I didn't know about that one, I'll have to check it out!

As an aside I was just looking at the Bitnami WAMP site and under Modules they have a phpBB module. That could be interesting too....

[3Di]

they have a phpBB module

I use, as a winner as well:

phpBB QuickInstall
https://www.phpbb.com/customise/db/offi ... ckinstall/

.

[zmax]

I use, as a winner as well:
phpBB QuickInstall
https://www.phpbb.com/customise/db/offi ... ckinstall/

That's great thanks I didn't know about that!

[zmax]

An update:
I decided to just try and update it directly on the host server first and see what happened.
I got to:

Code: Select all

php ./bin/phpbbcli.php db:migrate --safemode

and I did that and there was no echo print or anything it just went back to the prompt.
I waited a few minutes and tried going to the index page but it still had the database error.
I tried the command without the safemode and again same thing, tried index page but same error.
I'm not sure if the command is supposed to have any output or not. But at any rate it doesn't seem to have worked.
So I'm going to setup locally and attempt to update it that way and if it works then upload everything to the host server.

[zmax]

I just wanted to followup briefly.
Turns out that the index page error about mysql not connecting had to do with having to change this line:

Code: Select all

$dbms = 'phpbb\\db\\driver\\mysql';

to this:

Code: Select all

$dbms = 'phpbb\\db\\driver\\mysqli';

but I didn't find that out until much later and I'm not sure it would have made much difference in the upgrading.
I took it local but the manual method failed even after giving php a much longer timeout period.
I had to stop for a week and in that time 3.2.3 came out which said it fixed a problem with migrations so that may have been a factor.
I used the automatic upgrade from a specific version to another.
That was the trick but not until I deleted all the non default styles. For some reason disabling wasn't enough, they had to be deleted.
Once it worked I put it all back on the host server and then I fixed that last mysql config and then it worked!
Now I have to upgrade an old board from 3.0.x to 3.2.3 ...

[GanstaZ]

Never use auto package for upgrade/update if you do not know what to do, if something bad happens (auto pack is for experts who know how to handle problems). Use full package. For upgrade => 3.2 Upgrade Guide