Practical guide to automated upgrade J 1.7 to Joomla 2.5

[easytherm]

I also experimented lot of problems upgrading to 2.5 ( database errors, sql 1060 or 1062). I was tired of experimenting. (I must say I had also multilanguage issues which I first had to solve)

Using akeeba Admin Tools 2.2.a3 to upgrade solved everything ! Install the component and just click on update when a new Joomla core version is out. That's all!

I use Admin tools professional (well worth 20€, thanks to it's firewall functions), but I think the free version fits also. Download it from http://www.akeebabackup.com.

Don't forget to download akeeba backup also and 1) make backup of your site first, b) download your backup to a safe location.

Both components are really a must.

Thank yo so much Nicholas.

[ozneilau]

Using akeeba Admin Tools 2.2.a3 to upgrade solved everything ! Install the component and just click on update when a new Joomla core version is out. That's all!

I use Admin tools professional (well worth 20€, thanks to it's firewall functions), but I think the free version fits also.

I am also an Akeeba Subscriber (money well spent to support Nicholas even if you only ever need the free versions) and can confirm that I managed to update 2 x Joomla 1.7 websites to Joomla 2.5 using the Akeeba Admin Tools 2.2.a3 free version.

Both these websites had previously failed native updates with the 1060 error and had to be restored from a backup. Akeeba to the rescue once more!

Neil.

[aemiller]

Try Akeeba Admin Tools. Although I've not used it for a 1.7 to 2.5 upgrade, it has always worked well before. I'm reading that others are finding it helpful for this upgrade as well.

[leolam]

Try Akeeba Admin Tools. Although I've not used it for a 1.7 to 2.5 upgrade, it has always worked well before. I'm reading that others are finding it helpful for this upgrade as well.

I used Admin Tools Pro on a site to test what was posted re. admin Tools and bought the Pro version and where I had actually initial difficulties getting it all upgraded (I did managed but it did take some effort) the Pro version of Admin Tools very smoothly upgraded it after I rolled it back. So I can confirm what is being stated... Realize thought that is not the "resolve all" Everything depends on the server, state of the site and actual maintenance but it is another very useful tool by Nicholas indeed!

Leo

[nikosdion]

Thank you for the kind words, fellas! As soon as Joomla! 2.5.1 is released tomorrow, I am going to work closely with the rest of the Joomla! developers to port Admin Tools' Joomla! update functionality inside Joomla! itself. Hopefully this will make Joomla! upgrade much easier, especially on those hosts where the current core updater doesn't work

[leolam]

especially on those hosts where the current core updater doesn't work

Are you going to create a cUrl version than since that is available on 95% of the hosts I think (I do not count GoDaddy in those 5% since they are extra on top of the 5 in their own 'league')

Leo

[ozneilau]

As soon as Joomla! 2.5.1 is released tomorrow, I am going to work closely with the rest of the Joomla! developers to port Admin Tools' Joomla! update functionality inside Joomla! itself.

Hallelujah!

[nikosdion]

I am going to do better than just implement cURL. I am also going to split the download, extraction, script execution and clean up processes to multiple page loads, exactly as Admin Tools does it. This will work around a great number of issues, especially tose pertaining to CPU usage limits on shared hosts.

[aemiller]

Thank you, Nicholas. That's great news!

[robertflower]

I just used your instructions on upgrading to 2.5. However, now my updated articles do not format correctly using the WYSIWYG CKE editor.
Please advise
Thanks
Robert

[leolam]

I am going to do better than just implement cURL. I am also going to split the download, extraction, script execution and clean up processes to multiple page loads, exactly as Admin Tools does it. This will work around a great number of issues, especially tose pertaining to CPU usage limits on shared hosts.

Why didn't we do that for 2.5.0 already than? (teasing Nicholas )

I like a lot what I read......

Leo

[nikosdion]

I know you're teasing, Leo, but this is actually a valid question. The reason this wasn't included in 2.5.0 is users. Nobody reported issues with the included update code during the 1.6 and 1.7 versions. There was this false assumption that these are "testing" versions (indeed, they were) and that things would "magically" be fixed with the stable. An unreported bug is a bug not fixed. As soon as 2.5.0 was released, bug reports regarding the update began pouring in. They were so many that they ultimately reached the head of the Joomla! Bug Squad who posted on the list. And I happened to see the post and have enough time to reply in great detail why the included code can not work on shared hosts. I had shared some of those concerns months ago, but I was the lunatic on the soapbox talking about the end of the world. Understandably so, as most developers don't have to subject their users' servers to high CPU loads for extended periods of time, in the way a full Joomla! update or a backup does It took a lot of bug reports to cause developers testing the update code on affected live servers (thankfully, a certain host owned by a sexist ex-marine is consistently subpar to allow us to demonstrate the issue) to make me sound like a reasonable guy after all.

The moral of the story is: REPORT BUGS A bug not reported is a bug never fixed. Developers don't produce buggy code on purpose, therefore they can't fix bugs until someone reports them in adequate detail to make them reproducible, therefore solvable.

[leolam]

As soon as 2.5.0 was released, bug reports regarding the update began pouring in. They were so many that they ultimately reached the head of the Joomla! Bug Squad who posted on the list. And I happened to see the post and have enough time to reply in great detail why the included code can not work on shared hosts.

I know2...I was there remember? Followed with great interest your explanations and it was enlightening (not only for me it seemed)

Still do not understand though why you could not resolve that simple suPHP issue on GoDaddy though as discussed on the BugSquad (could not resist)

Leo

[Webdongle]

I must admit to testing on localhost and only noticed update errors when updating on shared Hosting. Will be great to have an upgrade that works on a shared server, thanks Nicholas.

[leolam]

Will be great to have an upgrade that works on a shared server, thanks Nicholas.

Works on all of our shared servers for all our clients since we have the tweaks in place to allow for this.

Leo

[Webdongle]

The f_url(or whatever it's called ) prevents Joomla auto update on one of the shared servers. On another shared server I get an error because the database user does not have enough permissions to create a database Table.

As I am an end user then I have no control over those conditions.

[leolam]

You are referring at "allow_url_fopen" which is still an issue for several hosts. However if allow_url_include is switched off or not even compiled (which is better) and suPHP is running (with on top suHosin) any host can enable the feature and many, including the very big ones such as Hostgator allow for this feature.

Leo

[leolam]

On another shared server I get an error because the database user does not have enough permissions to create a database Table

Change user permissions in cPanel or create a new user with permissions set to "All" (no problem with that!)

Leo

[Webdongle]

@leo

'allow_url_fopen' that's the one. A Hosting package that a friend has does not allow that. I look after the site for him and have tried setting in the Host's CP but can't do it there. And a local php.ini appears to have no effect there.

As for The other shared Hosting, the Permissions of database users are set by the Host. There is no provision for editing the database user permissions.

Both Hosting packages 'play well' with Joomla in all other instances. In fact for the prices they charge are great. It is just those two issues that the packages have problems with.

Not all of us can afford dedicated Hosting(or would know how to configure it correctly). So a Real one click upgrade would be good.

[nikosdion]

If the database user doesn't have permissions to create or modify database tables, I seriously doubt how "well" it will play with Joomla!. It means that the host in question does not allow you to install or update extensions. Moreover, not being able to create tables would mean that you can't even restore a backup. If you are paying more than 0.10$ per month for this level of hosting, run away from them. Like, FAST!

[augustSix]

My WYSIWYG editor is broken. I am using the standard joomla version. The thing is that it is only able to do one line <p>...</p> and nothing more.

[Webdongle]

If the database user doesn't have permissions to create or modify database tables...

It creates database Tables no problem but the latest update it struggled with creating particular Tables. According to a bugsquad discussion suggested that the Permissions for creating temporary Tables was different to the Permissions for creating Tables normally

Files Update: SQL error file DB function failed with error number 1044
Access denied for user 'web128-a-joo-234'@'%' to database 'web128-a-joo-234' SQL=CREATE TEMPORARY TABLE content_params SELECT CONCAT(SUBSTRING_INDEX(SUBSTRING(params, LOCATE('"filters":', params)), '}}', 1), '}}') as filters FROM `jos_extensions` WHERE name="com_content";
SQL =

CREATE TEMPORARY TABLE content_params
SELECT CONCAT(SUBSTRING_INDEX(SUBSTRING(params, LOCATE('"filters":', params)), '}}', 1), '}}') as filters
FROM `#__extensions`
WHERE name="com_content";

Me

That query creates a temporary table. I don't know if there could be different permissions for temporary tables than other tables. It's not something we have done before in an update or installation as far as I know. Mark

Mark Dexter

temporary tables is a separate permission

Andrea Tarr

[nikosdion]

Yes, this is correct you need the CREATE TEMPORARY TABLES privilege, ref http://dev.mysql.com/doc/refman/5.1/en/ ... vided.html. I don't see why a host wouldn't give those permissions. Maybe it a problem with their control panel. For years, for instance, cPanel would now allow you to give ALTER TABLE privileges. It was fixed just 18 months ago

[Webdongle]

I know how to edit privileges, have done it with phpMyAdmin on xampp. But the phpMyAdmin that I access from my Host's CP looks like it's been modified to restrict a few things.

If I get stuck I use an excellent extension called Admin tools (you may have heard of it ). Also there is Akeeba and move the site to localhost for updating.

[nikosdion]

LoL! The toolkit I've created comes in really handy in cases like this, doesn't it?

[ribo]

Hey,


The problem:, it only produces error 500 (tried on 3 sites, no error logs produced) and when I back out the URL from the 500, I am still at Version 1.7.3.



Doc

try to limit up your memory limit in your php.ini and then you will update succesfully

[Boba Fett]

I followed your directions on upgrading from 1.7.3 to 2.5.1 and everything went well except for the

"Joomla is up-to-date" and "All extensions are up-to-date" button links are missing from the admin Control panel.

I purged my browser cache and joomla cache and they will not show up. I also turned off the Joomla cache as well.

thanks for any help.

[rshenje]

Tried upgrading from 1.7.3 a few moments ago. Had the following error on white screen, "MySQL server has gone away SQL=INSERT INTO `brand_session` (`session_id`, `client_id`, `time`) VALUES ('bnlbk391u45*******a4kk4ch2', 1, 13****748)"

Couldnt proceed any further. How do I get around this?

[easytherm]

Try akeeba Admin Tools 2.2.a3 !

[Falcon22]

I am ready to sign up for web hosting and get Joomla 2.5.
I want to go with hostgator but on the shared plan PHP 5.2 is the default and they offer PHP 5.3 if you enable it, the instructions are on this link:
http://support.hostgator.com/articles/h ... re/php-5-3

If I enable PHP 5.3 on hostgator will Joomla 2.5 run or should I be looking for a different host?