How to migrate a version of Joomla! from 3.10 to 4x and from one local server to another? Step by Step

[jamsik]

Hello, I would like to migrate a Joomla version 3.10 to 4x and also migrate it to a new local host.

To do this, what I did was first update the extensions that were not updated on the first server, but I did NOT update Joomla! 4.x on it because it doesn't meet the requirements. Then I downloaded the backup with Akeeba and the Akeeba Kickstart. On the new local server I downloaded XAMPP in its latest version, as well as installed the new version of Joomla! 4.x there. I created a new database in phpmyadmin, and flashed the backup copy and the Akeeba Kickstart, running it in the browser inside my company folder.

Still, it hasn't worked for me.

- Should I pass the file, migrate server with Joomla! 3.10, and then upgrade on the new server, instead of downloading the most current version of Joomla first?
- Should I change the default port of Apache2? (And how is it done?)
- Could the failure be because I didn't use FTP?

[ceford]

See: https://docs.joomla.org/Joomla_3.x_to_4 ... _Migration

[jamsik]

See: https://docs.joomla.org/Joomla_3.x_to_4 ... _Migration

But is it necessary to migrate the version before moving to the other local server?

I put you in situation, I have a server 1 with:

- Joomla version! 3.10 installed (here the website works perfectly for me)
- PHP version 7.4.16 and I don't remember the MySQL one.

And I have a server 2 with the following characteristics:

- Joomla! 4.2.5 (web page does not work when migrating web page)
-XAMPP 1.1.12 for Linux

The question is, if I make a backup on server 1 right now, with all the extensions from version 3.10 updated to the latest possible version (the last possible version in 3.10 I mean) and then using this backup and Akeeba Kickstart on the server 2, could the installation work? Or should I first migrate to Joomla version 4.x on server 1, and then backup and migrate from local server?

Thank you very much in advance for your response.

[ceford]

If you are experimenting on localhost I would recommend copying server 1 to server 2 (localhost) and then try upgrading there. That way you have your original working site to fall back on. Also, you need to get your J3 version working on localhost before dealing with any problems caused by the update to J4.

You did not say that server 1 is NOT on localhost but I assume that to be the case.

[jamsik]

If you are experimenting on localhost I would recommend copying server 1 to server 2 (localhost) and then try upgrading there. That way you have your original working site to fall back on. Also, you need to get your J3 version working on localhost before dealing with any problems caused by the update to J4.

You did not say that server 1 is NOT on localhost but I assume that to be the case.

Ah, yes, server 1 is on localhost too. They are two different computers, the problem is that server 1 is already obsolete, as well as the Joomla! version, that's why we want to transfer it to server 2.

So you recommend me to transfer the backup files (database and other files) to server 2, and then update Joomla! from version 3.10 to 4.x right? For this I will then have to install Joomla! 3.10 on server 2, right?

[AMurray]

and to copy the site:
https://docs.joomla.org/Copying_a_Joomla_website

The most recommended method is with Akeeba Backup, and Akeeba Kickstart.

Otherwise, it involves FTP'ing all the system files, then exporting your database from local to live site. (but Akeeba does that for you in a few easy steps).

[ceford]

So you recommend me to transfer the backup files (database and other files) to server 2, and then update Joomla! from version 3.10 to 4.x right? For this I will then have to install Joomla! 3.10 on server 2, right?

Not quite right! You should be able copy the Joomla 3 files from S1 to S2. And you should be able to dump the database files from S1 and load them on S2. You will have to make a Joomla database user on S2 and you will have to edit the configuration.php file on S2 to change any paths to match S2 rather than S1. You should then have a working J3 site on S2. Most people use Akeeba but I use linux command line tools.

[jamsik]

So you recommend me to transfer the backup files (database and other files) to server 2, and then update Joomla! from version 3.10 to 4.x right? For this I will then have to install Joomla! 3.10 on server 2, right?

Not quite right! You should be able copy the Joomla 3 files from S1 to S2. And you should be able to dump the database files from S1 and load them on S2. You will have to make a Joomla database user on S2 and you will have to edit the configuration.php file on S2 to change any paths to match S2 rather than S1. You should then have a working J3 site on S2. Most people use Akeeba but I use linux command line tools.

Do you know how to update the JResearch! extension, or do you know of an alternative to this module? It is not possible to update from version 3.10 to 4.2.5 with that extension, and it is very important for me, since that is where you can find information about the articles.

[ceford]

Do you know how to update the JResearch! extension, or do you know of an alternative to this module? It is not possible to update from version 3.10 to 4.2.5 with that extension, and it is very important for me, since that is where you can find information about the articles.

That is a separate question that should have been posted in the extensions forum. I don't know anything about JReviews.

Did you succeed with the update from 3.10 to 4.2?

[jamsik]

Do you know how to update the JResearch! extension, or do you know of an alternative to this module? It is not possible to update from version 3.10 to 4.2.5 with that extension, and it is very important for me, since that is where you can find information about the articles.

That is a separate question that should have been posted in the extensions forum. I don't know anything about JReviews.

Did you succeed with the update from 3.10 to 4.2?

No, because when trying to update it gives me a compatibility error with the JResearch! extension. It seems that there are no updates to the extension and you would have to explore alternatives to it before updating. Would you know where to look for problems with extensions?

[toivo]

Do you know how to update the JResearch! extension, or do you know of an alternative to this module?

That is a separate question that should have been posted in the extensions forum.

The website hosting the JResearch forum does not respond and the J!Research Support Google Group has no responses since early 2021, which means that the support and development of the extension has stopped.

The recommended version of PHP for this extension is PHP 5 and the latest version was released eight years ago. Resuscitating the J!Research package to support PHP 8 and Joomla 4 would need a considerable effort by a Joomla specialist.

It seems that there are no updates to the extension and you would have to explore alternatives to it before updating. Would you know where to look for problems with extensions?

If an extension has been updated in the last couple of years, it is likely to work in PHP 8 but it would still need to be tested. Use the JED Checker to find out about potential issues with the PHP coding and how the extension uses the Joomla framework. Test extensions first in a localhost environment in your workstation by installing for example XAMPP or Wampserver bundles.

[jamsik]

Do you know how to update the JResearch! extension, or do you know of an alternative to this module?

That is a separate question that should have been posted in the extensions forum.

The website hosting the JResearch forum does not respond and the J!Research Support Google Group has no responses since early 2021, which means that the support and development of the extension has stopped.

The recommended version of PHP for this extension is PHP 5 and the latest version was released eight years ago. Resuscitating the J!Research package to support PHP 8 and Joomla 4 would need a considerable effort by a Joomla specialist.

It seems that there are no updates to the extension and you would have to explore alternatives to it before updating. Would you know where to look for problems with extensions?

If an extension has been updated in the last couple of years, it is likely to work in PHP 8 but it would still need to be tested. Use the JED Checker to find out about potential issues with the PHP coding and how the extension uses the Joomla framework. Test extensions first in a localhost environment in your workstation by installing for example XAMPP or Wampserver bundles.

Is there another extension that does what J!Research does, to use as an alternative, and is compatible with Joomla 4.2.5? I don't have great knowledge of Joomla!, and I imagine that what you propose to adapt J!Research to the version of Joomla! current is going to be too complicated.

[Webdongle]

To copy a site you do NOT create a fresh Joomla. Easiest imho is to create a database and run kickstart on the jpa file.

A note about xampp on Linux OS. You need to manipulate the files by using ftp. If you copy the kickstart and jpa files directly to the localhost folder you will have file Ownership files.

1. Copy the files to a regular folder
2. Make sure the ftp Server (that comes with xampp) is running. (from memory I am not sure if you need to set up an account in the ftp Server or if thr user is 'root' with no password.)
3. Use an ftp Client to connect to localhost
4. With the ftp Client create a folder in localhost
5. Use xampp to create a database
6. Point your browser at localhost/newfoldername/kickstart.php
7. Run kickstart and the installer will start.
*Database Host: localhost
*Database User: Root
*Database Password is left blank (unless you defined one during xampp setup)

Following #1 to #7 will prevent Ownership problems on Linux OS (like Ubuntu etc.)
Using ftp to manipulate localhost files will prevent Ownership problems on Linux OS (like Ubuntu etc.)

Once you have done that you can unistall incompatible 3rd party extensions from Joomla the normal way.

You can also use ftp to create other folders and create fresh Joomla installs. But you need to unpack the zip files before transferring the files using ftp. Then you create another database and point your browser at localhost/anothernewfoldername/
The Joomla installation will run.

The thing to remember here is if you do NOT use ftp to manipulate files you will have file Ownership problems. Linux based OS have Ownership higher that SU. So manipulating files with SU will cause Ownership problems when running xampp localhost. But using an ftp Client to connect to xampp's ftp Server will eliminate Ownership problems with localhost on Linux based OS.

[jamsik]

To copy a site you do NOT create a fresh Joomla. Easiest imho is to create a database and run kickstart on the jpa file.

A note about xampp on Linux OS. You need to manipulate the files by using ftp. If you copy the kickstart and jpa files directly to the localhost folder you will have file Ownership files.

1. Copy the files to a regular folder
2. Make sure the ftp Server (that comes with xampp) is running. (from memory I am not sure if you need to set up an account in the ftp Server or if thr user is 'root' with no password.)
3. Use an ftp Client to connect to localhost
4. With the ftp Client create a folder in localhost
5. Use xampp to create a database
6. Point your browser at localhost/newfoldername/kickstart.php
7. Run kickstart and the installer will start.
*Database Host: localhost
*Database User: Root
*Database Password is left blank (unless you defined one during xampp setup)

Following #1 to #7 will prevent Ownership problems on Linux OS (like Ubuntu etc.)
Using ftp to manipulate localhost files will prevent Ownership problems on Linux OS (like Ubuntu etc.)

Once you have done that you can unistall incompatible 3rd party extensions from Joomla the normal way.

You can also use ftp to create other folders and create fresh Joomla installs. But you need to unpack the zip files before transferring the files using ftp. Then you create another database and point your browser at localhost/anothernewfoldername/
The Joomla installation will run.

The thing to remember here is if you do NOT use ftp to manipulate files you will have file Ownership problems. Linux based OS have Ownership higher that SU. So manipulating files with SU will cause Ownership problems when running xampp localhost. But using an ftp Client to connect to xampp's ftp Server will eliminate Ownership problems with localhost on Linux based OS.

But that can be changed manually, setting another owner of the folder different than root, right?

It still doesn't work for me... I think it's some .htaccess error, which is redirecting me to my previous web hosting, but I don't know how to fix it and it's very frustrating.

The problem also to do FTP is that the network is quite special, and the old server where Joomla was hosted has its own private address, and this one has another private address, so one server is unreachable by another.

[jamsik]

I was able to install it but I get 25 errors when debugging in administration. The main page cannot be displayed.

[sozzled]

G'day, @jamsik,

The error you are seeing is more related to PHP than J! but it is easy to fix. At line 150 of that file—I do not know which file it is—where you see

Code: Select all

	if ($k{0} != '_')

change it to

Code: Select all

	if ($k[0] != '_')

This is probably not the only file you will need to make changes to so that your website works with whatever version of PHP (or J! for that matter) you are using.

You are probably using a number of outdated third-party extensions (or trying to use third-party extensions that are outdated and need to be updated) with your website. Have you checked that all your software is up to date?

We cannot give you "step by step" instructions for every problem you have and, more importantly, you may have a number of issues that are totally unrelated to "migrating" from J! 3.x to J! 4.x. Each problem should be addressed separately and not bundled into one forum post that could go on for weeks or months.

Make the change to line 150 (of whatever file it is) and it should fix that problem. However, from the general looks of things, I think you have other problems as well. Each problem should be addressed as a separate forum post.

[jamsik]

G'day, @jamsik,

The error you are seeing is more related to PHP than J! but it is easy to fix. At line 150 of that file—I do not know which file it is—where you see

Code: Select all

	if ($k{0} != '_')

change it to

Code: Select all

	if ($k[0] != '_')

This is probably not the only file you will need to make changes to so that your website works with whatever version of PHP (or J! for that matter) you are using.

You are probably using a number of outdated third-party extensions (or trying to use third-party extensions that are outdated and need to be updated) with your website. Have you checked that all your software is up to date?

We cannot give you "step by step" instructions for every problem you have and, more importantly, you may have a number of issues that are totally unrelated to "migrating" from J! 3.x to J! 4.x. Each problem should be addressed separately and not bundled into one forum post that could go on for weeks or months.

Make the change to line 150 (of whatever file it is) and it should fix that problem. However, from the general looks of things, I think you have other problems as well. Each problem should be addressed as a separate forum post.

The problem is the J!Research extension. I have to find a alternative to this.

Thank you.

[Webdongle]

...

But that can be changed manually, setting another owner of the folder different than root, right?
...

You can CHOWN but it' easier (imho) to let xampp set the Ownership

...
It still doesn't work for me... I think it's some .htaccess error, which is redirecting me to my previous web hosting, but I don't know how to fix it and it's very frustrating....

look at your .htaccess and check your live site var in configuration.php does not have the url set. Other than that it could be a 3rd party Extension/Template causing it. Or cache

......

The problem also to do FTP is that the network is quite special, and the old server where Joomla was hosted has its own private address, and this one has another private address, so one server is unreachable by another.

You don't use the ftp on the old server, you do all that on the new server.
*1a You use Akeeba to create a jpa backup file
**1b You copy that file and transfer it to a normal folder on the other computer (a mem stick will do that)
2. Make sure the ftp Server (that comes with xampp) is running. (from memory I am not sure if you need to set up an account in the ftp Server or if thr user is 'root' with no password.)
3. Use an ftp Client to connect to localhost
4. With the ftp Client create a folder in localhost
5. Use xampp to create a database
6. Point your browser at localhost/newfoldername/kickstart.php
7. Run kickstart and the installer will start.

[sozzled]

We do not know anything about J!Research. As @toivo wrote earlier

The website hosting the JResearch forum does not respond and the J!Research Support Google Group has no responses since early 2021, which means that the support and development of the extension has stopped.

The recommended version of PHP for this extension is PHP 5 and the latest version was released eight years ago. Resuscitating the J!Research package to support PHP 8 and Joomla 4 would need a considerable effort by a Joomla specialist.

The repository for J!Research is located on a non-existent server that was closed a couple of years ago. AFAIK, there is no alternative to J!Research for J! 4.x.

You have a choice: use J! 4.x without J!Research or abandon your quest to update to J! 4.x. It's really that simple. It's your choice.