Hi, Sorry the thread title is not that helpful Any advice would be appreciated, thanks in advance. Situation: I host a site for a client on a VPS. This hosting is name based, not IP. They want to replace it with a Joomla site. Where should I install Joomla so that when they are finished working on it, we can just switch to the new site from them old. (to be able to go back and forth in case of problems would be a nice touch) And how can they get access to it on a name based server, when the DNS points to another site (their old one) with that name. And how should I do this? I'm guessing some htaccess tricks will be involved. I would very much appreciate if someone could lay it out for me. Thanks Scott
Create a subdomain and install/build the new site there and the database is the account. When ready to go live delete the current site contents and move the build files to the live folder e.g. public_html, the database is already there in the account so that doesn't have to move. When doing this it's best to create the folder for the subdomain outside of public_html so there's less chance of one interfering with the other. Finally once happy delete the subdomain and build files. While building make sure there's a robots.txt for the subdomain to stop all bots indexing it, that or make the subdomain password protected. Or if you don't want to use a subdomain just stuff the lot in a folder on the current site, but again block it from access in robots txt or password protect it. We advise the 1st method.
Thanks tolra, That sounds great. So I can move the joomla files after installed without messing things up? I was afraid this would mess everything up.
I've never tried it with joomla, I just can't get on with it, but it works with modx, cmsmadesimple, vbulletin and so on, you do sometimes have to update the odd path in the config after move, but I see no reason why it won't move.
Thanks tolra, I talked to the joomla expert and she said moving the files would make a mess. Instead I have done this, and am hoping it will work. (Anyone with opinions please pipe up) I setup a new hosting account for the client with their own unique IP. Using a slightly different domain name in my Cpanel setup (The domain name is not registered) I installed Joomla in there and the client is accessing it by going to the IP. Here is where it gets sticky and I will have to ask in the hosting section. it appears that Cpanel will allow me to later change this made up name to the actual domain name later, and delete the old account. Thanks again
Yes, you can change the domain name of the account via WHM. You don't need to use an IP for this, you can create a normal account using a subdomain of the normal domain e.g. build.yourdomain.com, then as in the current way you're doing it, delete the old account and change the domain.