The following steps have been written for a remote shared hosting environment, and have been used in a DNN 5.0.1 to 5.1.1 upgrade.
- Backup your website files;
- Backup your database file;
- Download the lasted package;
- Most folks use the “Update” package, but others seem to prefer the “Install”
- Backup and then Verify/Modify your web.config (Step not need in DNN version 4.6.2 and above)
- Database connection strings in <connectionStrings> section
- Data Source=(your server name);Initial Catalog=(your db name);user id=(your db user);password=(your db password);” providerName=”System.Data.SqlClient”/>
- Database connection strings in <appSettings> section
- Data Source=(your server name);Initial Catalog=(your db name);user id=(your db user);password=(your db password);”/>
- Database connection strings in <connectionStrings> section
- Backup and Modify <add key=”AutoUpgrade” value=”false” /> in web.config from true to false;
- Change this to prevent accidental upgrade from an outside source during your Upgrade file transfer [Reference Link]
- Add the a file named “App_Offline.htm” to your root directory;
- By adding this file, it will take your site off line. [Reference Link]
- Replace/Move the Unzipped files into the active site;
- Some Hosting environments allow one to Upload a Zip file and then Unzip to over write the existing files.
- Manually replace files/directories.
- Unzip the Update/Install package on your Local Hard drive
- Use something like FileZilla to view and move files and directories
- This can take 45-60 minutes
- Allows one to get a better understanding of the internal “plumbing” of DNN
- Backup and Modify <add key=”AutoUpgrade” value=”true” /> in web.config from false to true;
- Rename or Delete “App_Offline.htm” to your root directory;
- One can just add the “.bak” extension and leave the file in place for future use.
- Example: “App_Offline.htm.bak”
- One can just add the “.bak” extension and leave the file in place for future use.
- Browse to
- During this process, all new web.config changes are added [Reference Link]
- The Upgrade window should appear, and give a progress status line for each item or event that is happen.
- This takes approximately 5-10 minutes.
- Your done!
- Total time: 60-75 minutes
Additional Resources:
DotNetNuke – “Chat About It” Forum – “Upgrade Steps”
– There are additional links within this thread
Mitchel Seller “DNN Saint” – Main Website
– This site has a TON of great DNN related info!
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