Easy(er) Moodle Upgrading

Easy(er) Moodle Upgrading

by P Bowers -
Number of replies: 10

I'm sure this question has never been asked before. smile

Is there an easier way to upgrade (from Moodle 3.1.2+ to  3.1.3) than what's described at

https://docs.moodle.org/30/en/Upgrading

The line below is what gives me the most pain, just because doing things on my server is so slow:

  1. "Move your old Moodle software program files to another location. Do NOT copy new files over the old files."

Why the "Do NOT copy new files over the old files" instruction? Which specific files and folders are the "Moodle software program files"?

Paul

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In reply to P Bowers

Re: Easy(er) Moodle Upgrading

by Albert Ramsbottom -

Do not move new files over old files!!

Linux, Windows, Apache, IIS???

If its linux then just

sudo mv moodle moodlebackup
Then just move your downloaded folder to /var/www/moodle

Dont forget to keep your theme and and custom mods, blocks etc and move those to your new moodle folder as well

Albert


PS is there a reason why you want to upgrade (from Moodle 3.1.2+ to  3.1.3)??

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In reply to Albert Ramsbottom

Re: Easy(er) Moodle Upgrading

by P Bowers -

Previous admin installed Moodle and never kept it up to date, so I'm just trying to stay on top of things (maybe I should wait for 3.2 though).

I barely know what the sudo command is, so not too comfortable with that. It's Apache at SiteGround.

Thank you.

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In reply to P Bowers

Re: Easy(er) Moodle Upgrading

by Emma Richardson -
Picture of Documentation writers Picture of Particularly helpful Moodlers Picture of Plugin developers

If you are going to maintain a moodle site, you are going to have to learn linux and command line!  

The moodle code is normally a folder called moodle in your web folder (maybe public_html).  Moving a folder (per the command supplied) is very quick as there is no copy involved.  Copying over the old code invariably causes issues.

Just make sure you have a backup (of database and code and moodledata folder) before starting but then just go through the instructions step by step.  If you run into trouble come back here and we will assist.

Or hire someone to do it for you!

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In reply to P Bowers

Re: Easy(er) Moodle Upgrading

by Ken Task -
Picture of Particularly helpful Moodlers

It appears that SiteGround doesn't follow recommendations of Moodle.org ... the makers of the Moodle software.

At: https://www.siteground.com/tutorials/moodle/moodle_upgrade.htm

"Overwrite the files in the current Moodle directory with the ones of the latest stable version"

Maybe, as a SiteGround customer, one should contact the EMail address shown on the page above and suggest to them they revise that page and refer to:

https://docs.moodle.org/31/en/Upgrading

for details to include in their page.

'spirit of sharing', Ken

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In reply to Ken Task

Re: Easy(er) Moodle Upgrading

by P Bowers -

Thank you.

Yes, that's one thing that had me confused at first. Eventually I had one of their Moodle specialists do the previous upgrade to 3.1 from 2.8.

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In reply to P Bowers

Re: Easy(er) Moodle Upgrading

by Ken Task -
Picture of Particularly helpful Moodlers

In that case, still suggest customer use the EMail address to contact tutorial folks and correct the SiteGround page.

And a follow up ... did the 'moodle specialist' do your prior upgrade the SiteGround way or the recommended Moodle way?

Yes, it might be important to know.   If you discover an  issue after upgrade (and they might be there lurking ... yet discovered), is it a Moodle problem or a problem with the method used to upgrade?

IF you have added plugins via the Moodle interface, think I'd:

1. backup the site.

2. then check plugins and see if there is an update available and acquire them.

If there is an issue with that, first point of contact should be SiteGround help desk.

'spirit of sharing', Ken


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In reply to Ken Task

Re: Easy(er) Moodle Upgrading

by P Bowers -

Thanks.

The site is functioning normally, it is only used for exams. How would I know if SiteGround performed the upgrade in the recommended way? Would something be broken if they didn't?

The site is auto backed-up every day as part of the hosting plan.

I see 400 plugins under Home > Site administration > Plugins > Plugins overview not including Simple Certificate and 2 themes. That seems like a lot, but maybe that is normal for a standard Moodle install. The course material was separated from the exams some years ago, so maybe some plugins are not even needed now.

How can I determine how many plugins there should be in a new Moodle installation? Surely the previous admin didn't install 400 of them years ago and I didn't update any when upgrading from 2.8 to 3.1. The install is probably a very simple one compared to most peoples' here.

Paul


Attachment MOODLE_PLUGINS_UNINSTALLABLE.jpg
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In reply to P Bowers

Re: Easy(er) Moodle Upgrading

by Emma Richardson -
Picture of Documentation writers Picture of Particularly helpful Moodlers Picture of Plugin developers

The Additional Plugins show that you have 3 installed.  Click on Additional Plugins to see what they are.  The rest are part of core moodle and should probably be left alone.

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In reply to P Bowers

Re: Easy(er) Moodle Upgrading

by Ken Task -
Picture of Particularly helpful Moodlers

Moodle is supposed to be modular.   A plugin/addon could be un-installable ... ie removed - which means not only the files but references in the DB - but there are some which are used in conjunction with other modules (core or addon) such as Database and filter_data

Emma is correct look at 'addiitonal plugins' for not only the dates (version) but to see if it might say 'missing from disk'.   If missing from disk means Moodle can't use it.

This part ... "update any when upgrading from 2.8 to 3.1" ... is kinda un-usual as when core code has been upgraded, so do plugins/addons follow ... if nothing else, to update the version number.

As far as all of it working ... you've stated that only used for Quiz so one woudn't know if something is broken or not ... no matter to you if they are unless you attempt to use them.

Attached is a screen snap of a 3.1 with an addon that is having issues after upgrade.

The only reason I know it's having issues is it's used for logging onto a Moodle.

Still think SiteGround's Tutorial folks need to be informed, don't you?

'spirit of sharing', Ken



Attachment Screen Shot 2016-11-16 at 12.09.21 PM.png
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In reply to Ken Task

Re: Easy(er) Moodle Upgrading

by P Bowers -

Thanks for all the comments and advice.

SiteGround replied that they are going to update their instructions for upgrading Moodle.

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