issues migrating from hosted install to network install

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we have a C5 site in production, hosted at MediaTemple. it's running v5.2.1 of C5, and the MT dedicated virtual hosting is running PHP 5.2.6 & MySQL 5.0.45. i have attempted to upgrade the C5 version to 5.4.2 but when i do, the editing stops working.

in my efforts to resolve this issue, i am attempting to set up a local copy of this site on our network, using a Synology RS409 NAS as the host. this is running PHP 5.3.6 and MySQL 5.1.49. i have migrated the database from the hosted server and all the C5 files.

if i do a clean install of 5.4.2.1 on the NAS, it installs and works perfectly with no modifications.

if i attempt to load the 5.2.1 version of our site, the very first time i will get our home page, but none of the pictures will load. attempting to login to C5 dashboard gives a blank page. if i close the page and attempt to load it again, i also get a blank page.

i have removed the BASE_URL definitions from the site.php file and i'm using the IP address of the NAS as the hostname. i have no problem connecting to the database via phpMyAdmin or Navicat. my understanding is that's all the reconfiguring i should have to do for this to work. i have not set up a virtual host but i don't need to for the 5.4.2.1 version to work, so i don't think that's necessary.

one thing that might be happening is the export & import of the database may have created some weird conflict, but it appears to be correct (though i haven't checked it out thoroughly). my suspicion though is that it's a conflict with either the newer PHP or the newer MySQL, or both. the problem is i have no easy way of determining what's happening. if there were a simple way of migrating the site from 5.2 to 5.4.2 when it's offline, i would try that, but i'm doubting that's possible.

any suggestions would be appreciated. i'm out of ideas.

walkermacy
 
hostco replied on at Permalink Reply
hostco
Try upgrading first to Concrete5 version 5.3.3. If all is still working ok after that update, then proceed to update to 5.4.2.

Upgrading to Concrete5 version 5.4.2 from versions earlier then 5.3.3 can cause some issues.
walkermacy replied on at Permalink Reply
walkermacy
i've given up upgrading for the time being. i can't do it on the production site. every version i've tried newer than 5.2.1 breaks editing completely. i need to get a local copy of the site working before i can start troubleshooting the upgrade problems, so for now my priority is getting the local copy working.

frankly, my experience with this CMS has not been positive. everything i've tried to do has had major problems and the support via the forums for installation/upgrade issues is pretty much non-existent. i'm not willing to pay $125 a pop to try to resolve these issues.
hostco replied on at Permalink Best Answer Reply
hostco
Hi, to prove your theory wrong about this CMS and the support that this forum offers, we are willing to help you for free.

I will pm you our contact info. If you like, we will update your site free of charge.
walkermacy replied on at Permalink Reply
walkermacy
so, Jonah from Hostco did indeed help me out. he figured out the problem, namely that our custom theme was not done correctly and it was interfering with the core C5 functions after upgrading. apparently quite a lot has changed since 5.2.1, but the theme was coded (particularly custom CSS) to be pretty specific to that version, and also wasn't coded correctly with regard to directory structure.

using this information, i have been able to get a functional copy of our site (on the same C5 version, 5.2.1) running on our local network, which is allowing me to start correcting the issues with the theme and test upgrading the C5 version to get it current.

many thanks to Jonah for his help, especially since it was free-of-charge. i hereby rescind my previous statement about my C5 experience not being positive. the support was great and as i'm figuring this system out, it's looking like a very good setup, especially in light of its cost.