Cloning and creating a staging environment

With cloning, you create an exact copy of your website in another location: files, database, plugins and settings. This lets you create a testing environment (also called staging) where you can try out a new theme or a major update without affecting your visitors. You can also use it to move a website within your package, for example from a subfolder to your main domain.

Cloning a website

1. First, prepare the location for the copy. If you want it on a subdomain, such as test.yourdomain.com, create that first (see Creating and deleting subdomains). Installatron creates a subfolder, such as yourdomain.com/test, itself.
2. Open Installatron, go to My Apps and click Copy next to the installation. The Clone wizard opens.
3. Under Source, you'll see what you're copying: the address, the folder and the database.
4. Under Destination, choose the Domain and, if you like, a folder for the copy under Path (Optional).
5. Do you want a testing environment that you can later synchronise with your live site? Then tick the option next to Create a Staging site?.
6. Leave the other settings to be copied automatically and click Clone at the bottom.

The copy appears as a separate installation under My Apps. Installatron adjusts the addresses in the copy's database so the links point to the new location.

Syncing a staging environment back to your live site: Synch

If you created the copy as a staging site and you're happy with your changes, use Synch (called Synchronise in the ≡ menu) to transfer them to your live site. First, make a backup of your live site (see Making and restoring backups in Installatron): syncing overwrites files and database content. If your live site has received new orders or comments in the meantime, make sure you choose carefully what you transfer.

Good to know

• A copy takes up as much space as the original, and uses an extra database.
• Keep search engines away from your test site. In WordPress, go to Settings > Reading and tick the box to discourage search engines, or password-protect the folder (see Password Protected Directories). Otherwise, Google may find your test site as duplicate content.
• Your test site might also send emails, such as order confirmations from a webshop. Turn this off in the copy if you're testing with real customer data.
• Delete the copy once you're done (see Deleting an installation).
• Don't move files by hand. If you move a website using File Manager or FTP, Installatron loses track of it and the addresses in the database will no longer be correct. Always use cloning instead.

Can I do this in My WebOké too?

Yes. In the Website Manager, click Admin next to your website, then click Clone website. Choose where the clone should go and click Create clone. The clone then appears as a separate website in your overview; your original website remains untouched (see Can I also do this in My WebOké? The Website Manager).