Create a WordPress staging environment
A staging site is a copy of your website where you can test changes without your visitors noticing anything. Once you're happy, you transfer the changes to your live website.
- Want the copy on a subdomain, such as test.yourdomain.nl? Create that subdomain first. Installatron creates a subfolder for you automatically.
- Log in to DirectAdmin and, under Extra Features, open Installatron Applications Installer.
- Under My Applications, click Clone next to your WordPress website.
- Under Destination, choose the domain or subdomain and, if needed, a folder for the copy.
- Tick Create a Staging site? and click Clone at the bottom.
You can also do this in My WebOké: in the Website Manager, click Manage next to your website and then Clone website.
Transferring changes to your live site
- In Installatron, click Synch next to your website (in the menu it's called Synchronize).
- Choose the staging site as the source, choose what you want to transfer and start the synchronization. This will overwrite the files and database of your live site.
Tip: make a backup of your live site right before synchronizing. If your live site has received new orders or comments in the meantime, choose carefully what you transfer. Do you have a webshop? Then also read A test environment (staging) for your webshop.
Detailed explanation with screenshots: Cloning and creating a test environment (staging) in the DirectAdmin manual.
Want to learn more? Take the free WordPress course, lesson 8.3 Staging: testing safely.
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