This question about Installation of Foswiki: Answered

Foswiki on Linux shared hosting without shell access

I just upgraded my foswiki site from 2.1.5. to 2.1.6 on a shared hosting environment without SSH access.

I want to add the following to https://foswiki.org/Download/FoswikiRelease02x01x06#Upgrade_Instructions:

Upgrade instructions for shared hosting environments without SSH access

Problem

If you unpack the .tgz file on your shared hosting environment, it is unpacked in a Foswiki-upgrade-2.1.x folder by default.

If you then try to move the files and folders to the location where your foswiki is installed on your shared hosting environment, this is impossible: files are copied, but directory's aren't. You get an error:
  • e.g. in DirectAdmin file management: "cannot copy directory ... into an existing directory"
  • e.g. in WinSCP: Error moving file '' to '/path/where/your/foswiki/is/installed/' - Rename /path/where your/foswiki/is/installed/: Directory not empty

Solution

  • download the Foswiki-upgrade-2.1.x.tgz file
  • open the .tgz archive
  • open the .tar archive
  • rename the Foswiki-upgrade-2.1.x folder to the folder name of your wiki installation on your shared hosting environment (e.g. wiki if your foswiki is installed in /domains/mydomain.ext/public_html/wiki/)
  • close the archive and confirm the prompt to save the modified archive
  • copy the modified .tgz file to your shared hosting environment in the folder above your wiki folder (for example, in /domains/mydomain.ext/public_html/ if your wiki is installed in /domains/mydomain.ext/public_html/wiki/)
  • unpack the .tgz file: all files are correctly overwritten


I didn't quite mean to add it "literally" to the general upgrade instructions, but a footnote pointing to another topic would be convenient.

If I'd use your suggestion, wouldn't I overwrite the corrections of the upgrade with the previous file versions (number 1: copy your current wiki dir into Fw-upgrade-2.1.x dir)?

-- StijnBousard - 09 Mar 2018

No, I meant first, before doing anything with the archive, first copy your wiki into a new directory Foswiki-Upgrade-2.1.x, Then overlay it with the upgrade archive, and then finally rename the directories.

-- GeorgeClark - 09 Mar 2018

Thanks George, that's probably the most efficient way on shared hosting environments without shell access!

-- StijnBousard - 10 Mar 2018
 

I'm hesitant to add instructions specific to a small subset of installations into the general instructions. I'll add a note that suggest another option is to rename the directory name in the zipfile. But I think step-by-step instructions would be too much.

I suspect another (safer?) option would be to:
  1. Copy your current wiki directory into the Foswiki-upgrade-2.1.x directory
  2. Unzip / expand the upgrade.
  3. rename the current wiki > =wiki-backup and rename Foswiki-upgrade-2.1.x to wiki.

-- GeorgeClark - 09 Mar 2018

QuestionForm edit

Subject Installation of Foswiki
Extension
Version Foswiki 2.1.6
Status Answered
Related Topics
Topic revision: r8 - 25 Jul 2019, StijnBousard
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