Despite our Test Installation working perfectly our attempt to upgrade to the latest version of the the software failed. I hope this isn't a sign of things to come in 2025.

We will attempt to do it again soon.

In the meantime we can ask whether @Nasher is the right guy? Too soon?

In all seriousness, huge shout out to @Nasher for taking time away from his family to help us out. Thanks mate.

Back to MSN…

fingers crossed round 2 is a winner 

Thanks for all your efforts @Demonland and @Nasher. I've been where you've just been and you have my respect and loads of goodwill flowing your way.

Looks like we'll have to go back to writing on the cubicle walls in the public toilets at Casey. 😁

I can't open this thread.

So can we swear? It would seem appropriate.

So is this a facsimile, the real thing or the second coming?   I will take any willingly

thanks

Thanks for your hard work Andy and Nasher. 

We're living in a simulation.

32 minutes ago, 640MD said:

So is this a facsimile, the real thing or the second coming?   I will take any willingly

thanks

The new software update failed and crashed the server, so we've reverted to the version just before the update.

Once we identify the cause of the failure, we'll give it another shot.

Interestingly, our test version, which is essentially a clone of the main site, updated smoothly without any issues. 

Right now, I'm experimenting by communicating with you all on a week-old version of Demonland, but nobody's responding to anything I say.

It's definitely less stressful, but also pretty lonely.

I see you skipper.

 

Thanks Andy and Nasher we all very mucb appreciate your efforts! Do you want me to Beam down Mr.Spock for assistance!😂

31 minutes ago, Demonland said:

Right now, I'm experimenting by communicating with you all on a week-old version of Demonland, but nobody's responding to anything I say.

This has been my experience the last few years

33 minutes ago, Demonland said:

The new software update failed and crashed the server, so we've reverted to the version just before the update.

Once we identify the cause of the failure, we'll give it another shot.

Interestingly, our test version, which is essentially a clone of the main site, updated smoothly without any issues. 

Right now, I'm experimenting by communicating with you all on a week-old version of Demonland, but nobody's responding to anything I say.

It's definitely less stressful, but also pretty lonely.

andy, could you just revert to a 2021 backup?

11 minutes ago, daisycutter said:

andy, could you just revert to a 2021 backup?

That's now a corrupted version. Too soon?

46 minutes ago, Demonland said:

The new software update failed and crashed the server, so we've reverted to the version just before the update.

Once we identify the cause of the failure, we'll give it another shot.

Interestingly, our test version, which is essentially a clone of the main site, updated smoothly without any issues. 

Right now, I'm experimenting by communicating with you all on a week-old version of Demonland, but nobody's responding to anything I say.

It's definitely less stressful, but also pretty lonely.

Did you try turning it off then on again?

3 minutes ago, Neil Crompton said:

Did you try turning it off then on again?

Usually when a server crashes you need to restart it so ...

Funny, the site seems to be faster today.

1 minute ago, ManDee said:

Funny, the site seems to be faster today.

That's because in preparation for the upgrade I got rid of a lot of the superfluous 3rd part stuff that had been added on over a quarter of a century.

2 hours ago, picket fence said:

Thanks Andy and Nasher we all very mucb appreciate your efforts! Do you want me to Beam down Mr.Spock for assistance!😂

Scotty might be more appropriate.  Spock would likely throw a spanner in the works.

Edited March 12, 2025Mar 12 by Tarax Club

I know from working with a CMS like Joomla that it's always incompatible extensions and plug-ins that cause upgrade issues. Trying to identify them is a great way to lose what hair you have left.

Good luck, we appreciate it.

1 minute ago, mauriesy said:

I know from working with a CMS like Joomla that it's always incompatible extensions and plug-ins that cause upgrade issues. Trying to identify them is a great way to lose what hair you have left.

Good luck, we appreciate it.

I removed almost all plugins and extensions prior to the upgrade. The test installation worked which makes it all the more frustrating and confusing.

43 minutes ago, Demonland said:

I removed almost all plugins and extensions prior to the upgrade. The test installation worked which makes it all the more frustrating and confusing.

i thought you had said previously, you were switching to a totally different package

but what you are describing sounds like you were upgrading to a newer version of the same product

32 minutes ago, daisycutter said:

i thought you had said previously, you were switching to a totally different package

but what you are describing sounds like you were upgrading to a newer version of the same product

No, it's not a new software package. It's the same company, but they've released a significantly upgraded version of their existing software. This latest update represents a major advancement in functionality and usability, particularly in terms of the capabilities it offers businesses. However, many of the new features included in this version either aren't directly relevant to our specific requirements, haven't been implemented yet, or may be integrated gradually over time.

From the perspective of Demonland users, the overall experience won't differ dramatically from the current setup. Interaction with the site, including posting and general navigation, will remain largely familiar. The most noticeable improvement will be a cleaner and smoother user interface, enhancing readability and ease of use, but without fundamentally changing how users engage with Demonland.

Any confusion around whether this was an entirely new software package likely arose due to my mention of the updated login method. This change is strictly for enhanced security purposes and aligns with modern best practices. Additionally, due to the upgrade, several third-party applications, plugins, and extensions previously compatible with our older version will no longer function properly. To prevent potential conflicts and ensure a stable environment, it was necessary to remove these components during the upgrade process.

Hopefully we learn from this unsuccessful attempt and the next attempt will be a lot smoother and ultimately successful.