In keeping with their philosophy of keeping abreast of time, ZealousWeb now adopts more stable Magento CE 1.8 for Magento website developments. The task of upgrading Magento CE 1.7 needs some informed guidance which you are provided with here.

Watch the Video Guide

The previous version served its time. Now it’s time for demanding more than it can offer to its users. Magento CE 1.8 comes with new features to answer these demands. Here’s a step-by-step guide about how you accomplish smooth transformation to this new technological development. It’s advisable to see the whole Magento upgrade through the trial process before going live straightaway.

Preparations necessary for the test drive

Let’s put a horse before a cart. It’s important that you put in place a parallel system. It doesn’t pay carrying out experiments on system which is already at work. “One dead, other yet to be born’ – that kind of situation must be avoided by all means.

Backup everything

That’s the rule! The entire database of your live website needs must be tucked into backup, including extensions, themes, modifications, media files, etc. FTP client will help you through this process. In fact, you have been using it for quite some time now. This is another place where you need it.

Setting up new database for testing the new Magento upgrade

This is necessary to keep the live website from being derailed. Your new modifications, using new technology, into the old database won’t find adequate support there. In order to keep your present website functional, it’s important you import the contents of the old database into the new database on a new system.

Necessary alterations and controls to be established

This exercise involves importing all .xml extensions to magento-install-dir/app/etc in order to start your experiment on the new platform with something that you are already familiar with. It’s a universal law that past provides foundation for future.

Remember, you are looking for upgrading your present website which is already working nicely. So, this is the place to start. You need to simulate it on the new system provided by Magento CE 1.8, and start building upon it. Thoroughly check the URL of the experimental site and the URL of the live site in your web browser. This will ensure that both versions are matching.

Testing phase

Frontend and backend are the places to be put to scrutiny. Just try out how the modules, server extensions, themes, other modifications are functioning. Place orders and try to process them to check out the payment method. If all works well, there is time to go live.

What if you are using older versions than Magento CE 1.7

If this is the case, then it is recommended that you first upgrade your system to Magento CE 1.7, and then move forward to upgrade it to 1.8.

Once this is done, remove any bugs from the system – if it has any, and then carry out backing-up of database and other important files.

Now the system is ready for upgrading to Magento CE 1.8. Follow the steps mentioned above for upgrading from Magento CE 1.7 to 1.8. Once the transition is complete, ensure that you set your preferences regarding ‘recommended file permissions’.

Summary

Upgrading the system is of paramount importance in view of the fact that so many new developments are taking place in a very, very short period of time which requires advanced setting wherein they can work accurately and efficiently.

E-commerce sites are one of the most happening places, both from the point-of-view of the site owners and the people who make use of it. The extensive use of this system has brought to the fore the pluses and minuses of the system. These findings give birth to technological innovations like Magento CE 1.8. You can’t make use of the new developments unless and until you go for systemic upgrading. If your site is built on this particular platform, then the guidance given here might prove of great help to you.

Pro Tips