I'm trying to clone an instance of DNN for use on a virtual dedicated server.

I have complete access to all of the files, but I find that when I do a simple copy of the folder containing the DNN installation, the copied DNN instance will not run.

My guess is that there are references to the old DNN instance that are keeping me from simply making a copy and then running that copy (things like a web.config reference or Database.mdf reference, etc.). Unfortunately I don't understand the code well enough yet to be able to hunt down exactly what is going on...so I thought I'd ask. Suggestions, Ideas, or insights into how to Clone a DNN instance would be very helpful!

Thanks in advance,
Chris

Hi Chris,

This is the method I use to clone a live website and place it on my laptop to run test modules / skins etc. You should be able to adapt this to suit your needs.

Log in to your live website - Go to Admin / Site Settings
Portal Aliases
Add New HTTP Alias
add the address that you wish to use for your locahost installation version:
 ie. localhost/dnncreative

(NOTE: do not add the http://)

Copy all of the DNN installation files from the live website to a new folder on my laptop
Make a backup of the SQL database - will have file extension .bak - copy to laptop (I place this in the backup folder in the SQL server programme files)
On the laptop go to IIS (Internet Information Services)
Create a new website and point the website to the folder on the laptop for the DNN installation files (The name of the website should be the same as the name you specified in the portal Aliases ie. dnncreative) (http://localhost/dnncreative)

Create a blank database in SQL server on the laptop and name it exactly the same as the live database. Also create the same user and password to access the database as the live site.

Go here:

http://www.sqlservercentral.com/col...estore.asp

(You need to register and login to read the tutorial)

Run the commands that are listed in the files in the SQL Query Analyzer which create the SQL procedures in the master database.

Then run the restore command such as:

            EXEC sp_ABRestoreDb 'dbDNNcreative', 'E:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL\BACKUP\09-28-06-DNNcreative' 

To restore the file that you have backed up to the database you have already created in SQL Server.

After this, then need to run this to allow users to login to the database:

EXEC sp_abFixUserLogins

Go to the web.config of the DNN installation files on your laptop. - Find the SQL server details and change the location to (localhost) rather than the IP address of the live server. - All other details such as database and username remain the same.

In IIS make sure that the read / write permissions are set up correctly, just as you do for a normal installation.

Now go to the URL of the website that you created in IIS ie.
http://localhost/DNNCreative

You should now see the live website has been copied to your locahost installation.

Hope this helps, thanks,

Hi Lee,

Thanks for taking the time to reply so thoroughly to my question.
Your response has saved me a tremendous amount of time and frustration in trying to pinpoint the problem.

Thanks to your help, I was able to get the cloning to work, just as I wanted to. As I'm sure you hear quit often, I am very impressed, and certainly looking forward to continuing to use your service.

Sincerely,
Chris Reddick

Hi Chris,

No problem, glad to be of help. If you would like to add a testimonial it would be really appreciated,  you can add one here:
http://www.dnncreative.com/Forum/ta...fault.aspx

Cheers,

Lee