Learn DNN / DotNetNuke

How to backup a live hosted DotNetNuke website and restore it to a localhost installation

(SQL server 2005 to SQL server 2005 express)

how to transfer live hosted site to a localhost website

By Lee Sykes

July 2007

In this tutorial we demonstrate how to backup a live hosted DotNetNuke website and install it on a localhost computer.

This enables you to test elements such as new modules and new skins before installing them on your live website and allows you to keep a backup copy of your website on your own personal computer.

This is an important technique to learn as it can prevent installation issues occurring with the live website. For instance, when upgrading DotNetNuke you can download the live site to a localhost computer and run the upgrade process on the localhost installation to check that no errors occur before applying it to the live website.

In this tutorial we demonstrate transferring a live website from a SQL server 2005 database to a localhost installation using SQL server 2005 express.

Video 1

Introduction
Demonstration of live site and the two portals: audiotuition.com and audiotuition.co.uk
How to add localhost portal aliases to the live website portals
How to create a backup of the live SQL server 2005 database
Viewing the hosting providers control panel
Viewing the SQL server 2005 database and backing up
Downloading the SQL server 2005 database backup file via FTP
Downloading all of the DotNetNuke installation files

Time Length: 8min 18secs

Video 2

How to restore the SQL server 2005 backup database file to the localhost SQL server 2005 express
Copying the backup database to the SQL server express programme files
Opening SQL server management studio express
How to connect to the SQL express server
How to restore the database to SQL server 2005 express
Destination for restore
Source for restore
Viewing the tables from the restored database
How to add a new login username and password for accessing the database
Creating the login name
SQL Server authentication
How to add a new user to the restored database
Select the new login name
Selecting the database role memberships
Copying the DotNetNuke installation files for the localhost installation

Time Length: 9min 9secs

Video 3

How to configure Internet Information Services (IIS)
How to create a new virtual directory using the portal alias settings from the live website
Portal 1 - localhost/audiotuitioncom
How to create a new virtual directory using the portal alias settings from the live website
Portal 2 - localhost/audiotuitioncouk
How to edit the web.config file for the localhost installation
How to edit the database connection string to connect to the local SQL Server Express restored database
Editing the SQL Server Express connection strings

Time Length: 12min 46secs