Comparison of Joomla 2.5 Migrators. In review: jUpgrade

We initiate this migration experiment by utilizing jUpgrade.  jUpgrade is a popular migrator which has helped many to move from Joomla 1.5 to Joomla 1.6/1.7 not so long ago. It is frequently mentioned in numerous Joomla migration articles, in the Joomla Community blog, and also within the official Joomla Wiki.

How it works

jUpgrade is a component that has to be installed in your Joomla 1.5 site. During the migration phase, it will create a subdirectory within Joomla, for example domain.com/jupgrade and will actually install Joomla 2.5 within this directory while at the same time migrate Joomla 1.5 database into the new Joomla 2.5 structure. The same database will be used but using a different prefix for Joomla 2.5 (j17_# prefix) which is of course configurable at the backend. This method is pretty ingenious as it would mean that none of your live site files and database information is altered, completely out of harm’s way. 

Setting it up

1. Make sure your local site is running well (guide). Depending on your level of comfort and proficiency, you may opt to do this migration directly on your live site. If you do, always make sure a complete backup has been made. Consider this a warning. I myself am more comfortable running this locally.

2. Download jUpgrade from the official website (registration is required)

3. Install jUpgrade in the Joomla 1.5 website via Joomla Install/Uninstall area.

4. Go to Extensions > Plugin Manager, locate a plugin called ‘System – Mootools Uprade) and enable it. This plugin is required for jUpgrade to function. If you do not have this plugin, it means that you are using a very old version of Joomla 1.5. Upgrade to the latest Joomla 1.5.25 before proceeding.

5. Once enabled, go to Components > jUpgrade.

6. Go to Parameters and ensure the prefix for the old database is correct, and then submit your preferred prefix for the new Joomla 2.5 tables. Make sure you have set ‘Yes’ to ‘Skip template copy’ and ‘Skip 3rd Party Extensions’.

7. Save the configuration.

8. You may now start the migration by pressing the large ‘Start Upgrade’ button.

9. Depending on your internet connection, system and localhost setting, it may take a few minutes to complete the task. 

10. The screen will move from ‘Checking’ > ‘Downloading Joomla 2.5’ > ‘Decompressing package’ > ‘Installing Joomla 2.5’ > ‘Upgrading Progress’ > ‘Copying Templates’ – if it is enabled > ‘Copying images/media files’ > ‘Upgrading 3rd extensions’ – if its enabled > Finish.

11. If it stuck at any of the phases above, give it a good 10-15 minutes.

12. Once the migration is complete, head over to localhost/joomla15site/jupgrade  to view the new Joomla 2.5 site. If you are running the migration directly on your live site, you may go to http://www.domain.com/jupgrade directory.

13. Be vigilant for possible errors, particularly with regard to user information and content structure. Go to Joomla 2.5’s User Manager, Article Manager, Categories, Plugins and Modules, and play around with them. In User Manager, locate some users that you know and check whether their information is correct. Try updating some users, see whether they are saved. Poke here and there. :)

14. Migration is now completed! If you wish upload the migrated files into the live site, please follow Part 6 onwards.

Navigation. You are now reading Part 3 of a series of 7.
Part 1: Migrating Joomla 1.5 to Joomla 2.5, a guided tutorial
Part 2: Preparing Joomla 1.5 site for Joomla 2.5 migration
Part 3: Comparison of Joomla 2.5 Migrators. In review: jUpgrade
Part 4: Joomla 2.5 Migrator Review J2XML Importer
Part 5: Joomla 2.5 Migrator Review SP Upgrade
Part 6: Moving Joomla 2.5 from localhost to live site
Part 7: Migrating JomSocial Data into Joomla 2.5