Kentico v6.0 is the largest update to the Kentico CMS product that has ever been released. Included with the enhancements are several new features geared at simplifying the development and use of Kentico CMS. One of the best features site administrators will surely love is the Kentico Installation Manager.
In the past, applying a hotfix or upgrade involved manually applying a script to the database and copying files into the source code. For hotfixes, the process was relatively easy, however, upgrades often involved migrating code changes, deleting folders and files, and a good bit of manual effort to completely apply the changes.
The Kentico Installation Manager is designed to expedite and simplify the application of upgrades and hotfixes to existing Kentico CMS applications. With the Installation Manager, site administrators can quickly identified what updates have been applied to a site, see the available hotfixes for their installation, and apply them to the site using an automated wizard. This blog will guide you through the process of applying a hot fix using this new tool.
Step 1 - Registering an installation
In order to use the Installation Manager, you must first register the site installation within the utility. Click the “Register” button and enter the site information in the fields to register the installation within the utility.
Step 2 - Examining the current installation
Using the Installation Manager you can view the current version / hotfix for the site. The utility will also show you the available upgrades/hotfixes from Kentico to apply.
Once you select an upgrade / hotfix, the utility will list all sites that the upgrade/hotfix can be applied to.
Step 3 - Downloading the upgrade / hotfix
Using the utility, you can choose to download the upgrade/hotfix. This will allow you to apply the update to any sites registered in the utility.
Step 4 - Choosing your site(s)
Once downloaded, you can choose which site(s) to apply the update to. You can select several sites at once to apply the changes to, if needed. Selecting a site will then launch the utility to apply the hotfix.
Step 5 - Applying the upgrade / hotfix
Checking a site in the utility will launch the application wizard. In this tool you will specify a location for the utility to backup the site to prior to the applying the update.
If your site contains a web.config entry for te CMSConnectionString, you will be prompted to create a database backup, as well.
NOTE
If you are applying the update to an Azure-hosted site, you will not be prompted to backup the database because the utility will not be able to connect to SQL Azure to execute the script. You will have to apply the SQL scripts manually to apply the changes.
Step 6 - Run!
After specifying the backup locations and confirming the update to apply, the utility will apply the changes. The log will display the updated files and processing. This is a great way to review the files that got updated in case you need to review the actual code modifications.
Process log
Step 7 - Testing the site
Once the update is complete, you will want to test your site to confirm the update was applied correctly. You can easily see the build number by confirming it within the CMS Desk.
NOTE
After closing / opening the installation manager, you should see the site listed with the correct update applied.
Using this great tool from Kentico will help you keep track of your Kentico sites easier and maintain hotfixes in an efficient manner. This should allow you more time to focus on creating great content and functionality and expediting keeping your installations up to the date with the latest changes!