¶ Step 1: Prepare Database and restore in new location
Please note for managed SQL Server you can also backup and restore, rather than exporting and importing data-tier application. The steps below are specific to an Azure DB.
- Export data-tier application and save bacpac file
- Import data-tier application in destination SQL Instance
¶ Step 2: Prepare Web Files and Move them to new location
There are several ways to move the files. I typically zip them up and move them to the new server.
- Zip Web Root Folder
- Use any method to transfer files to new location
- Extract files in destination
- SMB File Transfer
- HTTP Transfer (transferbigfiles.com)
- FTP
- Azure DevOps (Note: you would want to make sure all files are committed if you are going to deploy this way the first time)
- Right click on webserver
- Add Website
- Name Website
- Add Full File path to Web Root Folder
- Right clicks on new website
- Edit Permissions
- Click on the Security Tab
- Click Edit Button
- Click Add Button
- Input “IIS AppPool\<AppPool Identity>”
- Check Names
- Click OK
- Check the “Full Control” Box
- Click OK
- Close Folder Properties Window
¶ STEP 4: Check IIS Bindings, Portal Alias Table in Database, AND DNS
- In IIS, In the menu to the right, under “Edit Site” Click Bindings
- Bind the desired Domain
- Use SSMS to Update the PortalAlias Table > HTTPAlias Field in the DNN Database to match the IIS Binding
- Edit hosts file on the server and map 127.0.0.1 to the HTTPAlias/IIS Binding
- Navigate to the Web Root Directory
- Edit the Web.Config File
- Find the ConnectionString
- Update ConnectionString to authenticate with the restored database
- Save and Exit
¶ STEP 6: Test and Validate
- Open browser on web server where site was deployed to
- In the address bar, navigate to the deployed sites URL
- Confirm the site loads
- Confirm that you can login as admin or super user
- Confirm you can create and edit pages
- Confirm the persona bar loads
- Check any 3rd party modules that might need to be activated with a license key
- On the source DNN instance click the gear icon and select Import / Export in the menu
- Choose the Portal to export
- Click the Export Data button
- Uncheck everything, including all the pages, except content library
- Change Export Mode to Full
- Include Deletions OFF
- Run Now ON
- Click Begin Export button
- If Export does not begin right away, you can start it immediately in the scheduler
- Navigate to \App_Data\ExportImport
- Find your newly created export package
- Transfer using any method to destination server
- Place package in the \App_Data\ExportImport directory on the destination server
- Launch the destination website
- Login, click Gear Icon, select Import/Export
- Choose Portal
- Leave override collisions ON
- Select Import Package and Begin Import