Get the Best WordPress Backup
& Migration Plugin Today
Get Duplicator Now

Duplicator Documentation

Documentation, Reference Materials, and Tutorials for Duplicator

How to handle various install scenarios?

Scenario AManual Extraction
How to do a ‘Manual Extraction’ or run installer without Zip enabled?

The ‘Manual Extraction’ option in the installer allows users to manually extract the archive file vs having the installer extract it. This can be helpfulif you are experiencing timeouts, slowness or general extraction issues.

Solution 1 ZIP ARCHIVE

  1. On your local computer see “LOCALHOST” steps. On a host/remote server see “REMOTE-HOST” steps.
    Note: Local computer setups require software such asXAMPP, MAMP, WAMP, Flywheel or similar applications

    LOCALHOST

    • Place installer.php & {archive}.zip files in an empty directory where you want to install your site.
    • Open your computers file browser > navigate to the {archive}.zip > extract zip file.
      Note: Make sure archive contents are not extracted into their own subdirectory

    REMOTE-HOST

    • Open your hosts file browser utility (cpanel) or FTP > to an empty directory where you want your site.
    • Transfer both the installer.php & {archive}.zip files to your desired directory.
    • Extract the zip contents directly into the samedirectory as the {archive}.zip file
      Note: Make sure archive contents are not extracted into their own subdirectory
  2. Open a web browser and browse to the http(s)://your_site_location/installer.php file.
  3. Goto Step 1 > Advanced Mode > Options Section > Advanced Tab > Extraction Mode > ‘Manual Archive Extraction’
  4. Complete the install process. This mode will simply skip the installers extraction process.

Solution 2 DAF ARCHIVE

  1. On your local computer see “LOCALHOST” steps. On a host/remote server see “REMOTE-HOST” steps.
    Note: Local computer setups require software such asXAMPP, MAMP, WAMP, Flywheel or similar applications

    LOCAL-HOST

    • On you local computer place the {archive}.daf in an empty directory where you wish to install your site.
    • Extract the daf contents directly into the same directory as the {archive}.daf file

    REMOTE-HOST

    • On you local computer place the {archive}.daf in an empty on your computer.
    • Extract the daf contents of {archive}.daf file
    • FTP the files to your remote server including the installer.php file but not the {archive}.daf file.
  2. Open a web browser and browse to the http(s)://yoursite/installer.php file.
  3. Goto Step 1 > Advanced Mode > Options Section > Advanced Tab > Extraction Mode > ‘Manual Archive Extraction’
  4. Complete the install process. This mode will simply skip the installers extraction process.

Note: The DAF format rarely has issues with extraction so it is rare that you will need to perform these steps

Also See:
Video: How to extract zip file on cPanel


Scenario BZero Downtime
How to do a zero downtime migration (install site to new host while old site is still up)?

Solution 1It’s highly desirable to have little to no downtime when moving a site – but how exactly can you install the new site while the DNS is still pointing to the old site?In short, you trick the machine running your browser into thinking the DNS has already been changed by editing its hosts file and then install to perform this process do the following:

  1. Change your hosts file* to make your domain name point to the new location
  2. Browse to the installer.php and install the site
  3. Test to ensure everything is working
  4. On your domain registrar, switch to your new host’s DNS servers
  5. After you are confident the DNS changes have propagated remove the entry in your hosts file

*This site explains how to edit the hosts file ondifferent operating systems.

Was this article helpful?

Related Articles