Web Migration: Dynamic Content Review
Instructions
If your website uses PHP, Perl, CGI or FastCGI programs, you will need to complete additional testing. Examples of PHP, Perl, CGI or FastCGI programs are:
- If your website collects and stores or transmits information from users, such as signing up for a training session, or
- If the content of your website changes automatically, such as a calendar of events.
Ideally, when your program was written or purchased, a testing script was written to accompany it. If so, all you have to do is pull out your testing script and run through it again.
If you do not have a testing script, then you will need to:
- Note down what your program should do.
- Try to do this on your web site on the new infrastructure. If your program:
- Restricts access, make sure access is still restricted.
- Collects information from users, such as a form, make sure you still have to put in required information. Also make sure you have to use specific formats where required, as with email addresses and zip codes.
- Ties in to another program or system, make sure that connection still works and information is transmitted correctly.
- Depending on the requirements of your program, additional testing may be required. If you are unsuccessful, you will need to configure your program on the new infrastructure so that it functions correctly there too.
Database-dependent Content
If your program relies on a separate database such as MySQL or MS Access, you will need to be aware of some additional steps.
- Typically, a duplicate copy of your database should reside on your hard drive for testing and backup purposes. For testing, point your web program on the new infrastructure to access your test database. When you are done testing, point your web program on the new infrastructure back to your original database (not your backup).
- If you do not have a backup or test database, you can still test using your primary database, but you will need to be cautious with information you update your database with. If you are testing from your primary database, it will in essence be supporting two programs; your current web environment and the new web environment. You will have an option to test or make changes to your main database, and then undo the changes after testing is complete. Likewise, you will want to plan your testing as to not introduce invalid or duplicate information into your primary database.
Version Upgrades
The following is a list version upgrades for Apache, Perl and PHP on both our current web server (Raven) and the new Apache cluster.
| Software | Raven | New Web Infrastructure |
|---|---|---|
| apache | 1.3.27 | 2.2.3-22.el5 |
| perl | 5.8.0 | 5.8.8 |
| php | 4.3.8 | 5.1.6-20.el5_2.1 |
Support
If you have questions or need assistance with your programs, send an email webhelp@csun.edu.