rapidly upload to, download from dev site

  • Because my site has had occasional problems after updates, for many months, the firm that manages my site has been doing this every 3 months: uploads to a dev site; updates, I check; when it is OK, they download and have the changes go live to my “real” site- NOW, they want to dramatically increase my fees to approx $300 per month to do this every 3 months (currently $99 per month)-simply for updating…

    Please note: occasionally, I will add a blog post or change text myself while it is on the devsite to be sure no problem–(I can do much of that myself)

    They say it takes 3 hours both ways–is there a faster, better way to do that? OR some other way to ensure no problems after updates?

    It is absolutely critical that my website “works” all the time– thank you in advance for your help.

    • This topic was modified 2 years, 4 months ago by Jan Dembowski.

    The page I need help with: [log in to see the link]

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  • The procedure of first testing updates in a staging system and only then importing them into the live system, and the whole thing at regular intervals, is a professional procedure which I consider absolutely advisable for projects like yours, which according to you is “critical”. Why the procedure in your case takes 3 hours per run is difficult to say if you don’t know the project. There are various factors that influence the time.

    For example, the amount of data. If the project is several gigabytes in size and the hosting used is relatively slow, each import of changes from Live into Dev and vice versa can take some time – especially if you really synchronise everything (including media files). For projects that are smaller in terms of data volume, this is of course faster.

    Another factor is the possible requirement to test updates extensively first. To do this, you have to work through a checklist in the staging system that covers as many functions of the website as possible. Depending on the complexity of the website, this process can take more or less time.

    Another factor is the way in which staging and live are synchronised in your project by the agency. For example, if they use a git repository as a basis, this must also be supplied with the updates. It must be documented which branch, which tag, which functional scope. This can also take time.

    How quickly the whole thing is done therefore depends very much on your requirements. If you really want to make sure that the project never breaks down, then you should continue to go the way the supervising agency has gone for you.

    Alternatively, you could also:
    a) carry out pending updates directly in the live system. In doing so, you run the risk of malfunctions and even the complete failure of the project. However, you would save a lot of effort (and obviously also money) because it is done quickly.
    b) Or at least do without a checklist. So just install updates in the staging, briefly check whether the staging can at least be called up, and then install the same updates in the live system. This should also be much quicker to do.

    You will hardly be able to argue against the fees charged by the agency for their work. That is their business decision and has nothing to do with WordPress per se. But perhaps you can save time with the above thoughts.

    Thread Starter rcfweb

    (@rcfweb)

    1. THANK YOU FOR YOUR DETAILED RESPONSE! it would be very helpful to know how much time it should take to upload and download–(frankly, I can do most of the updates myself and know how little time they take unless there is a problem. the main thing they know are which plugins to add, deactivate)–
    2. I do all the checking–to the best of my knowledge, they do not–I discovered problems on live site after updates–they did not–so requested they use a dev site
    2. re site size: can you tell me how long it should take to upload/download a site with the stats listed below? it appears that total size is 4.34 gb -this would help me know whether the fees are reasonable…
    5. I, personally, am on a 350 mbps download/upload connection and am assuming the webhost they use should be on an equally fast or faster connection
    6. What speeds do most first-rate webhosting companies use?
    7. I believe that the tech head of the firm i am using is highly knowledgeable about wordpress–but do have concerns about the firm’s management in general….

    WordPress directory location	/var/convesio/wordpress
WordPress directory size	3.70 GB
Uploads directory location	/var/convesio/wordpress/wp-content/uploads
Uploads directory size	49.56 MB
Themes directory location	/var/convesio/wordpress/wp-content/themes
Themes directory size	12.52 MB
Plugins directory location	/var/convesio/wordpress/wp-content/plugins
Plugins directory size	95.34 MB
Database size	499.50 MB
Total installation size	4.34 GB

    Again, thank you!

    You should ask your hoster what speed is used for downloading and uploading. We can only guess in this regard. There are also no “usual” speeds of hosting service providers, especially since this also differs greatly internationally. By the way, the size of your project is quite common for a lot of projects.

    If you have such doubts about the service, I would advise you not to dwell on such side issues as broadband speed, but to look at concrete content – e.g. the complexity of your project. The more plug-ins you have, the more complex it is to install updates and check them. The more individual customisations are used via your own plug-ins or a child theme, the more complex it is to check them.

    If necessary, it would make sense to contact your hosting support and ask if they can help you with this.

    Thread Starter rcfweb

    (@rcfweb)

    Thank you–I haven’t worked directly with the hosting site–they work with the firm I am using– but will contact them!

    re plug ins–

Viewing 4 replies - 1 through 4 (of 4 total)
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