Create a staging copy

Before you start

• The live website must be active and not being moved, copied or deleted.
• The website can have only one staging copy. To start over, delete the existing one first.
• The staging copy goes on the same server as the live website and uses its disk space. Netkeel checks there is enough free space before it starts.

Create the staging copy

1. Open the live website.
2. Click the + next to the Live tab above the website’s title (Add staging environment).
3. In the Create staging window, click Create staging.
4. A Save staging access window shows the staging address, username and password. Copy them, then click Continue in background.

Netkeel copies the website’s files and database to the staging copy and sets its address. Follow progress in the activity panel. When it is done, a Staging tab appears next to Live.

The staging copy gets its own preview address, so you don’t need to change DNS. On some setups you are asked for a Staging subdomain instead, such as staging, which becomes staging.example.com; then add a DNS record for it at your DNS provider.

What the staging copy starts with

• A full copy of the live website’s files and database, with its address updated.
• The live website’s PHP settings.
• The same WordPress logins as the live website.
• Password protection, with the username staging and a generated password. See Staging access.
• Search engine blocking, which is always on.

The live website keeps running while the copy is made.

Open the staging copy

Click the Staging tab. The staging page works like any website’s page. Sign in to the staging copy’s WordPress with WP Admin at the top.

Its Staging settings section shows:

• Staging access, with the address, username and password;
• its SSL certificate;
• Staging deployment history, the most recent pushes and refreshes;
• Delete staging environment.

Delete a staging copy

1. Open the staging copy.
2. Click Delete staging under Staging settings, or in the More menu.
3. Tick “Yes, delete this staging site.” and click Delete staging.

The staging copy’s files, database, backups and DNS record are removed for good. The live website is not changed.

Note

You must delete the staging copy before you can move or delete the live website. You can create a new one afterwards.