Using Plesk To Stage Websites

Utilizing Plesk to create website staging is beneficial for web developers and site administrators looking to validate updates and modifications before going live. This procedure provides a regulated setting to evaluate changes carefully, guaranteeing the stability and functionality of the production site. Below is a comprehensive guide on how to utilize Plesk for staging websites.

Understanding Staging Sites

A staging site is simply a direct copy of your site located in a separate environment to perform changes to the actual site. It's most beneficial when creating new features, plugins, or design changes as it allows the tester to explore them. Plesk also has a better user interface that enables users to easily create and manage staging sites.

Setting Up a Staging Environment

1. Choose Your Hosting Environment

Before you set up a staging site, decide where to host it. You have several options:

• Same Subscription: Create a new domain or Subdomain in the existing Plesk account. Suppose your primary domain is an example. On signing up at site com, you can name a subdomain as staging—example. com. 

• Separate Subscription: If necessary, it can be decided to upload the staging site in another subscription on the same server.

• External Server: Alternatively, you can upload your staging site to an FTP account on another server.

2. Create a New Domain or Subdomain

Go to Websites & Domains in Plesk and choose Add Domain or Add Subdomain. Utilizing a subdomain for staging tasks is advisable to maintain organization and ease of accessibility of the staging site.

3. Copy the Production Site

After setting up your staging environment, the following task is to duplicate the current production site to the staging environment. This includes:

• Files: Utilize the Plesk File Manager or FTP to transfer all website files from the production site to the staging site.

• Databases: If your website depends on a database, you must also duplicate the database. Navigate to Websites & Domains > Databases in Plesk, choose the desired database, and utilize the Copy option. Specify the destination database server and create a complete copy to ensure all data and structure are replicated.

4. Configure Database Connections

After copying the database, update the database connection settings in your staging environment. This is essential to ensure that the scripts in the staging site point to the replicated database rather than the live one.

If your production site uses APS applications installed via Plesk, you may need to reconfigure these settings to connect to the staging database. This step ensures that application changes are tested against the correct data.

Making Changes and Testing

You can make the necessary changes with your staging site set up and configured. This could involve updating code, testing new plugins, or modifying content.

1. Implement Changes

Make your desired changes in the staging environment. This could include:

• Editing HTML/CSS files

• Installing or updating plugins

• Modifying site settings

2. Testing

Thoroughly test the staging site to ensure that all changes function as expected. Check for broken links, layout issues, and functionality of any new features. It's also advisable to conduct user testing if the changes are significant.

Publishing the Staging Site

After you have made the necessary adjustments and finished testing, you can launch the revised website in the production setting.

1. Update Document Root

To publish the staging site, return to Websites & Domains in Plesk. Locate your production site and update the Document Root to the staging site's location. This action will make the updated site accessible to visitors in the production domain

2. Final Checks

After the publication, perform a last check on the website to make sure everything is working correctly. This involves confirming that all modifications have been implemented and that the website operates as anticipated in practical situations.

Security Considerations

If you want to prevent public access to your staging site, you can explore these alternatives:

• Do Not Register the Domain: Avoid registering the domain when creating a new or Subdomain for staging.

• Use .htaccess: Utilize .htaccess to control access to the staging site, permitting only approved users to see it.

Conclusion

Utilizing Plesk for website staging offers an organized method for web development, enabling secure testing and integration of modifications. Web administrators can successfully handle updates by adhering to the provided steps, guaranteeing the stability and user-friendliness of the production environment. This practice boosts the website's quality and enhances the overall user experience by reducing downtime and errors when updating.