How to upgrade Bolt via SSH
Upgrading Bolt is quite easy as the files that are used for configuration are not included in the distribution files. In practice this means that the upgrade process is similar to the installation process, where you just have to install a new copy of the distribution files.
Create a Backup
It is recommended to create Bolt backup, before making major changes on your website. This will allow you to restore it to a fully operational state if something goes wrong.
If you wish to upgrade Bolt via SSH, you need to:
Step 1: Prepare the Bolt Installation for Upgrade
Step 2: Initiate the Bolt Upgrade
Prepare the Bolt Installation for Upgrade
The first thing you need to do is to access your Bolt installation over SSH.
SSH Connection
If you do not know how to access your account over SSH, you can review our tutorial that will describe the entire process.
Once you access your account on the server via SSH, you need to access the public_html/ directory. It is the directory, accessible directly via the primary domain on your account. For that purpose, you need to execute the following command.
cd public_html
Once you navigate to the Bolt Installation, you can safely proceed with the preparation for the upgrade. You will have to clear up the cache of your Bolt website and it is easy to do so via SSH. The command is:
php app/nut cache:clear
after that you will be informed that the cache has been cleared. A sample output message is:
Deleted 247 files from cache. Cache cleared!
Initiate the Bolt Upgrade
You are now ready to proceed with the actual upgrade. For that purpose, you need to download the latest Bolt release. Execute the following command:
curl -O http://bolt.cm/distribution/bolt-latest.tar.gz
Once downloaded, you need to extract the files of the Bolt archive. Execute this command in your shell.
tar -xzf bolt-latest.tar.gz --strip-components=1
The next step is to set the permissions for the newly added distribution files and directories. This will ensure that the upgrade is performed smoothly. Execute the following command:
chmod -R 777 files/ app/database/ app/cache/ app/config/ theme/ extensions/
All done, your Bolt installation is now successfully upgraded to the latest stable release. Enjoy!
How to upgrade Bolt via FTP
Upgrading Bolt is quite easy as the files that are used for configuration are not included in the distribution files. In practice this means that the upgrade process is similar to the installation process, where you just have to install a new copy of the distribution files.
Create a Backup
It is recommended to create Bolt backup, before making major changes on your website. This will allow you to restore it to a fully operational state if something goes wrong.
To updade your Bolt website via FTP you have to:
Step 1: Download the Latest Bolt Release
Step 2: Clear the Bolt Cache
Step 3: Perform the Bolt Upgrade
Download the Latest Bolt Release
The first step is to download the latest release of the application from the official Bolt website. Click on the Latest Bolt as Zip button, which will download the archive on your local computer.
Clear the Bolt Cache
The next step is to clear the cache of your Bolt website. You can do that by logging into the administrative area of your website. Move your mouse pointer to the Configuration button on the left-side menu and then select the Clear the Cache option.
This will automatically clear all cached files of your website and display you with a successful message.
Perform the Bolt Upgrade
The next step of the upgrade is to upload the files of the latest Bolt release. As you have already downloaded the latest Bolt archive on your local computer in step
1, you now need to extract them. This will create a folder that contains all of the files you will need for the upgrade.
To perform the upgrade, you simply need to upload those files to the server. The important thing to consider is the directory, where your Bolt installation is currently located. If you are accessing your website directly via the primary domain on your account, this means that the installation of Bolt is located in the public_html/ directory of your account. If this is the case, you need to upload the Bolt upgrade files in the same directory, overwritting the existing files in it.
Upload Files
You can easily configure your FTP client, following our FTP tutorial. It offers text and video instructions on how to complete this process easily.
When you upload and overwrite the existing files of your Bolt installation, the upgrade is fully completed. You are now using the latest release of the application for your project.
How to install extensions in Bolt
In this section of the Bolt tutorial series, we'll see how to install and manage extensions through the administrative dashboard.
Create Backup
It is recommended to create Bolt backup, before making major changes on your website. This will allow you to restore it to a fully operational state if something goes wrong.
To operate with extensions in Bold, you need to know how to:
Step 1: Install Extensions in Bolt
Step 2: Manage Extensions in Bolt
Install Extensions in Bolt
To install extensions on your website, you will have to log in as administrator first. Move your mouse pointer to the Extras option on the main menu and then View/Install Extensions.
You will be redirected to the extension installation page. Here, you will notice a link that will take you to the official Bolt extensions directory.
There you can see various stats about different extensions, such as the most downloaded lately or the newest additions. Once you’ve chosen the extension that you wish to install on your website just copy the text bellow the name of the module.
Then go back to the extension install/management page on your website and paste the text in the search field, a drop down menu will appear from which you must find the extension that you are searching for (usually this will be narrowed down to one selection).
When you locate the name of the extension in the drop down menu just click on it, and then click Browse Versions. After the version search is complete a window will pop up on your page. From the popup window select the version that you wish to install, then click on Install This version.
We advise you to always use the latest stable version of the extension, in order to avoid any issues or bugs with it.
After the installation is complete you will be notified with a new popup.
Manage Extensions in Bolt
You can manage your extensions by going to the View/Install Extensions page. There you can see all the installed modules and the different options for them. Let us review all of the options so you can get a better understanding on what they offer.
If you select the Versions option, it will browse all the available versions of the module. This is useful if you wish to reverse to an older version, or you simply want to test.
The Readme option is a documentation on how to configure and modify the extension. This is written by the developer of the extension and if you are having difficulties understanding the documentation, you can contact them for more information.
The Config option will allow you to directly edit the extension's configuration file through your dashboard. Refer to the Readme section of the extension for more information on how to configure it.
The Uninstall option will remove the extension completely from your website.
Another useful options that you can use are the Run Update Check and Run All Updates.
This will check the existing extensions on your website and inform you if there is an update.
How to manage users in Bolt
This tutorial will review the user management in Bolt. We will follow the steps on how to create new users on your website or manage the existing ones.
In Bolt, you can create users with varying site management permissions. The purpose of the user system is that you can see all the alterations that each user has performed, which are stored in a log file. This makes it easy to track your development team and see who is responsible for an occurence of an issue, if any.
You will first have to log into your website as administrator. Move your mouse pointer to the Configuration item on the left-side menu and then select the Users & Permissions option.
Access Users and Permissions Section in Bolt
Click on the Add new user button on the left side of the page.
Add New User in Bolt
Now Bolt will open a new user creation form, where you just have to input the data of the new user, along with the permissions that you wish him to have. The options are:
- Username - Set the username of the new account
- Password - Set the password for the new account
- Password (confirmation) - Enter the password again for verification
- Email - Set the email address of the new account
- Display Name - Set a display name for your new account
- User Account is Enabled - Set the account as enabled, by selecting Yes.
- Assigned Roles - Choose the roles of the new account
You need to skip the Last Seen and Last IP fields as they are informative only.
When you are ready wtih the options above, simply click on the Save User button to create it.
When you go to Users & Permissions, the Bolt system will inform you that the user has been successfully saved and he will be listed in the All Users table. You will notice an Edit button next to each of the users on your website.
Click on that button if you would like to change the details of any user on your website.
