Auto update and hosting

Friday, August 20th, 2010 at 9:03 am

There is a great question that I have seen and dealt with personally. It is why the choice of your web host is important. There is a second part that you need to understand too.

The Auto Update Feature hardly ever works correctly for my plugins, and I know it’s common. My question is this. I do know how to update manually by ftp’ing the new files into the cpanel, but in doing so, will it overwrite all of my current plugin settings? Example: My Fast & Secure Contact Form Plugin needs to be updated. If I install the latest version via FTP, will I have to redo my contact form I currently use?

Now my old server had this problem. Sometimes the auto update worked and often the update failed. It was frustrating because my own server at the time was creating the problem because I use more than one web host.

The blogs on my Host Gator account not only updated properly but they updated so much quicker it was hard to believe it was the same process. I wish I knew what the difference in the settings was but I outsource server management so it is not a topic I am familiar with.

I recently moved my server to Zoot Host because of support problems with the previous host and now the updates have become automatic again. If you are blogging the web host and their server settings makes a huge difference. Both of mine work great now.

Now for the plugin settings question. The settings that you create in the dashboard are actually stored in your data base and do not change the actual php code that runs the plugin so manually updating any plugins will not change the settings. In this example the contact form information will still be there with the latest update.

Your questions and comments are always appreciated and welcomed.

About the author

Mike Paetzold got started blogging in 2003 and has become an expert on using WordPress. He has become known as The WordPress Guy.

After being an under ground niche marketer using his blogs he has surfaced to share some of the ways he uses blogs to enter various niches profitably.

If you would like help in building your business check out my coaching offer.