[ale] Web Site Conversion

[Jonathan Meek]

Bob,

As far as the hosting goes, I don't know if the group is 501(3)
non-profit, but dreamhost (dreamhost.com) offers free hosting for
501(3). I have heard good things about them. A few years ago, I was
using Go Daddy and had no problem out of them but I don't if things
have changed since then.

Also, I think there's a way to convert DotNetNuke over to one of the
popular Content Management Systems (CMS) (e.g. Drupal, Wordpress,
Joolma!). In theory, you should be able to export the server database
(assuming Microsoft SQL Server) to something like MySQL or PostgreSQL.

If I were to go about it, I think I would go this route:
        1) backup all current server setup
              --current server config files
              --full export of database
              --any DotNetNuke config files & webpages

        2) setup hosting for new site
             --I would choose a debian/ubuntu server but that's
because I am familiar with those systems & more likely an option on
the provider

       3) start converting over the old site to the new site using a
copy of the backups
            --database
                 converting MS SQL to MySQL (more than likely the
provider will use MySQL)
            --DotNetNuke to a modern Content Management System
                 --Most host providers have one-click setup of popular
Content Management Systems so setup shouldn't suck too bad.
                 --Personal experience has been that Joolma! has been
painful to work with but Drupal & WordPress aren't too bad. Also, it
is more likely that tools exist to convert from DotNetNuke to
WordPress or Drupal


I have some experience in working with setting up web servers (did
work for the school newspaper fixing a openSUSE 11.2 server we had and
started working on changing out the Content Management System from a
custom CMS to a popular CMS) but I think they are more people with
better experience than myself in the group. I am willing to help where
I can and as I can.

Regards,

Jonathan

On Wed, Oct 31, 2012 at 12:59 PM, Bob Kruger <bkruger at mindspring.com> wrote:
> All;
>
> I "inherited" maintenance of a website that is run via DotNetNuke on a
> Microsoft server.  To say that I am undershwelmed is an overstatement.
> However, the site has been up for a number of years, and site users have
> gotten used to the look and feel.  To change that would not be good.
>
> At the same time, the web hosting provider that I inherited, e.g.
> webhost4life.com, has proven to be increasingly incompetent and unresponsive
> with useless tech support from Mumbai.  All are sorry for my inconvenience,
> but they do nothing to fix problems.  Time for a change
>
> I am looking for someone who can cross both Windows server based systems and
> Linux based systems to migrate what we have to a Linux based platform and
> software, but keep a similar look at feel.  And, there is compensation with
> this project, e.g. not asking for free work.
>
> Any takers or recommendations?
>
> V/r
>
> Bob
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Ale mailing list
> Ale at ale.org
> http://mail.ale.org/mailman/listinfo/ale
> See JOBS, ANNOUNCE and SCHOOLS lists at
> http://mail.ale.org/mailman/listinfo
>