How to Upgrade Your Existing Magento 2 Store to the Latest Version Using SSH

Magento 2 is a popular e-commerce platform known for its flexibility and robust features. Keeping your store up to date is crucial for ensuring you stay ahead of security threats, access new functionalities, and benefit from enhanced performance. Recently, a new version of Magento 2 has been released, providing numerous improvements and security enhancements. This article will guide you through the process of upgrading your existing Magento 2 store to the latest version using SSH, one of the most reliable methods for the task.

Why Should You Stay Updated?

Keeping your Magento 2 store up to date is essential for several reasons:

Security: New versions often include security patches that protect your store from vulnerabilities. New Features: Updated versions bring new features, including improved user experience and additional functionalities. Performance: Upgrades can result in better performance, leading to faster loading times and a better user experience. Compatibility: Newer versions often work better with the latest web technologies, ensuring your store remains relevant.

Preparing for the Upgrade

Before you start the upgrade process, it is vital to prepare your environment and ensure everything is in order. This includes:

Maintaining a clean and well-organized codebase. Backing up your current Magento 2 store. Scheduling maintenance mode to prevent customers from making purchases during the upgrade. Creating a staging environment for testing the upgrade if possible.

Upgrading Your Magento 2 Store Using SSH

The SSH (Secure Shell) method is a secure and reliable way to upgrade your Magento 2 store. This process can be divided into several steps:

Step 1: Remove Old Magento Version

First, you need to remove the old version of Magento. Log in to your server via SSH and execute the following commands:

cd /path/to/your/magento rm -rf .htaccess (if you want to remove the current .htaccess file) rm -rf (this file stores environment-specific configuration data)

Step 2: Download the New Magento Version

Next, download the latest version of Magento using the following command:

wget unzip mv magento2-master/* . rm -rf magento2-master

Step 3: Link the Latest Version of Magento

To replace the old version with the new one, you need to update the symbolic link:

unlink current_link ln -s /path/to/new/magento /path/to/current_link

Step 4: Update the Database and Configuration

After updating the software, you need to update the database and configuration files:

php bin/magento setup:upgrade php bin/magento setup:di:compile php bin/magento cache:clean php bin/magento cache:flush

Step 5: Verify the Upgrade

Once the upgrade process is complete, log in to the Magento backend and check if everything is working as expected. Verify the following:

Check that the store is displaying correctly. Test all pages and functionalities to ensure they work without issues. Ensure that the cache, environment, and database are properly configured.

Conclusion

Upgrading your Magento 2 store to the latest version is an important task that can enhance your store's performance, security, and functionality. By following the steps outlined in this article, you can successfully upgrade your store using SSH. Always remember to back up your store before starting the upgrade process to prevent any potential data loss. Happy upgrading!