You can update Composite C1 manually or – if you have an upgrade subscription – you can update by installing a C1 Package. This article describes how you can upgrade if you have the upgrade subscription, but the steps described here mostly relate to backup and testing procedures which can be used for manual upgrades also.  For purchasing an upgrade subscription please visit out website.

Updates are distributes as packages and are typically able to upgrade from one release to the next. If you are more than one release behind, you should expect to install multiple update packages.

Update packages are available through the C1 Package Server, available through the C1 console at "System | Packages | Available Packages | Composite.Updates". Before installing an update you should examine the package description page (available via the "Read more" button) and follow the steps provided below.

Since upgrades typically involve major changes we strongly recommend that you backup your C1 site before upgrading, and that you do upgrade tests in a non-production environment. Failure to do so could result in loss of data and/or prolonged downtime on the website you are upgrading.

We recommend that you follow these steps to test the upgrade:

1. Examine the package description page.
2. Copy your C1 site to a non-production test environment.
3. Execute any prerequisite steps described on the package description page.
4. Install the update package on the test site.
5. Test the functionality of the site to ensure that no functionality has been broken.
6. If you identify any issues you should correct them, test them and document the changes done. Consider using http://support.composite.net/ for support.

When copying and backing up your Composite C1 site, consider using Composite.Tools.XmlBasedSiteBackup.

If you encountered no problems and deem the upgrade process very simple, you could consider executing the actual upgrade using these steps:

1. Create a backup of your live C1 site
2. Execute any prerequisite steps described on the package description page.
3. Install the update package on the live site.
4. Test the functionality of the site

If the upgrade should generate errors that were not identified in the test phase, you can do a "disaster recovery" by restoring you site backup.

If you upgrade test identified any issues, or if "live upgrading" is not an option, consider executing these steps:

1. Copy your C1 site to a staging environment
2. Make the live site "read only"
3. On the staging site, execute any prerequisite steps described on the package description page.
4. Install the update package on the staging site.
5. Implement any required changes identified during the test phase.
6. Test the functionality of the site
7. Create a backup of your live C1 site
8. Replace the live C1 site with the staging C1 site

If the upgrade should generate errors that were not identified in the test or staging phases, you can do a "disaster recovery" by restoring you site backup.