Updating Superlite

Superlite includes a built in updater for the CMS core.

You can check for new versions and install an available update directly from the administration interface.

Open:

Tools → Updates

The page shows the version of Superlite currently installed on the website.

Checking for updates

Open Tools and select Updates.

Select:

Check for updates

Superlite connects to the official update service and checks the installed version against the latest version available in the Superlite repository.

If you already have the latest version, Superlite displays:

Superlite CMS is up to date

If a newer version is available, the new version number is shown together with an Update now button.

Installing an update

When a newer version is available, select:

Update now

Superlite asks you to confirm that you want to update the CMS.

Confirm the update to continue.

Superlite downloads and checks the update package before replacing any core files.

Automatic backup

Before installing the new core version, Superlite automatically creates a backup of the current site.

The automatic backup is stored in the protected Superlite data directory.

You do not need to create this backup manually before using Update now.

You can still create and download your own backup from Tools → Backup & restore if you want a separate copy stored on your computer.

Verifying the update package

Superlite verifies the downloaded update before installing it.

The package must come from the official Superlite update service over HTTPS.

Superlite checks the SHA 256 checksum of the downloaded package to make sure it matches the version published by the update service.

If the checksum does not match, the update stops and nothing is changed.

Checking the files

Superlite inspects the files inside the update package before replacing the current core.

The updater only accepts files that belong to permitted Superlite core areas.

An update package cannot use the core updater to replace your content, media, installed themes or installed modules.

Superlite also checks the PHP files in the package for syntax errors before installing them.

If a PHP file cannot be parsed correctly, the update is stopped before the current core is replaced.

Checking the version

The updater verifies that the downloaded package actually contains the Superlite version advertised by the update service.

The package must also be newer than the version currently installed.

If an update has a minimum Superlite version requirement that the current installation does not meet, Superlite refuses to install it.

What is updated

The built in updater updates the Superlite core.

Your site data is stored separately from the core.

This includes your pages, configuration, media, themes and modules.

Core updates are therefore designed to replace Superlite itself without replacing the website content you manage with it.

Themes and modules have their own update functions and are not updated through Tools → Updates.

Protection during installation

Superlite keeps copies of the existing core files while the new files are being written.

After writing the update, Superlite checks that the installed core reports the expected new version.

If replacing the core files fails, Superlite attempts to restore the previous core files instead of leaving a partially installed update.

After a successful update

When the update has completed successfully, Superlite returns to Tools and displays the version that was installed.

It also confirms that an automatic backup was saved before the update.

The version shown in the administration interface should now match the newly installed version.

Checking the installed version

You can check the current Superlite version in:

Tools → Updates

The version is also displayed in the Superlite administration interface and under:

Tools → System

This is useful when checking whether a theme or module is compatible with the installed CMS version.

If no update is available

If Check for updates reports that Superlite CMS is up to date, no further action is required.

The updater only installs versions newer than the version currently running.

If an update fails

If Superlite cannot download, verify or install an update, it displays an error instead of reporting a successful update.

Read the error message before trying again.

An update can fail because the update service cannot be reached, the package cannot be verified, the server does not provide the required ZIP functionality, the package is incompatible or the server cannot write the required core files.

You can check the current PHP version and ZIP support under:

Tools → System

Do not repeatedly install the update if Superlite reports the same error. Correct the reported problem first and then run Check for updates again.