Updating WordPress and WordPress plugins

Upcoming Server Upgrade

UCLA IT Services has recently enacted new guidelines for campus network security. In order to be in compliance with those guidelines, we are required to upgrade the underlying software on some of our web servers in January 2019. Faculty who use our self-managed hosting service will need to make sure that their websites are running the latest version of WordPress, so that our upgrades do not cause their website to malfunction.

If your WordPress website is hosted in HumTech’s self-managed hosting environment, it is imperative that you log in and make sure that you are running the latest version of WordPress, v5. If your website doesn’t have that version installed, then you should apply the latest updates. You will also want to check that any plugins that you have installed are fully updated. That way, the server upgrade won’t negatively impact your website.

In most cases, the update should take about thirty seconds and you won’t notice any change in the appearance of your website. However, you should take the time to check your website after the update to make sure that everything continues to look and work as expected. If you notice any problems, we’re happy to consult with you to help you figure out how to remedy them.

If you don’t remember how to upgrade your WordPress installation, we’ve linked to some tutorials below. Our Web Operations team will also be offering hands-on “office hours” for a limited number of faculty on Friday, January 11 and Friday, January 18 from 11AM to 1PM in HumTech’s Teaching Resource Center, Public Policy 1020. If you would like to reserve a space at those office hours, please email us at support@humnet.ucla.edu to let us know.

If your WordPress website is hosted in HumTech’s self-managed hosting environment but you don’t use or need it any more, please let us know and we’ll be happy to take it offline for you. Also, if you haven’t upgraded your website or contacted us for support by January 31, 2019, we will assume that you are no longer using your website and will take it offline. In either case, we will keep a backup copy for one year, in case you want to retrieve it at a later date.

If you have any questions about the above, we’re happy to discuss them with you. Please email us at support@humtech.ucla.edu and someone will get back to you shortly to schedule that conversation.