Advice on VM products

[Jack747]

Hello,  I've peeked around the site a bit, but I have a situation that is specifically about me/THIS project.  I do not know if its appropriate to post this here.  If not I assume someone would correct me and I would not be flamed.

I've met a lady who is looking for someone to take over a site she managed but can't anylonger due to health.  I've talked with the shop owner and he is not that happy with his site.  Seems joomla is a real hacker target and they've been hit a couple times.   His one other issue is that the site is very slow.  He has tens of thousands of products on it though. 

From what I've read joomla 3 is a real security improvement and I see you have a beta release - but I could not move it to joomla 3 as yet.

MY SKILL level is beginner - but she told me that its freeware and I would never have a problem getting answers to issues that come up.  I see a lot of tutorials, but your product actually seems rather sophisticated, maybe not a good fit for me to do this work.  I dont mind spending time to learn, but it is a commercial site, so I'd have to be able to fix things quickly.  I would think when you have new releases you get a lot of people working out issues at the beginning?

I am soliciting any advice on the advisibility of my taking on this project with my skill level and these challenges. 

1. update the site - could I tell him a time frame I could update it to joomla 3 and whatever your version of VM is?
2. speed up the site
3. is this work / software appropriate for someone with beginner level skills?   


**Advice greatly appreciated.  I'm in school, I need the $$, though not knowing more about you yet, not sure the pay might be worth it.   In school you take what you can get.  THANKS


joomla 2.5.14   **  It says:  virtuemart 2.0.24 Click to Update ***

Definitely 2.0.24  and looks like latest is 2.6.6 needs updating right away.     

ME:

html:  old hat to me
css - a tad and a half
php - a smidge, on it at the moment...

[jenkinhill]

I have moved this to General questions.

Let me correct a misunderstanding. Joomla is a target for hackers because it is so popular and far too many Joomla users do not keep their Joomla or extension versions updated, or pay attention to security warnings.  ( http://forum.virtuemart.net/index.php?topic=118683.0 ) In addition many people overestimate their abilities and understanding of the the ways to make any website more secure.

In my opinion no established eCommerce website should be used as a training ground for somebody to learn Joomla, VirtueMart and also the management practices involved in running/maintaining an on-line store. Some coding skills (HTML, PHP & css) will be useful in upgrading a website, but we all have started somewhere!

The first thing to do would be to look at improving security, and then finding why the site is slow. Is it badly constructed or running on an underpowered & under-resourced server? Better to fix what is already there before even considering migrating the Joomla version, as that would add the additional complication of dealing with Joomla templates and the availability / compatibility of all extensions (plugins ets) with the new version.

[GJC Web Design]

Agree with all jenks says

would add

As the customers main bitch is hacking and slowness - worry about those things first b4 going near any upgrading

As the start of your learning curve learn to backup and clone the site! It is live and has mega products so anything you do or try has to be on a clone - not on the live site.

Slowness in my experience is poor hosting - you don't mention what it is resoirce wise (although the later versions of VM are faster - the later versions of joomla are more resource heavy users)
Hacking no doubt is because of old and out of date installs  - remember it can be joomla, another component, plugin or module that is vunerable

You don't mention at all what versions you have but I manage many complete safe and secure Joomla1.5/VM1.1 sites - obviously updated to latest safe

[Jack747]

So updating to Joomla 3 then is not necessary right away - even for security purposes, I'd gather? 

I have not looked at dates on joomla 1.5, but like most people, he's not looking to be particularly made of $$ from what I hear.   If I'm able to update and speed it up - at least where I have time to learn more before updating to newer platform? version?  Then I will be able to focus my reading and determine if this is a good idea. 

I've read about some program that helps you back it up, but dont recall a name.  Or is that a feature within joomla?  Do you mind all these beginning questions? 

I do appreciate your comments, both, thank you very much. 

[GJC Web Design]

Your on the wrong forum for these joomla 101 questions - this is a forum for Virtuemart
Virtuemart is an extension for joomla

Therefore - learn joomla first - ask on the joomla forum