I'm attempting to create a new server and update the BBS from v3.18 to v3.20.

I tar up the /sbbs folder on the old server and copy that to the new server in the same folder /sbbs

I'm having trouble after i do the git pull, then the make using setcap and symlinks with release=1.

I then do the /sbbs/exec/jsexec update and it doesn't seem to work. if i run the upgrade_to_v320 it says it migrates the users to user.tab and all that but i can't verify things are right because #1 when i run scfg it thinks this is a new installation when it should be an upgrade and i can't seem to get passed that.

I'm just fully confused and tried so many things.. I'm willing to start over with the update and do things in a certain order but i need some guidance. I'm following the wiki for upgrading, but it just seems to be issues one after the other. At this point, i'd almost rather setup a new bbs and make sure it works then copy over the data somehow and the config, but im afraid i'd be right back in the same boat.

Any guidance to what I might be doing wrong?

Here's what i have done more specifically (TL:DR)

cd /sbbs/repo
git -C /sbbs/repo pull

then

export SBBSCTRL=/sbbs/ctrl
export SBBSEXEC=/sbbs/exec
echo $SBBSCTRL
echo $SBBSEXEC

I do the echo's to verify it's there.

then

cd /sbbs/repo/src/sbbs3; make RELEASE=1 setcap symlinks

after it's done, i can verify that my exec files are using the symlinks and are pointed to the right spots in the repo folders.

Then i try and run:

cd /sbbs/exec
./jsexec update

It appears to run and tells me it's updating the birthdate for some of the users and also it says this:

!WARNING loading configuration files: 0 nodes configured in /sbbs/ctrl/main.ini

and of course i can see /sbbs/ctrl/main.ini and i can see the items inside of it, like bbs name and such, i can see the "nodes" in there too, so not sure why it shows 0 nodes configured.

This is where i try and run /sbbs/exec/scfg and it says a new installation is detected and i abort out of there because i dont want it to override any of my data.

Hopefully i've explained well enough where I am at, and I'm stuck not sure what to do next.

Thanks for any help and if i missed something, please let me know.

---
þ Synchronet þ Hard Drive Cafe - hdcbbs.com
* Origin: Vertrauen - [vert/cvs/bbs].synchro.net (1:103/705)

Re: Upgrading from v3.18 on CentOS7 to Ubuntu 25.04
By: Jason to Digital Man on Thu Oct 23 2025 10:52 am

I have gone back and started over, and after compilation i did

cd /sbbs/repo/exec
cp *.js /sbbs/exec

That's a mistake: the copy must be recursive, as pointed out on the Step 4 of https://wiki.synchro.net/install:dev

then i run:

cd /sbbs/exec
./jsexec update

and it looks like it tries to work but i get one error besides the msgs.ini file which the docs says thats ok it will get created.. i get this

JSexec v3.21a-Linux master/1fecea061 - Execute Synchronet JavaScript Module Compiled Oct 17 2024 21:56 with GCC 14.2.0

Loading configuration files from /sbbs/ctrl
!ERROR loading configuration files: ERROR 2 (No such file or directory) opening /sbbs/ctrl/msgs.ini
JavaScript-C 1.8.5 2011-03-31
JavaScript: Creating runtime: 16777216 bytes

Reading script from /sbbs/exec/update.js
/sbbs/exec/update.js compiled in 0.00 seconds
Synchronet update.js revision 2.0
Updating exec directory: Success
Updating users ip_address field: 0 records updated
Updating users birthdate field: 0 records updated
Installing Avatars feature
!FAILED: No avatars collections (.bin files) found in avatars/
Installing Logon List Daily Event: Already installed
Installing Trashman Monthly Event: Successful
Updating [General] Text File Section indexes
0 indexes updated.
Updating (compiling) Baja modules
Checking for v3.19 file bases
Checking for v3.20 config files
Upgrading Synchronet v3.1x config files to v3.20
main.cnf -> main.ini
/sbbs/node1/node.cnf -> node.ini
!Error reading /sbbs/node1/node.cnf
Checking for v3.20 user base
No v3.20 user base found, running /sbbs/exec/upgrade_to_v320

upgrade - Upgrade Synchronet BBS to 3.21

Loading configuration files from /sbbs/ctrl
!ERROR loading configuration files: ERROR 2 (No such file or directory) opening /sbbs/ctrl/msgs.ini
/sbbs/exec/update.js executed in 28.28 seconds

JavaScript: Destroying context
JavaScript: Destroying runtime

-+-
then of course i try to run scfg and it's not giving errors like xtrn.ini not found or something like that.. so im still missing something or something isn't working right.

Start with the recusive update of your exec directory, per the instructions.
--
digital man (rob)

Breaking Bad quote #13:
I got twenty bucks that says he's a beaner. - Hank Schrader
Norco, CA WX: 61.2øF, 78.0% humidity, 3 mph SW wind, 0.00 inches rain/24hrs
--- SBBSecho 3.30-Linux
* Origin: Vertrauen - [vert/cvs/bbs].synchro.net (1:103/705)

Re: Upgrading from v3.18 on CentOS7 to Ubuntu 25.04
By: Jason to Digital Man on Mon Oct 27 2025 05:03 pm

Re: Upgrading from v3.18 on CentOS7 to Ubuntu 25.04
By: Digital Man to Jason on Thu Oct 23 2025 03:16 pm

cd /sbbs/repo/exec
cp *.js /sbbs/exec

That's a mistake: the copy must be recursive, as pointed out on the Step 4 of https://wiki.synchro.net/install:dev
Start with the recusive update of your exec directory, per the instructions.

As always, I misinterpreted the docs. This fixed the issue and I'm writing to you from the newer version compiled and installed and upgraded the proper way! ;)

Thank you for the good news!

You're the best!

Upon review, the upgrade wiki page was a little vague/misleading (e.g. the difference between the "SYMLINK=1" install option versus the "symlinks" make target), so your struggles with the instructions are understood and hopefully my recent edits have made them a little clearer for the next upgrading SyncOp. :-)
--
digital man (rob)

This Is Spinal Tap quote #7:
Nigel Tufnel: That's just nitpicking, isn't it?
Norco, CA WX: 71.5øF, 60.0% humidity, 5 mph WNW wind, 0.00 inches rain/24hrs --- SBBSecho 3.30-Linux
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