Advice on updating. Active or deactivated?

Hey @mike80222, that’s a very good question. We’re running some tests to confirm this and will come up with an answer with the next release. For now, we would suggest you to update the plugin after putting the site into maintenance mode.

Thanks @nomnom99, I’ll do that for now. Leave this thread open for the final answer? Or will it be in the release notes for the next version?

@nomnom99, any final word on this?

Hey @mike80222, apologies for the delay.

I investigated how WordPress Core handles it and found that if a plugin is activate and is being updated, WordPress automatically puts the site in maintenance mode. I verified this with few tests as well.

If you’re comfortable with code, you can find the section where WordPress core handles it here.

Let us know if you have any further questions. Cheers!

Just saw that the link doesn’t work, this is the link to the code section –

https://github.com/WordPress/WordPress/blob/master/wp-admin/includes/class-plugin-upgrader.php#L324-L326

@nomnom99 — I’m not really clear on what you’re saying here. When you activate RSA, that already puts the site into maintenance mode. What I was trying to find out is whether the RSA developers suggest activating the plugin (and hence going into maintenance mode) before updating RSA. Or whether you suggest updating RSA first *before* activating it.

AFAICT it works both ways. But what I normally do is activate it first. I was just wondering if the developers knew any details that would argue for doing it one way or the other.

Sorry if I wasn’t clear before. What I meant is that you don’t have to manually put the site into maintenance mode.

Answering your initial question:

Would you advise going into maintenance mode before updating RSA? In other words, should I update with RSA activated or deactivated?

We don’t advise you putting your site into maintenance mode because while updating a plugin, WordPress puts the site into maintenance mode anyway.

@nomnom99 – So, just to be clear, you’re saying I should NOT activate RSA before updating it. I should, in fact, update RSA while it is deactivated.

@mike80222 – allow me to jump in here to see if I can assist. I won’t attempt to respond to all the questions earlier in this thread and instead focus on your latest message:

So, just to be clear, you’re saying I should NOT activate RSA before updating it. I should, in fact, update RSA while it is deactivated.

If you are using RSA, I would NOT recommend deactivating it before updating. If you deactivate before updating, then your site will be exposed for that period of time between deactivating and updating. If you keep RSA active while updating, then the site will not be exposed as WordPress itself puts the site into Maintenance Mode when updating a plugin.

Hi @jeffpaul,

I think there has been some semantic confusion here. Perhaps I’m not using the proper wordpress terminology.

Normally RSA is deactivated, right? I only activate it when I want to go into maintenance mode, so that my users will be prevented from posting in forums and stuff like that, while I’m doing updates and testing things.

So all I’ve been trying to find out was whether, when RSA itself needs to be updated, if I should activate RSA first and then update it. Or if I should update RSA before activating it — then activate it and go on to my other updates and tests.

It *appears* to work either way, from what I’ve tried.

If what I’m saying above doesn’t make sense to you, I suggest we just close this thread. I feel like more than enough time has gone into this already ??

Normally RSA is deactivated, right? I only activate it when I want to go into maintenance mode, so that my users will be prevented from posting in forums and stuff like that, while I’m doing updates and testing things.

Ah, I see. It sounds like you’re using RSA as though it was a Maintenance Mode plugin. That’s not the intended use of RSA, though technically a way that it could be used.

So all I’ve been trying to find out was whether, when RSA itself needs to be updated, if I should activate RSA first and then update it. Or if I should update RSA before activating it — then activate it and go on to my other updates and tests.

It *appears* to work either way, from what I’ve tried.

Given your use, as long as you’re not expecting to have RSA currently functioning as a Maintenance Mode plugin, then you can safely update RSA with it deactivated. If you’re actively expecting RSA to be providing you Maintenance Mode functionality, then I would recommend keeping RSA active while updating it as WordPress core will ensure your site stays unavailable from users while you’re “working on “doing updates and testing things”.

Ah, I see. It sounds like you’re using RSA as though it was a Maintenance Mode plugin. That’s not the intended use of RSA, though technically a way that it could be used.

Wow, I had no idea that wasn’t one of the intended uses. I looked at a bunch of other ones, and RSA appeared to be the best for my purposes (our users only log in via the Memberpress login page, so they are actually locked out when RSA is active).

Anyway, I understand why the confusion now. Sorry!!!

Given your use, as long as you’re not expecting to have RSA currently functioning as a Maintenance Mode plugin, then you can safely update RSA with it deactivated. If you’re actively expecting RSA to be providing you Maintenance Mode functionality, then I would recommend keeping RSA active while updating it as WordPress core will ensure your site stays unavailable from users while you’re “working on “doing updates and testing things”.

That totally answers my question. Thanks!