Update Drupal 6.16 to 6.20 on FreeBSD 7.1 server and Virtual Host

Notes and steps we took to update our Drupal Site. This is on our FreeBSD 7.1 server in a Virtual Host. Updating to the latest security fix and modules..

Summary of update steps

1. Backup existing site and database.

2. Place the site in "off-line" mode (Administer » Site configuration » Site maintenance).

2.1 Go to Home » Administer » Site building: Modules,  and click on the "available updates".

2.2 Make a "UpDatedModules" folder on your desktop, download all the updated modules and themes and store them in that folder.

2.3 Go to Home » Administer » Site configuration:  and Disable Clean URLs

3. Switch your site's theme to a (default) theme:  Administer » Themes » Garland or Bluemarine

4. Disable all contributed or customized modules. You'll need to do this a couple times to get all the checks..
(Administer » Site building » Modules)

5. Move original site to a new(temp) dir.
prompt% mv drupal-6.16/ old_drupal-6.16

6. Download drupal-6.20.tar.gz, and upload it to the server host site.

6.1 Untar it.

prompt% tar -xvf drupal-6.20.tar.gz

7. New site is now drupal-6.20    <<--  I also rename this dir

8. Browse to that site. ie: http://www.your_site.com/drupal-6.20  to run the install.

- got the same errors as a clean install.. so fix those..

prompt% cd ./sites/default/
prompt% cp default.settings.php settings.php
prompt% su root
prompt# chown www settings.php
prompt# chgrp www settings.php

prompt# mkdir files
prompt# chown -R www files
prompt# chgrp -R www files

hit try again.

Re-enter the database and database user information.

** Run the update.php script, which will update your database.

-- Upload any updated modules before you re-enable them.

9. Re-enable your contributed modules and run update.php
(Administer » Site building » Modules)

8. Re-enable your theme and if necessary run update.php

To make your update run as smoothly as possible, there are various preparations that experienced Drupal users do to guarantee the least frustrating upgrade and minimal interruption to their sites and users. These best practices are detailed in the full tutorial along with these basic steps.