Recently many website owners using Joomla 1.5 on a Bluehost hosted site received a confusing and potentially very upsetting email.
Bluehost is no longer supporting sites using Joomla 1.5. Such sites will be suspended and migrated via an automated upgrade to Joomla 2.5 by Bluehost. Bluehost is recommending that users migrate ahead of time on their own to avoid any complications.
Complications?
Yes, complications. Unfortunately with a systemized upgrade, there are likely to be a number of complications to individual websites. These problems might include incorrect migrations, loss of information, sites unavailable for an uncertain time during the migration, loss of custom codes or themes.
Why is Bluehost doing this?
Joomla 1.5 has been unsupported by Joomla for over a year now. This means that Joomla 1.5 sites are no longer receiving security updates. These websites are extremely vulnerable to corruption and hacking. Bluehost wants to run current technology and not risk the integrity of their servers with vulnerable Joomla 1.5 sites.
We hear your frustrations.
“New features/technology is not important to me. My Joomla 1.5 site works for my business as it is.”
We understand that your site is working well for you right now. Unfortunately with web technology, there are inevitably problems that need fixes. Joomla 1.5 sites are fixable but very costly to do so.
“I don’t have the money to migrate my site right now.”
We understand that you might not have been planning to invest in your site at this time. However a planned migration with a web designer is much less expensive than paying a developer to fix a site that is not functioning after Bluehost’s automated migration.
What We Recommend
- Switch hosts. You could switch web hosts. However, your Joomla 1.5 site is still very vulnerable. It is also very likely that other hosts are going to make similar decisions regarding outdated sites.
- Migrate with a Professional Web Developer. This gives you control of how your site migration is completed. Your site will not have complications due to an automated update. Custom templates/codes will be preserved. Your site will work properly and continue to make money for your business.
It is always better to plan ahead than to fix problems from work performed incorrectly. Protect your best business investment, your website.
Boise based Simple CMS Design is here for you and ready to work with you and your budget to migrate your Joomla 1.5 site correctly!
