Magento keeps invoking install script after deployment

Question

I'm trying to move my Magento store from local to web server. But I run into a problem:

The install wizzard pops out, I can't figure out why.

What I tryed till now:

• Double checked the database settings - OK.
• Mage.php exists in app folder.
• Deleted files from /var folder - left only the folder's.
• UPDATE: Changed permisions to 777 - Problem remains...

Thank you guys.

here is the content of local.xml, maybe there is a problem? I've changed the Host, user, pass and db.

<config>
<global>
    <install>
        <date><![CDATA[Wed, 08 May 2013 17:08:50 +0000]]></date>
    </install>
    <crypt>
        <key><![CDATA[e90bf233553fe3516b20edc85438eb3d]]></key>
    </crypt>
    <disable_local_modules>false</disable_local_modules>
    <resources>
        <db>
            <table_prefix><![CDATA[]]></table_prefix>
        </db>
        <default_setup>
            <connection>
                <host><![CDATA[127.0.0.1]]></host>
                <username><![CDATA[root]]></username>
                <password><![CDATA[]]></password>
                <dbname><![CDATA[todoiphonestore]></dbname>
                <initStatements><![CDATA[SET NAMES utf8]]></initStatements>
                <model><![CDATA[mysql4]]></model>
                <type><![CDATA[pdo_mysql]]></type>
                <pdoType><![CDATA[]]></pdoType>
                <active>1</active>
            </connection>
        </default_setup>
    </resources>
    <session_save><![CDATA[files]]></session_save>
</global>
<admin>
    <routers>
        <adminhtml>
            <args>
                <frontName><![CDATA[admin]]></frontName>
            </args>
        </adminhtml>
    </routers>
</admin>

Update and solution: If you'll take a closer look to the local.xml I've pasted you'll see my mistake, I was mising one of the ] sign's in <dbname> so Magento couln't connect to the database... When I added this symbol, everything became normal. Well, few more minor issues, but the main problem was solved.

Answer 1

To get yourself working again roll back your module and check in core_resource to make sure your module is at the correct version.

I've seen this myself quite a bit. 1) Do these things in off-peak. Yes, I know, it's a pain. 2) It's crucial when doing install script-based deployments that you adhere to the following workflow:

• Disable all caches
• Switch site into maintenance mode
• Kick off your code update (svn up or git pull origin master or whatever else you do)
• Kick off Magento's update with a simple > php index.php from the site root.
• Flush the cache again. Use N98-Magerun or Mage_Tool or another package to do this from shell.
• If you're using memcached/Redis, flush those, too.
• Remove maintenance.flag

However, most times I've been stuck in an install file error loop to poorly written upgrade routines, and not due to cache:

• Not having tested, multiple times, in dev, staging, qa before production push
• relying on tables / data to exist
• writing unsafe SQL
• Not having error handling
• Not using transactions
• Not using INSERT IGNORE or ON DUPLICATE

Answer 2

I was having this problem after setting up a copy of my site on my local computer.

Turned out the name of the database on my local server was longer than the 16 characters allowed, and MySQL was only recognizing the first 16 chars. Since Magento couldn't find a database with the name I'd specified, it assumed I wanted to install Magento instead. Everything worked once I renamed the database and change the DB name in local.xml.

Answer 3

Also check your <date> format on app/etc/local.xml file.

If strtotime('yourvalue') returns false, Magento will redirect to install.