Auto-updating Wordpress from a local zip file

Question

I have a Wordpress blog hosted on a server without outgoing network. Therefore, Wordpress cannot check for a new version and/or update automatically to a new version.

Currently, the only ways I'm aware of to update the blog to a new version of WP is to follow the complicated guide here, or to copy it to another host (with outgoing network), update it, and copy it back. Both ways are very complicated.

I'm looking for a way to use the automatic updater of WP without requiring outgoing network on the host. Basically, I'd like to upload wordpress-4.3.1.zip via FTP, go to the admin panel, and choose "update from zip file: wordpress-4.3.1.zip". Is there such an option, or a plugin that can help me achieve that?

Edit: Note that I don't have access to run arbitrary code on the server. Basically, I have PHP, MySQL, FTP, and that's it.

Answer 1

As so often, WP-CLI already has you covered:

wp core update --version=3.8 ../latest.zip

Have a look here for more details: http://wp-cli.org/commands/core/update/

Answer 2

I often do Manual Update, it's not that pain. :)

Just do it in this way (I hope you know how to update manually):

Step 1: Remove wp-includes, and wp-admin from Server and Upload new two
Step 2: Cut/Copy all the loose files from local folder and Paste them to the server root with Overwrite permission - Just a replace

And you are done. :)

Optional Step 1: In wp-content/themes/ Delete default Theme folders and upload the latest folders, if you use them.
Optional Step 2: In wp-content/plugins/ Delete "Akismet" folder, and upload latest "Akismet" if you use this.

P.S.: Don't delete wp-content, .htaccess, wp-config.php, robots.txt etc.

Answer 3

Here's how it can be done, by temporarily making a minor fixup to the WP code:

1. Upload the zip file to the root folder of WP, in the same folder as wp-config.php and friends.
2. Open the file wp-admin\includes\update.php.

3. Find the function find_core_update, and change it to:

   function find_core_update( $version, $locale ) {
       $updates = get_core_updates();
       return $updates[0];
   }
   

4. Find the function get_core_updates, and change it to:

   function get_core_updates( $options = array() ) {
       $new_zip = 'wordpress-4.3.1.zip';
       $new_version = '4.3.1';
       return array((object)array(
           'response'      => 'upgrade',
           'current'       => $new_version,
           'download'      => '../' . $new_zip,
           'packages'      => (object) array (
                               'partial' => null,
                               'new_bundled' => null,
                               'no_content' => null,
                               'full' => '../' . $new_zip,
                           ),
           'version' => $new_version,
           'locale' => null
       ));
   }
   

   Set the $new_zip, $new_version variables as needed.

5. Go to the admin panel and run the update!