Creating a test server of an existing Magento site

Step 1:
Create a duplicate database, so changes made will not affect data on the main production site.
As well as duplicating the main folder of the production site.

Step 2:
Edit the duplicate database, in table:
magento_core_config_data

Changing “web/unsecure/base_url” and “web/secure/base_url” so they reference the new location of the test “server / folder”.

Step 3:
Within the local.xml found:
app/etc/local.xml

Change the following to the new information:

<username><![CDATA[magento_username]]></username>
<password><![CDATA[magento_password]]></password>
<dbname><![CDATA[magento_db]]></dbname>

Voila!