Transfering web site.

registered · Posted: Tue Nov 18, 2003 1:39 pm

I am probably going to be changing hosting companies. I was wondering what is the best way with as little down time as possible. Here is how I was going to do it.

Backup all files on current server. Next, upload all files to new server. Make the DNS change and wait. Once errors appear on the home page backup the database from the old server and upload to the new server.

I was going to do it this way so people could still post while I wait for the DNS change to take effect.

Site Admin/Owner Joined: Aug 27, 2002 Posts: 17088

That's not what I do for my customers Smile

. Transfer files and database immediately. Then put in a redirect from your old site to your new temporary address, usually like http://new-host-ip/~username/ . Modify a couple of configuration settings in nuke. Then after name resolves modify the settings again and voilla!

Posted: Tue Nov 18, 2003 4:56 pm

My current host does not support IP hosting. Maybe this new one does. Do I have to do the ~username or can I just do ip/index.php?

Posted: Thu Nov 20, 2003 2:41 pm

What configuration settings do I need to modify to do this?

Posted: Fri Nov 21, 2003 8:54 am

Heres how I did mine FYI.
Put in a change DNS straight away to avoid delays.
Backed up all files on the OLD host and transferred them to the new host via ftp.
Had a few problems trying to back up the database from the old host due to time out problems so I used myPHPAdmin (something like that) to export chunks of the MySQL database, I actually created about 13 back-up .sql files in all.
Load the back-up sql files on to your new host database using whatever software you normally used (PHPAdmin etc) then I just changed the config.php file to reflect the changes in my new database name and password (host is probably the same 'localhost').

Just waiting for the DNS to propogate now. I also sent a 'newsletter' out telling everyone the host was changing etc.
I have not tested the new host to see if the site works but I'll probably have to change the 'Preferences' settings to reflect the temporary url.

Posted: Fri Nov 21, 2003 9:22 am

With my current host (using Cpanel), I can get to my new nukes even before the dns propogation. I use a url that looks something like this.
http://myhost.com/~myusername/index.php

Of course, the site isn't totally working in this state. But a little nuke is better than no nuke. Smile

My ISP does two dns updates a day. I've seen a domain propogate in less than 20 minutes. I've also seen it take just over 48 hours ... my panic set in at about 47 hours. Rolling Eyes