How to Migrate a Website From One Server to Another

A collection of web pages and related content that is published on several servers, shares a domain name, and can be easily recognised is called a website.

A computer programme or device that serves as a server primarily functions by supplying other programmes or devices—referred to as clients—with certain features.

Websites are always hosted on certain servers. It should be mentioned, nevertheless, that moving a website's ownership or hosting from one server to another is quite feasible. A website migration is a multi-step process that can be a little laborious and challenging.

This is because, you are not just altering your hosting account but your domain, your services, and the overall DNA of your website. A website that is transferred to a new server efficiently is one that has no downtime and guarantees that your audience won't be impacted in any manner while your website continues to function.

However, it is quite a difficult aim to achieve. Numerous novel and developing technologies make an effort to develop new and improved technologies that aim to streamline and expedite the process. In spite of adopting exceedingly modern technologies, in a realistic scenario; it is quite obvious for an average customer to experience a certain level of downtime when this process is in function.

The website's DNA plays a major role in determining how much downtime it endures after a move from one hosting provider to another. In general, the transfer of a website might cause it to experience anything from 12 to 72 hours, depending on this element.

Let's examine how many steps are involved in transferring a website from one host to another.

7 Steps to Migrate a Website From One Server to Another

1. Don’t Cancel Your Current Hosting Plan

When initiating the process of transferring your website from one server to another, it's imperative not to immediately terminate your existing web hosting plan.

One common error made by administrators is prematurely canceling their current hosting plan without completing the necessary steps. Doing so significantly increases the risk of losing all website files.

While it's courteous to notify your current hosting provider about your intention to switch to a new company, they might proceed to cancel your plan prematurely.

Instead, it's advisable to refrain from canceling your old hosting plan until after you've successfully migrated your website to the new server.

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2. Secure Your Website with a Backup

Before proceeding with your website migration, prioritize creating a comprehensive backup. This includes safeguarding all website files and associated databases.

Maintaining a secure backup ensures peace of mind in the event of unforeseen issues during migration, which could potentially lead to data loss.

Storing your backup separately from your hosting environment is crucial. Implementing the 3-2-1 data backup strategy, which includes creating an offsite backup copy, offers the highest level of security for your website's data.

3. Migrate Your Website Files to the New Server

Once you've securely backed up your data, kickstart the migration process by uploading your website files to the new server.

For manual transfer, simply upload your backup files to the new server. Procedures may vary based on the control panel of your new server.

Many hosting providers offer migration assistance. Inquire with your new provider about their cloud migration services. Typically, granting them access to your old server enables them to seamlessly transfer your website to the new server.

Root access to your server is necessary for managing access. Learn more about obtaining root access [here](link to relevant resource).

4. Validate Your New Website

With your website uploaded, it's time to ensure smooth operation on your new server.

To prevent downtime during the transition, meticulously test all aspects of your website's functionality. This includes verifying page accessibility, database integrity, and link functionality.

Identify and troubleshoot any issues promptly before transitioning to the new server. Once you've confirmed seamless operation, proceed to the next step.

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5. Migrate Your Email Accounts to the New Server

While moving your website to a new server, don't forget to migrate your company's email accounts. These accounts, often tied to the old server, are easily overlooked during the migration process.

To ensure uninterrupted access to important emails, prioritize transferring your email accounts to the new server before proceeding to update your DNS settings or implement temporary email forwarding.

This can be accomplished through the control panels of your servers or by adjusting server settings if you're using platforms like Gmail or Outlook.

6. Update Your DNS Configuration

In the last leg of the website migration journey, it's time to adjust your DNS settings. With your website now residing at a new location, updating the DNS configuration allows you to maintain seamless access under the same domain.

Give the new server's DNS directory an update, then give it some time for the changes to take effect. It usually takes this method six to twenty-four hours to start working.

When it's finished, your domain will effectively point visitors to your freshly set-up server, thus completing the migration of your website.

7. Terminate Your Old Hosting Plan

With your website successfully migrated to the new server, operational and DNS configurations updated, the final task is to terminate your old hosting plan.

Assuming all steps have been executed accurately, it's now safe to cancel your old hosting plan. Your new server should be fully functional, hosting your website without any issues.

Remember to address any termination fees outlined in your old hosting company's policy.

If you're still in search of a new server, explore the various types of dedicated servers available to aid in your decision-making process.