Confusing switching WP site to new host

  • Resolved bus5ojp

    (@bus5ojp)


    5 months, 1 week ago

    Hi all,

    Trying to use the Updraftplus free version to migrate sites over to a new host, but honestly confused by the documentation on this. It’s a straight 1:1 migration I’m doing, I want:
    * All content the same
    * All themes etc the same
    * All domains and URLs exactly the same
    In other words, all I want to change is the hosting provider.

    But all the help docs on this keep referring to a “destination site”, which is confusing me, since I want everything on the same domain, just the host changing.

    Here’s what’s happened so far:
    * I’ve already grabbed a full cPanel backup from existing host (that I’m moving away from)
    * New host has grabbed this link and downloaded this cPanel backup to their servers
    * I’ve logged into new host cPanel and all cPanel does seem to have been copied over
    * I’ve gone into all sites I want to migrate and downloaded Updraftplus free version backup files to individual folders for all sites onto my PC (ready to re-upload).

    Now this is where I’m stuck. Even if EVERYTHING else is staying the same, it’s just the host that’s changing, does my site still now technically have two different WP backend logins? If so, how do I get into the “new” version on the new host to upload the Updraftplus backup files and restore the site looking as it was on the new host?

    I went into Softaculous manager on my new host, tried the WP login links, but they all deliver 404 page not found errors. So not sure how to proceed from here if anyone can help please.

    Thanks all.

Viewing 5 replies - 1 through 5 (of 5 total)
  • Plugin Contributor bcrodua

    (@bcrodua)

    Hi,

    If moving hosts, please follow this guide – https://updraftplus.com/support/moving-hosts/

    Let us know at which step are you stuck and provide us with the log so we can help fix the issue.

    Thanks,
    Bryle

    Plugin Support pbevanudp

    (@pbevanudp)

    .

    Thread Starter bus5ojp

    (@bus5ojp)

    Hi Bryle,

    Thanks for the link. I think I’ve identified what may be the issue – I’ve not repointed my DNS servers yet to the shared IP of my new host. So when I’m logging in, I’m still logging into the site on my old host I want to move away from.

    So if I repoint my DNS, it should hopefully allow me to access the versions of my sites that are on the new host.

    But my tickets with my new host the last few days have left me completely confused. They’ve already grabbed the full cPanel backup from my old host and moved that onto their servers. Doesn’t that already contain all the info/themes/content/plugins/settings from my old sites? Once that’s done, isn’t it only a case of repointing the DNS?

    Or am I missing something here? Is the migration of all the content/themes etc so it comes back up 1:1 perfect on the new host, actually a different thing to a Cpanel migration? Maybe that’s what’s confusing me if you can clarify at all

    Thanks,

    Plugin Support vupdraft

    (@vupdraft)

    Hi,

    If your hosts can restore a full cpanel backup, there would no reason to do an UpdraftPlus Migration.

    I would think you need to do from the step “Set your hosts file to direct to your new site” in this guide: https://updraftplus.com/support/moving-hosts/ but your hosts would be better placed to advise you on this.

    Thread Starter bus5ojp

    (@bus5ojp)

    Yes, I’ve now managed to resolve the issue – they’d already grabbed a full cPanel backup and therefore using Updraft wasn’t necessary. I just needed to repoint my DNS servers, which I’ve now done and everything seems to be up and running and fine on the new host.

    So hopefully all resolved now.

    For anyone in a similar position – I think using Updraft and other plugins is for moving individual sites, or a bunch of sites, over to a new host, but not a whole cPanel.

    If you just want to move an entire Cpanel – the whole lot of sites/files – in one go, it’s actually simpler in a way. Your just need to grab a full Cpanel backup from your old host (sometimes can do this yourself, but may have to ticket the host if it’s a lot of files), and then your NEW host just needs to grab this cPanel backup and load it all onto your new server at your new host (once generated, your old host often gives you a link to the backup file that you can pass onto your new host).

    If done correctly, this literally switches everything over 1:1, and you just need to repoint your DNS from within your registrar to your new host’s shared IP address, for each domain you’re moving. I’ve just done this for 11 domains on a cPanel, and 10 of them went more of less smoothly, came back up 1:1 with little issues. One did have an issue that was resolved pretty quick as well by letting support know at my new host.

    So bottom line – moving an entire cPanel is easier than moving individual sites within a cPanel. Thanks everyone for all your help.

Viewing 5 replies - 1 through 5 (of 5 total)
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