Move web hosts

[Glenn]

I host a website with an SMF forum, with Siteground, I would like to move hosts (the contract expires on 8th Dec) to possibly Register 1.

Does anyone know the process I need to go through to make sure the transfer is seamless?

[Lance]

I don't but support might! You could ask about Idnet hosting at the same time!

[Rik]

Same here, Glenn.

[Simon]

I have done it once or twice on Pals, but with a lot of help from Sam.   Are you moving the domain too?  On Pals, we are still registered with 123-reg.co.uk, but hosted by IDNet.  I had to change the name servers to those of IDNet on the 123-reg site, which is quite easy, but I haven't a clue about transferring databases, etc.  If you get stuck, you could ask Sam on Pals, Glenn. 

[kinmel]

The hardest part of moving servers is the period when the DNS servers worldwide are being updated with your new Host I.P.

Be sure that your new Host will allow you to change away from their Name Server.

For up to 24 hours, different users will be pointed to different Servers and you don't know when the changeover is completed. If you leave the forum on-line during this period neither forum will have all the posts and it is a nightmare to combine the 2 afterwards.

There is an easy solution though.

Buy your new hosting space early and before publicising it, test that it is fully functional and most importantly FTP works correctly.

Check that FTP is fully working on your existing forum.

It is possible to manage DNS so that any change takes effect instantly.   Join EveryDNS and register your existing forum's information including the current I.P. address.

EveryDNS is free to small users and setting up is clearly explained in their help sections.

Once EveryDNS is set up, change the public name-servers for your Domain(s) to point to EveryDNS' servers.

The Forum can stay on line during this change because unaltered Name Servers point directly to your I.P. address and altered Name Servers use the EveryDS entry to reach your Domain.

When you are ready to move the Domain, take the Forum off-line, FTP the Server contents off the old host onto your local machine and then FTP it all up onto your new Host and put the Forum back on-line at it's new location.

At EveryDNS simply change the I.P. Address for your domain to the new Host's and  instantly everyone, everywhere is using the newly hosted Forum.

The other big advantage is that if it all goes wrong, you simply change the EveryDNS entry back to your old I.P. Address and use that whilst fixing the problems.

It is all very simple to use.

[Simon]

How do you transfer the (MySQL?) databases, Alan?  That's the bit I don't understand.

[Danni]

I'd dump the lot into a .sql file and then just import it on the new server. It's easy using something like phpmyadmin, but if it's too big the CLI commands aren't that hard.

If you need them I can hunt them out for you (I need to upgrade a forum which will involve dumping, converting and reuploading the database- joy).

[kinmel]

How do you transfer the (MySQL?) databases, Alan?  That's the bit I don't understand.

As Danni says PHPMyAdmin, or else use the mysqldump utility normally located in your mysql/bin directory.   During the FTP of the site as a whole just be sure to keep all the folders and directories exactly the same.

You can test the transfer has worked before finally taking it live, so make the changeover long before your existing hosting expires.

It is well worth getting Sam's advice as Simon suggests