| -- End Ad Box ---> | | | | Through web browser, visit your website with the |
| Moving your website from your current host to | | | | temporary URL. Notice whether all files have been |
| another hosting provider could be easy or difficult | | | | uploaded properly and all links work. |
| depending on the type of your website. Although it | | | | - Transfer Domain |
| can be a daunting task, you may have to do it | | | | Ask the old hosting provider to change the DNS of |
| because of several reasons. Maybe you need some | | | | your domain name. Tell them the DNS information of |
| features which are not provided by your current | | | | your new hosting provider. If everything is OK, you |
| hosting provider. Or maybe you need a company | | | | will be able to access your website with your own |
| with a quality web site hosting service capable of | | | | domain name in a few days. Note that if the old |
| helping you when something goes wrong. Whatever | | | | hosting provider gives you a username and a |
| the reasons, the process of moving hosts and | | | | password to login to the domain manager of a |
| transferring files should be accomplished smoothly. | | | | domain registrar (e.g. enom), you need to go to the |
| This article contains some important steps you can | | | | domain manager in order to setup the new DNS |
| take to move your website to another hosting | | | | addresses. |
| provider. | | | | - Close the old hosting account |
| Here they are: | | | | After the move is done and everything works |
| - Old Account | | | | properly, contact the old hosting provider to close |
| Don't to close your old hosting account so that your | | | | your account. |
| frequent visitors can still access your website. | | | | If your website requires a database support and/or |
| Besides, you can still receive incoming emails until the | | | | use a server-side script, there are some additional |
| moving process completely finished. | | | | tasks you may have to do. |
| - Backup your files | | | | - Make sure the new hosting server supports your |
| Make sure you have backed up all of your files (and | | | | script. When I moved my website to a new hosting |
| directories) correctly. Note that there are two types | | | | provider, I asked them first using their chatting |
| of transfer mode, ASCII and binary. Use the correct | | | | facility whether their server supported a script I |
| transfer mode when downloading the files to your | | | | intended to use before using their service. By asking |
| hard drive. Normally, you will have to choose ASCII | | | | them like that you will also find out the response |
| mode for transfering text files and binary mode for | | | | time they take to answer your questions. |
| transfering image files. If you use WS-FTP, you can | | | | - You may have to backup your databases. With |
| select the "Auto" mode so that the software will do | | | | CPanel, you can do it using the "Backup and Restore" |
| it for your automatically. | | | | facility. You can also use the import/export facility in |
| - Keep the important information | | | | PhpMyAdmin to back them up. In order to avoid |
| Write down the important information about your old | | | | incompatibility problem, use both methods. Talking |
| hosting account (e.g. billing history) in case you need it | | | | about database, note that a web hosting provider |
| as reference in the future. | | | | with shared hosting pan usually adds the name of a |
| - Open an account in the new hosting provider | | | | database with an extra prefix. If both of your old |
| After making payment, normally they will send an | | | | and new hosting providers apply the rule, you can try |
| email to you that contains your login information | | | | to ask the new provider to give you the same |
| (username and password), your temporary URL and | | | | username as the old one. |
| their DNS information. Just keep it. | | | | - Don't forget to modify the configuration file(s). You |
| - Login to your new Control Panel | | | | may have to change the information about your |
| Using your username and password, login to the | | | | database or the absolute path. |
| control panel (e.g. CPanel). Create the email accounts | | | | If you meet any troubles, don't panic. Check |
| you have already had in the old hosting provider. | | | | everything from the configuration files to the |
| - Uploading | | | | .htaccess file . If needed, contact the support staffs |
| Upload the files to the root directory (e.g. | | | | to help you. Some web hosting providers even offer |
| public_html) of the new hosting server. Once again, | | | | script installation for their new customers. |
| use a FTP software such as WS-FTP to do it. Before | | | | By moving from one host to another quickly and |
| you do it, don't forget to setup the software with | | | | efficiently, people can still find your website without |
| your new host name (e.g. ftp.yourdomain.com), | | | | realizing what you are doing. Although you may meet |
| username and password. Don't forget also to | | | | some difficulties, moving from your current host to a |
| transfer the files correctly (ASCII/binary). | | | | new one that provides better features and supports |
| - Testing | | | | is something you will never regret. |