i have a client whose wordpress website is functioning normally and they want to change their web hosting to another company

the website needs to be migrated exactly the way it is now onto the new webserver

i found this link http://codex.wordpress.org/Moving_WordPress

in order to migrate i am guessing i need to do the following

1.
export the sql file from the existing webserver so that i will have taken a backup of the website and also information regarding the websites post, content and other details.

2.
download wordpress file and edit wp-config.php and specifying the database details on the new server

3.
upload wordpress files to new server and install wordpress on the new webserver

4.
download all files and folders exactly the way it is now on the existing webserver to a local computer and upload these files and folders as it is to the new webserver by replacing all the files on the new webserver including css, javascript, images, video, audio, plugins etc and making sure wp-config.php has the correct details

5.
access phpmyadmin on the new server and import the sql file that i
exported from the existing webserver

if i follow the above steps will wordpress be installed on the new server and work exactly the way the website is working currently with all the posts, content, video, images etc

please advice if i have missed anything

thanks

I've just transferred my blog to a different server using pretty much the method you described. The only thing that gave me trouble was one of my plugins was causing wordpress to crash on the new server.

If wordpress isn't working after the transfer you should probably try removing your plugins and then adding them one at a time.

thanks for replying

so if i follow the procedure i mentioned i guess the website should work the way it is now

also a question about images, plugins, video... on the present website most of the blog entries along with text they have images and video so for these media related files to appear on the new webserver i guess since i will be uploading and replacing the entire files and folder from the old webserver to the new webserver these images, videos etc should be in some folder on the old server and after being uploaded to the new server these images, should appear on the new server correct


also regarding plugins that you mentioned, if i have any issues should i uninstall those plugins from the admin and also delete those specific plugin folders and reupload them in this case i guess i have to make a note of all the setting for those particular plugins from the old server and add those settings as it is to the new server

the existing site also has a flickr feed which displays the images from the flickr account i guess the urls should take care of displaying those images after migrating to the new server

just a small clarification from this link http://codex.wordpress.org/Moving_WordPress

it is mentioned that if the domain name is going to be the same and only wordpress needs to be migrated from 1 webserver to a new one then only the
wp-config.php file needs to be editted and upload and replace all files and folders as it is from old server to new server, so in this case i am guessing there would be no need to import the sql file to the new server or does the sql needs to be imported in the new server

please advice

thanks

A few things I'd add:

1. You mentioned images, etc. in the posts. If the files were uploaded using the media uploader then all that should move with the blog. Any files you ftp'd to the site will have to be moved with the site theme files. I assume these would be in your theme folder anyway.

so in this case i am guessing there would be no need to import the sql file to the new server or does the sql needs to be imported in the new server

2. If the site is moving to another host then you need to move the database files for sure.

3. This is just my opinion, but I typically don't like to "move" my wordpress core files. I prefer to download the latest wp and install fresh onto the new server. This is because makes some folders writable during installation and moving the files doesn't always do that. You have to manually go back and change permissions, etc. Plus, some hosts have fantastico(and some only allow fantastico for wp installation, yes, like hostgator) but you can slap wp on a site in seconds.

4. IMO, the easiest way to move wp is to just use the tools->export. This creates an xml file of your posts including all attachments, etc. Then you just upload that xml file to the new site. I would never say it was a 'better" way than exporting the sql, but just easier for me.

My last bit of advice:
The only drawback I ever had moving wp via xml method(which I always develop local and move live so I have done this a lot) was that some cat ID's got screwed up a tiny bit. To resolve this I always define categories or even page ID's in the functions.php. Then all I have to do is change any different ID's one time and the whole site is affected.

Originally Posted by sudhakararaog

i have a client whose wordpress website is functioning normally and they want to change their web hosting to another company

the website needs to be migrated exactly the way it is now onto the new webserver

i found this link http://codex.wordpress.org/Moving_WordPress

in order to migrate i am guessing i need to do the following

1.
export the sql file from the existing webserver so that i will have taken a backup of the website and also information regarding the websites post, content and other details.

2.
download wordpress file and edit wp-config.php and specifying the database details on the new server

3.
upload wordpress files to new server and install wordpress on the new webserver

4.
download all files and folders exactly the way it is now on the existing webserver to a local computer and upload these files and folders as it is to the new webserver by replacing all the files on the new webserver including css, javascript, images, video, audio, plugins etc and making sure wp-config.php has the correct details

5.
access phpmyadmin on the new server and import the sql file that i
exported from the existing webserver

if i follow the above steps will wordpress be installed on the new server and work exactly the way the website is working currently with all the posts, content, video, images etc

please advice if i have missed anything

thanks

Is the old host and the new host using cPanel? If so, the move would be 100X easier for the new host to do the transfer in cPanel's WHM rather than the manual method you are considering.

If they are both cPanel hosts, just contact the new host and they should be able to do this for you. Most hosts do not charge to transfer a site.

Hi, I've just joined Webmaster-Talk and I've been reading these particular posts with interest.

I created a free WordPress blog, then I registered the URL 'scotchpotch.com' with it.

Then I bought a web host called BlueHost and uploaded the full WordPress php files. But I forgot that I have to wait 60 days before I can transfer scotchpotch.com to BlueHost, and I can't access my BlueHost site because it has the same log-in name - silly me!

I'll let you know how I get on after 18 May, when I will be able to transfer stuff. I've been printing out the instructions - should be interesting.

Looking forward to exploring this site.

magpie