I started with a cheap web host when I first got into site design a few years ago, now I feel as if I have outgrown the host, if there is an issue it takes a good 48-72 for them to respond/fix it, there has been some nasty downtime etc. Now I am strongly considering moving hosts, I have found 2-3 hosting companies that have what I need.

The big hurdle I am looking at is moving my sites over and trying to minimize downtime, I use Cpanel with my current host and supposedly if you do a full backup > upload that backup to a new server > then restore that backup it moves everything, the individual sites I am not that worried about, thats a 20 minute job. Setting up the email addresses, redoing password protected directories, etc is a bit of a problem.


First off can anyone confirm the ability to take a Cpanel backup from one server to another if it moves things like email configurations/accounts/pw, password protected directories, etc.
If not is there another way to do that.
And finally for anyone who has moved hosts recently do you have any suggestions?

Thanks

You will need to perform a full backup to save all of the configurations and then send this to your web host.

Information can be found here on cPanel's web site:

http://www.cpanel.net/docs/whm/Resto...pmove_file.htm

Once you've performed the full backup, send the files to your new web host and they will upload this and configure it through Web Host Manager (WHM), the hosting backend of cPanel.

Once the account is set up, then you can change the nameservers to your new host's ones.

Bada bing bada boom - you're done

Or you could ask your webhost to do a cpanel to cpanel transfer for you if it isn't too big... this way it'll move everything....

Originally Posted by cabron

Or you could ask your webhost to do a cpanel to cpanel transfer for you if it isn't too big... this way it'll move everything....

Yes as long as your host is happy to do that, it would be a fine way of doing things. I would make a full backup yourself before you talk to your hosts, then if they refuse for some reason, you've got the files already.

Otherwise as Cabron said, you can get your host to transfer you straight over to your new host

I knew there was a reason I liked Cpanel so much =)
Thanks for the help it is much appreciated.

Were your problems solved?

Yes I think so

I will let you know in a few days, I went from a shared hosting account to a Dedicated Virtual server, they both have Cpanel but the Dedicated Virtual server is currently a bit over my head I am trying to learn how to manage things, it kind of makes me miss the old Cpanel setup I had on my old server which I am still looking for.
Thanks for the help and if anyone knows any good writeups on transitioning from a shared user account to having control over a dedicated server using Cpanel let me know.
Thanks

Anyone have advice on a good write about making the transition from a user to admin, all the new options are a little scary, not to mention I have yet to see the familiar functions.

Well you probably should have gone for a semi dedicated plan as it would be as powerful (even more powerful..) that a vps and it will still have the same characteristics of a shared account.

Or a managed VPS (that way you still get the benefits of a VPS :P)... either way, server admins who don't know what they're doing is usually a lot like leaving your keys in the outside of the front door

^^ agreed.
I am still with my old host and going to fully learn the ins and outs of this new one long before moving my sites over.

I suggest that you look in for hosting company who can provide you 24x7 customer assistance. That is most important as you need to understand few basics first.