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How to Transfer/Migrate a Website from Another Web Host to HOSTAFRICA

How to Transfer a Website from Another Web Host to WebManager

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Are you planning to move your website to a new hosting provider, or do you want to create a backup of your website on a different server? Whatever your reason, transferring your website from one cPanel to another cPanel is a fairly straightforward process. In this step-by-step guide, we will walk you through the process of transferring your website from one cPanel to cPanel. We will cover everything from backing up your website to uploading it to your new server on HOSTAFRICA. So, let’s get started!

1. Introduction

Transferring your website from one cPanel to another cPanel involves moving your website files and database from one server to another. This process requires some technical skills, but it can be done easily if you follow the steps carefully.

2. Preparing for the transfer

Before you start the transfer process, there are a few things you need to do to prepare for it.

2.1 Backing up your website

The first thing you need to do is back up your website. This is important in case something goes wrong during the transfer process. You can use the cPanel backup wizard to create a full backup of your website. To do this, follow these steps:

  1. Log in to your cPanel account in your old hosting.
  2. Navigate to the Backup Wizard option.
  3. Select the Full Backup option and click Generate Backup.
  4. Wait for the backup to complete, and then download it to your computer.

After backup, locate the File Manager in your cPanel to download the specific website file you wish to migrate just as seen in the image below:

Steps:

  • Click on the Public_html
  • Select all the files you wish to download
  • Right-click and select compress
  • Locate the compressed file
  • Download it to your computer system.
How to Transfer a Website from Another Web Host to WebManager

2.2 Creating a new account in the new server

The next step is to create a new account on the new server on HOSTAFRICA where you want to transfer your downloaded website. To do this, follow these steps:

  1. Create a New Account with HOSTAFRICA
  2. Fill in the required information, including your domain name and username.
  3. Complete your account creation.
  4. Purchase a Hosting Plan.
  5. Include the domain name you wish to use the hosting plan on.
  6. Log in to your new cPanel account.

3. Transferring your website

Now that you have prepared for the transfer, it’s time to transfer your website to the new website server you just activated. This involves two main steps: uploading the website files and importing the website database.

3.1 Uploading the website files

To upload the website files to the new server, follow these steps:

  1. Log in to your new cPanel account.
  2. Navigate to the File Manager option.
  3. Upload the initially downloaded zip file to your website directory and extract the files.

Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to upload files using cPanel:

  1. Navigate to the File Manager: Once logged in, search for the “File Manager” icon or link. It is usually located in the “Files” or “Advanced” section of cPanel. Click on it to open the File Manager.
  2. Choose the directory: In the File Manager, you’ll see a list of directories and files. Select the directory where you want to upload your files. If you’re uploading to the root directory, choose “public_html” or “www.”
  3. Click on the “Upload” button: Look for an “Upload” or “Upload Files” button in the File Manager toolbar and click on it. This will open the file upload interface.
  4. Select files to upload: In the file upload interface, click on the “Select File” or “Choose File” button. This will open a file browser window. Locate and select the files you want to upload from your local computer. You can select multiple files by holding down the Ctrl (or Command) key while clicking on the files.
  5. Start the upload: Once you’ve selected the files, click on the “Open” or “Upload” button in the file browser window to start the upload process. The files will be transferred from your local computer to the server.
  6. Monitor the upload progress: You’ll see a progress bar indicating the upload progress. Larger files may take some time to upload depending on your internet connection speed. Do not close the browser or navigate away from the page until the upload is complete.
  7. Verify the upload: Once the upload is finished, you should see the uploaded files listed in the File Manager. You can also check the directory on your website using a web browser to ensure that the files have been successfully uploaded.
  8. Unzip the file: Once the upload is completed, right-click on the zipped file and click on the “Extract File” to unzip the files and folders.

3.2 Importing the website database

To import the website database to the new server, follow these steps:

  1. Locate the “phpMyAdmin” tool: In the cPanel dashboard, search for the “phpMyAdmin” icon or link. It is usually located in the “Databases” or “Database Tools” section. Click on it to open phpMyAdmin.
  2. Select the database: In phpMyAdmin, you’ll see a list of databases on the left-hand side. Click on the name of the database where you want to import the file. The database structure will be displayed.
  3. Choose the “Import” tab: In the top menu of phpMyAdmin, you’ll find a set of tabs. Click on the “Import” tab to open the import interface.
  4. Select the file to import: In the import interface, you’ll find a section to upload the database file. Click on the “Choose File” or “Browse” button to locate and select the database file on your local computer. The file should be in a compatible format like .sql or .zip.
  5. Configure import settings: Under the “File to import” section, you can leave the default settings as they are in most cases. However, if you have specific requirements, you can modify the settings such as character set, format, etc.
  6. Start the import: Once you’ve selected the file and configured the settings, click on the “Go” or “Import” button to start the import process. phpMyAdmin will upload and import the database file. Larger files may take some time to import.
  7. Monitor the import progress: You’ll see a progress bar indicating the import progress. Do not close the browser or navigate away from the page until the import is complete.
  8. Verify the import: Once the import is finished, you should see a success message. You can also check the tables and data within the database to ensure that the import was successful.

4. Connecting & Working with Database

To migrate a database from your previous hosting provider to your new hosting provider, follow the steps outlined earlier with specific references to these hosting companies:

Migrating a Database from Your Previous Hosting Provider:

Backup the Source Database on Your Previous Hosting Provider:

  1. Log in to your previous hosting provider’s cPanel account.
  2. Navigate to the “Backup” or “Backup Wizard” section.
  3. Select “Backup” and choose the database you want to migrate.
  4. Click on “Download” to create a backup of the database. Save this backup file to your local computer.

Transfer the Backup File:

  1. Transfer the backup file from your local computer to your HOSTAFRICA hosting account, ensuring it’s accessible.

Upload the Backup:

  1. Log in to your HOSTAFRICA cPanel account.
  2. Navigate to the “Backup” or “Backup Wizard” section.
  3. Select “Restore” and choose the backup file you uploaded.
  4. Click on “Upload” or “Restore” to import the database backup into your cPanel.

Create a New Database:

  1. In your cPanel, go to the “MySQL Databases” or a similar section.
  2. Create a new MySQL database with a different name from the source database on your previous hosting provider. Note down the database name, username, and password you set.

Import the Database Backup:

  1. In your cPanel, navigate to phpMyAdmin or a similar database management tool.
  2. Select the newly created database.
  3. Click on the “Import” tab and upload the SQL file you downloaded in step 4 (the source database backup).
  4. Confirm the import process.

Update Configuration Files (if needed):

  1. If your website or application uses a configuration file (e.g., WordPress wp-config.php), update the database connection details to match the new database name, username, and password.

Test the New Database:

  1. Verify that your website or application is functioning correctly with the new database. Check for any errors or issues.

DNS Update (if applicable):

  1. If you are migrating a website and your domain is hosted with your previous hosting provider, update your DNS records to point to HOSTAFRICA’s servers.

Monitor and Troubleshoot (if necessary):

  1. Keep an eye on the new database for any issues. If you encounter problems, review your configurations and check for errors.

Cleanup (Optional):

  1. Once you are confident that the migration was successful, you can delete the source database on your previous hosting provider.

By following these steps, you should successfully migrate your database to HOSTAFRICA from your previous hosting provider. Always make backups and exercise caution when making changes to your website’s configuration and database settings.

5. How to Connect the Database to WordPress

To connect the migrated database from your previous host to your WordPress website hosted on HOSTAFRICA, follow these steps:

Connecting the Migrated Database to WordPress:

Update wp-config.php:

  • Access your WordPress installation files via FTP or the File Manager in cPanel.
  • Locate the wp-config.php file in the root directory of your WordPress installation.
  • Edit the wp-config.php file using a text editor.

Modify Database Connection Settings:

  • Find the following lines in wp-config.php:

define(‘DB_NAME’, ‘database_name_here’);
define(‘DB_USER’, ‘username_here’);
define(‘DB_PASSWORD’, ‘password_here’);
define(‘DB_HOST’, ‘localhost’);

  • Replace 'database_name_here', 'username_here', and 'password_here' with the new database name, username, and password you created in your cPanel.
  • Leave 'localhost' as is unless your hosting provider specifies a different database host.

Save and Upload Changes:

  • Save the modified wp-config.php file.
  • Upload the updated wp-config.php file back to your WordPress installation directory, overwriting the existing file if prompted.

Test Your Website:

  • Visit your website in a web browser to ensure it’s functioning correctly with the new database.
  • Check for any errors or issues. Clear your browser cache if necessary.

Permalinks (Optional):

  • In your WordPress dashboard, navigate to “Settings” > “Permalinks.”
  • Resave your permalink settings if you notice any permalink-related issues. This will refresh your site’s URL structure.

Plugins and Themes (Optional):

  • Some plugins and themes may store settings or data in the database. Ensure that all your plugins and themes are working correctly. You may need to reconfigure settings if necessary.

Back-Up Your Website (Optional):

  • Consider creating a backup of your website now that it’s connected to the new database to safeguard against any future issues. Remember that you can easily do this via the Softacuous App.

By following these steps, you should successfully connect your WordPress website to the migrated database. Always make backups and exercise caution when making changes to your website’s configuration and database settings.

6. Testing the website

Once you have uploaded your website files and imported your database, it’s time to test your website to make sure everything is working as expected. To do this, follow these steps:

  1. Open your website in a web browser.
  2. Test the functionality of your website, including links, forms, and images.
  3. Check that your website is displaying correctly and all content is present.
  4. If you encounter any issues, troubleshoot them by checking your website files and database settings.

In conclusion, transferring your website from one cPanel to another cPanel is a relatively simple process. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can transfer your website with ease. Remember to always back up your website before making any changes to avoid losing any data.

Note:

If you have multiple websites, you will have to take these steps for each of them.


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