Migration and hosting

Articles

• Moving a website from Apache to nginx

  Tutorial

  Apache to nginx migration: port .htaccess rules, wire PHP-FPM, map modules and extensions, and verify URLs, redirects and rewrites after the switch.

• Back up before site changes

  Troubleshooting guide

  Back up before site changes: what must be in the backup, how to test it restores, and the change sequence that stays safe.

• Test your backup with a restore drill

  Tutorial

  Run a scheduled restore drill: test a backup restores files, database and config on a scratch server before the real recovery.

• Backup retention and rotation

  Reference guide

  Set a backup retention policy: TTL per tier, rotation rules, offsite copies, and the restore drill that proves the policy works.

• Cache and CDN after a migration

  Tutorial

  After a migration, flush WordPress, browser, DNS and CDN caches and verify the new origin is live instead of a stale copy.

• Adding a CDN in front of an existing web host

  Tutorial

  Add a CDN in front of an existing host safely, keeping origin SSL, DNS, caching, and performance working together.

• Converting a database to UTF-8

  Tutorial

  Convert a database to UTF-8 safely, from checking the current collation to converting tables, and fix unreadable accent characters.

• Exporting and importing a large database

  Tutorial

  Export and import large MySQL databases despite memory, upload and timeout limits, using mysqldump, gzip, and safe destination-side import.

• Testing the DNS cutover before you flip

  Tutorial

  Test a DNS cutover before the flip: hosts-file load, dig record checks, certificate and mail tests, then a controlled rollback.

• Moving DNS records when the site moves house

  Tutorial

  Moving DNS records between hosts and providers: export the zone first, re-create forwards, and check TTL, mail, subdomains, SPF and SPF.

• Re-creating a DNS zone on a new host or provider

  Tutorial

  Re-creating a DNS zone: export the current zone, mirror every record type, cut over nameservers and verify mail, site and subdomains.

• Domain change checklist with traffic protection

  Tutorial

  Domain change SEO checklist: 301 from old to new domain, address change in Search Console, sitemap, redirects and post-move verification.

• Email DNS cutover during a migration

  Troubleshooting guide

  Sequence the MX, SPF, and DKIM cutover when moving email hosting so mail keeps arriving and does not bounce.

• Migrate email when you change host

  Tutorial

  Migrate email between hosts: export mailboxes first, import them, then move MX and DNS records, and verify SPF and DKIM.

• Keeping .env files portable between environments

  Reference guide

  .env file portability explained: environment-specific values, secrets handling and the deploy patterns that travel between environments.

• Website file permissions and ownership sync

  Troubleshooting guide

  File permissions and ownership sync explained: the 403/500 symptoms, ownership mismatch after a move, and safe chown/chmod.

• Host migration checklist

  Tutorial

  Host migration checklist: backups, new-host test, DNS TTL and cutover, 301 redirect, certificate and the things to verify after.

• The hosting control panel, a map of the things inside

  Reference guide

  Hosting control panel basics: the file manager, database tools, mail and DNS sections explained, and how to stay safe in each.

• What a hosting SLA actually guarantees

  Reference guide

  Hosting SLA guide: what uptime percentages really cover, credits and exclusions, maintenance windows, and how to check the guarantee you are sold.

• Upgrading a hosting plan without a site outage

  Tutorial

  Upgrade a hosting plan without downtime: check the resource ceiling, order the upgrade, migrate files and DB, and verify after the move.

• Migrating a website between data centers or cloud regions

  Tutorial

  Plan a data center or cloud region migration, covering latency, data transfer, DNS cutover and region-specific controls.

• Avoiding downtime during migration

  Tutorial

  Avoid downtime during a host migration with a cutover plan, low DNS TTL, tested staging and a fast rollback route.

• Audit HTTP status differences after a migration

  Tutorial

  Audit HTTP status codes old vs new hosting after a move to catch redirect breaks, missing pages and response changes before cutover.

• Rollback plan after a broken site migration

  Troubleshooting guide

  Create a tested rollback plan so a broken migration can be reversed fast, returning the site to its previous environment.

• Use a scratch domain to test a migrated site

  Tutorial

  Validate a moved site on a scratch domain first. Pare the hostname, test paths and redirects, then repoint live DNS once verified.

• Keeping analytics and monitoring working during a migration

  Tutorial

  Keep analytics and monitoring working through a site migration so you do not lose tracking or alerting during cutover.

• Moving a website to a new host with no downtime

  Tutorial

  Move a website to new hosting without downtime: pick the host, transfer files and DB, test with hosts file, cut over DNS and verify.

• Upgrading your PHP version

  Tutorial

  Upgrade PHP safely, from checking support and compatibility with plugins to staging and testing, with the versions that are current.

• Plesk to cPanel hosting migration

  Tutorial

  Plesk to cPanel migration explained: what transfers, email and DNS gotchas, and the manual steps that keep the site intact.

• Building a redirect map for a site move

  Tutorial

  Building a redirect map for migration: capture all old URLs, assign one 301 target each and test the full set before the swap.

• Transferring a domain between registrars

  Tutorial

  Domain transfer guide: unlock the domain, get the authorization, transfer costs and steps, and keep email and DNS working throughout.

• What to check when your server IP address changes

  Tutorial

  A server IP change without downtime: lower TTL first, update A records, allowlists, email and any hardcoded IP you rely on.

• Shared, VPS, and dedicated hosting tradeoffs

  Reference guide

  Compare shared, VPS, cloud and dedicated hosting for a migration: cost, isolation, root access, and when each choice stops scaling.

• Site not loading after a DNS update

  Troubleshooting guide

  Diagnose a site that stops loading after a DNS or nameserver update with ordered network, DNS, and host checks.

• Reissuing an SSL certificate after a migration

  Troubleshooting guide

  Reissue an SSL cert after moving hosts or IPs: check the private key, server name, and validation, then reissuance with Let's Encrypt or a manual reissue.

• Refreshing the staging database from production

  Tutorial

  Refresh a staging database from production: pull the dump, anonymise personal data, handle media and service keys, and script it repeatably.

• Going from staging to live cleanly

  Tutorial

  Staging to live launch: promote files and database, fix theme and plugin config, test URLs and caches and release in order.

• How to migrate a single subdomain without touching the rest of the site

  Tutorial

  Migrate a single subdomain (like blog or shop) to a new host without moving the whole site, with DNS and staging safeguards covered.

• Migrating without a plan, the risk signs

  Troubleshooting guide

  Warning signs that a site migration lacks a plan, from no backup test to a missing redirect map, and how to make the move safe.

• Setting up uptime monitoring for a website

  Tutorial

  Setting up uptime monitoring: external HTTP checks, regions, alert settings, status pages and the workflow when an alert fires.

• Planning a URL migration without losing rankings

  Tutorial

  URL migration planning: inventory, map every old URL to a new one, build the 301 redirect table, test and monitor the swap.

• Moving a WordPress site to repository-based deployments

  Tutorial

  Move WordPress to Git repository-based deployments with wp-content version control, deploy etiquette and DB/front-end split guidance.

• WP-CLI versus a hosting panel for maintenance

  Reference guide

  WP-CLI versus a hosting panel: what each handles, where the boundary sits, and the paired sequence for site maintenance.

• Zero-downtime deployment with blue green

  Tutorial

  Deploy with a blue green strategy to release without downtime. Learn how two identical environments, a single switch and rollback work.