In this article we will show you how to make a WordPress transfer to a new hosting platform.Many people are faced with the need to move to a new host because of problems with their current provider and have just had enough. But all too often, migrating to a more reliable host is delayed time and again for fear of making a mistake and damaging your site.
To get around the problem, people will either pay a professional to move their site for them, find a new host that offers the service as part of a new hosting package, or take the third option of having a go at it themselves.
If you spend a little time preparing your own website, migrating is nothing to be concerned about. It can be a very straightforward project if approached correctly and can easily be reversed out of should any problems occur. You can also find quality hosting provides like – http://unicorn.ablion.in/
Let’s run through the steps required to move your WordPress website to a new host.
Step 1 : Back Up Your Website’s Files
The very first step of any project such as this is to back up every aspect of your site. This step is good practice before any major change but it is also a requirement of migrating your WordPress installation.
There are many plugins out there that will completely backup your site for you.This backup however, requires a more manual approach. Using an FTP program (such as FileZilla),connect to your web host and copy all files under your website’s directory to a folder on your local computer.
This includes the .htaccess file that is set to be hidden. Consult your FTP program’s help file to have it display hidden files if you are unable to see this file.
Depending on the number of media uploads you have in your site, this could take some time. While this download is underway we can begin step two and make a copy of your database.
Step 2 : Export The WordPress Database
Exporting your database is a simple process that only requires a few steps to complete. Login to the cPanel account of your web server and open the phpMyAdmin application. Select the database that contains your WordPress installation from the list on the left hand sidebar and once selected click on the Export tab on the navigation menu.
The default settings of a Quick export and the SQL format for the export are sufficient for what we need.Click the Go button and the database export process will begin and a file will be downloaded to your local computer.Once the database export and the FTP transfer of your files have both completed, you are ready to move onto the next stage.
Step 3 : Create The WordPress Database On Your New Host Server
Before we begin the migration, we need to create an environment for a WordPress installation. To do this, you need to create a database that you can import your SQL data into.
Login to your new web host with the user credentials they’ve given you and connect to the cPanel software. We will be using the MySQL Databases application. If your web host doesn’t use this application, you should contact their support team to find out their method of creating new databases.
The steps to create a new database are really simple:
1. Open MySQL Database and create a new database with an appropriate name.
2. Create a new MySQL user (with a secure password).
3. Add this user account to the database and grant it All Privileges.
Write down the database name and MySQL username and password. You will need this information soon.
Step 4 : Edit the wp-config.php File
Browse to the folder where you downloaded your website files to. In that folder, there is a file called wp-config.php that controls the access between WordPress and your database.
Make a copy of this file and store it in another folder on your computer. This is necessary for restoring the changes we’re about to make should something go wrong.
Open the original file with a text editor and make the following three changes:
1. Change the Database Name
2. Change the Database Username
3. Change the Database Password
Step 5 : Import Your Database
Now that you have a new database to work with, we can begin the import process.
Launch phpMyAdmin from the cPanel software on your new server and select your new database from the list in the left hand sidebar.Once it opens, select the Import tab from the navigation menu.
In the File to Import section, click the Choose File button and select the SQL file you previously exported.
Un-tick the Partial Import check box, make sure the format is set to SQL, and then click the Go button. The database import will now begin.
The time this takes depends on the size of your database. You should receive a success message once it finishes.
Step 6 : Upload the WordPress Files
Now that you’ve got the new database prepared and the wp-config.php file reconfigured, it’s time to begin uploading the site’s files.
Connect to your new web host using a FTP program and browse to the folder where your site will be held. If this is the primary, or only, site being installed on this server, then uploading the files to the public_html folder is the usual directory.
With the remote directory selected, you can upload your files that should now include the updated wp-config.php. This process may take a while.
Don’t delete this files from your computer, even after the upload finishes. They are still needed until the final steps are done.
Step 7 : Finishing Up
Before you can use the site on your new host, you will need to reconfigure your domain’s DNS settings. They will be set to your old host and you need to point the correct records to the new server IP address.DNS changes can take up to 48 hours to fully propagate. It’s best to do this when you expect low periods of traffic. During this 48 hour window, you should avoid making any changes as these may change your old site.After the 48-hour period passes, you should be accessing your site from the new web host. You can now connect to your old web host and delete the files and database. You should still have a backup copy of these files and the database export, along with the original wp-config.php file in case you need to roll back the migration.
If you need professional technical assistance with moving your wordpress site then you can hire Ablion.
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