skyward

Here are the results of my work and searches. Share your infos !

Many people use CPanel to create/restore backups. It should work directly, but they're many ways to do it.


Transfer your files from old host to new host
Create a backup
Cpanel: generate full/home/db bkp


Restore backup
SSH: /scripts/restorepkg usernametobemoved

To restore a cpmove-username.tar.gz
1.Upload cpmove-username.tar.gz to the webserver's /home directory.
2.Type: /scripts/restorepkg username (replace username with the account username)
3.This will restore the site, and also create the cPanel account.

works only if you've acces to WHM, you're a reseller at the host.
Cpanel: restore a home bkp, restore db bkp
manual: uncompress archive (tar.gz). I used: tar -xzvpf bkpfile destdir/ . Run it from the directory containning the bkpfile. -p preserve file permissions.


Transfer database (MySQL)

create backup
Cpanel works ok. It makes the same bkp as phpmyadmin.
restore a bkp
Cpanel doesn't work well. db contains less data compared with original one (3 records less).
phpmyadmin: same result. db contains less data compared with original one (3 records less).
cpanel gives same result as phpmyadmin. However it seems to work.
I use phpmyadmin to create the destination database and put data in it (SQL query, import your db backup file, often a .gz)

Configuration post-transfer
.htaccess file is very important. Set the environnement for the script to work on your new host and following your wishes.
files and directory permissions are very important too. If you make a manual restore of the files, but sure to preserve it (tar -p).


Transfer Mambo CMS
domaine: onenew.org
I use Mambo CMS. I want to transfer it from my old host.
As any other script, to transfer it, one have to move the files and the
database and configure it to work on the new host.

I'd like to move my mambo site from www.nosens.org/2 (old host) to
www.onenew.org/2 (new host).

On the old host: I've used cpanel to backup the files (full backup) and
Phpmyadmin to backup the db.
On the new host: Ive used SSH to restore file (only the one I wanted,
in /public_html/2, preserving the permissions) and Phpmyadmin to restore the
db (all tables are ok).
I've checked the configuration.php file and I've put the correct parameters
(what I think they are at least), adapt that:

******
$mosConfig_host = 'localhost';
$mosConfig_user = 'username';
$mosConfig_password = '*****';
$mosConfig_db = 'username_mambo';
$mosConfig_dbprefix = 'mos_';
$mosConfig_lang = 'english';
$mosConfig_absolute_path = '/home/username/public_html/2';
$mosConfig_live_site = 'http://www.onenew.org/2';
***********

Speleo

This is the most informative guide I've seen so far but I'm still having a nightmare trying to migrate between hosts.

The main issue I've got is that I cant FXP from my old host to new and therefore have to go across a slow link. To add to the complication I reckon that since my rig is a windodoze box I'm loosing attributes.

It would be really good to get a definative guide to how to achieve this. The standard back up the db, shift the files, reinstall the db and mod the configuration.php file is somewhat simplistic (at least for a dweeb like me).

I've got shell access to my new host. Question - What is the FTP command to transfer the whole of a directory and its subdirectories in one hit (and no user intevention)?

I've also had major problems using different versions of myPHPadmin to shift the database. Strangley enough the newer version complains of the sql syntax of the older. Question - what boxes should be checked when exporting the db?

I've got other issues as my last host messed around with a custom cgi-bin to get things working which I also have to unravel. Takes forever each time I rip it down again!

This whole area is definately one which is lacking detail in the forums.

Thanks in advance for you help.

xjumper84

one thing to note which i saw with my host. the mambo version on the cpanel of the host was at 4.5.1, if your site is at 4.5.2 or 4.5.2.3 or above you may want to just upload the stable release to your server then copy the files from your old host to the new, then copy the sql database.

I don't know if what I did was the proper way, but it worked fine.

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Speleo

Thanks xjumper84.

In the end your sugestion was exactly what I had to do.

1) install a clean Mambo instance
2) over copy with existing site, including all mods, coms, hacks etc
3) bludgeon the database back into place.

It works fine now but folks should be wary of the hassle it might involve. Of course if both host use cPannel you can simply backup and restore across sites (which isn't possible between plesk and cPannel).

Anyway, everytime things mess up I learn something new along the way!