How To Minimise Downtime When Migrating Your Website

There are technologies that makes migration a breeze. Gone are the days when moving from one host to another was such a tedious process. However, even emerging technologies do not guarantee 100% successful transfer process because at some point, website owners will still experience downtime. Depending on the steps involved in transferring your website to a new host, downtime can affect your website is more ways than one. This is because you need to restore essential databases, transfer files and even configure subdomain to ensure it is in working order. With all these processes, it will take more than 24 hours for your website to fully function again. There are some techniques you can employ to minimise downtime:

1. Do not cancel without completing your move

You might be tempted to cancel your existing web hosting plan excited about the thought of moving a to new hosting environment. However, cancelling without completing your move may not be a good idea. Although informing your old web host about the future changes may be a good idea, there is a great risk that you will not only suffer from downtime but a complete loss of database and important files.  Before you make that cancellation, be sure to transfer your files. Your new hosting plan must be secured before you plan you cancel your old hosting plan.

2. Download backup files

You can obtain compressed backups of database information and website files once you log in to cPanel. It is important to note that ensuring both the new and old hosting companies have the same administration technology will give you peace of mind as you do not have to adjust to the new hosting environment. When the technology is aligned, restoring and backing up your data will be easy.

3. Compress backup files to the new server

More often than not, your new host will send you an email, which contains essential information such as your IP address details and domain name servers. Once received, you can use your IP address to view the content of your website, gain access to cPanel administration interface and individual FTP account. These can be viewed before changes are made.

4. Check databases

Database backup files do not have your passwords, usernames, and even permissions associated with MySQL database. The information needs to be entered within the interface of MySQL Databases found in cPanel.

5. Use new domain name servers

Once everything is set, the final step will be to switch to new name servers. Make sure that propagation is complete or you will risk losing data or content. Refrain from making changes to the site until the process is complete.