How To Prepare For A Server Migration?

A server migration is a complicated process that requires a lot of preparation. There are many reasons a website owner may decide to migrate to a dedicated server and one of which is that the business is growing that sharing the server will other users will no longer suffice. It is important to plan ahead to ensure migration success.

The preparation to migrate

More often than not, migrating to one server to another means you are upgrading your system so that it caters to larger online users. During the preparation, you need to make sure that you test your new servers and check if databases are also up to date. You can avoid downtime this way. Although migrating is complex, this is also a great opportunity to check areas you need to improve. Experts will help you identify the most scalable and cost effective solution and deploy a server that will improve performance. When you migrate, you need to have sufficient processing power and disk space on your server. A more detailed scaling plan and projection must also be kept in mind.

Strategies for migration

You will need to recreate your entire server so it can accommodate new server hardware. Once configured, the new server must be tested before you make the switch. Although this is the simplest way to migrate, you will still need system administrators to set up your new servers. This process also has its downside because you will need to freeze all code changes and lock the database on your old server while the new server is still set up. If this step is not taken, you will lose any data or code changes during the process of migrating to a new server.

Preparation for your current server

Removing email accounts, backups and old sites are part of the process of cleaning up your current server. This process will give you an idea of the computing and storage requirements of your new server. When locking your databases, you should also check if it is updated by different users. If locking your databases is not possible, you have to plan a final update, which is part of your migration strategy. This way, when you switch server, you database is up to date and replicated.

When you are transporting your server to its new location, it is necessary to back up your server. Whether or not this method is part of transporting the data, it is essential to take a full backup of your server prior to migration. Avoid closing down your old server or old hosting account before your website goes live and functioning properly. You might be required to switch back, or the date that your website goes live may be delayed.