How to transfer a website to a VDS/VPS server without downtime

Why is migration necessary?

Most projects start out on regular shared hosting.

However, over time, problems arise:

• the site starts to run slowly;
• the number of visitors increases;
• insufficient resources;
• server configuration limitations arise.

In such a situation, switching to a VPS becomes a logical step.

Preparing for the migration

Before the migration, you must:

• create a backup of the site;
• save the database;
• check the PHP version;
• check the modules used.

Creating a new Servers

On a VPS, you need to:

• install the operating system;
• configure the web server;
• create databases;
• install an SSL certificate.

Transferring Files

All website files are copied to the new server.

For this, you can use:

• rsync;
• SCP;
• FTP;
• control panels.

Transferring the Database

After copying the files, the database is transferred.

It is important to ensure that:

• encoding is preserved;
• the data was imported without errors;
• the application is connecting to the new database.

Testing

Before switching the domain, you need to check:

• do the pages open;
• do the authorization work;
• do the emails send;
• do the forms work correctly.

DNS Change

After testing is complete, the domain's DNS records are changed.

If the TTL was reduced in advance, the transition will be virtually unnoticeable for users.

How to Avoid Downtime

Basic Rule:

The old server is only shut down after the new one has been fully tested.

This approach helps avoid losing customers and orders.

Conclusion

With proper planning, most websites can be migrated to a VPS with virtually no downtime for visitors.

AIRNET clients can receive assistance with migration and transferring projects to new servers.