Migrating a WordPress site

DezUk · 26 Mar 2015 at 20:06

I have been working on a WordPress site for a client and have finished the site on my own web hosting package. I have created a new hosting package on Fasthosts at the request of the client and now I need to export the site from my server to the new server, not something I have done before.

I have quite a few custom plugins, widgets and a customised paid template and obviously I want to keep everything as is without anything breaking.

I see in the admin panel there is an option Tools > Export but this only covers comments and posts etc. So can anyone point me in the direction of how to best export the entire database and site settings/content and then import it to the Fasthosts account?

Cheers!

On Holiday · 26 Mar 2015 at 20:07

DezUk · 26 Mar 2015 at 20:14

I have cPanel on my own server which is Vidahost but not sure on Fasthosts as waiting on the domain transferring before I can setup a website instance but I believe its cPanel their as well.

blade007 · 26 Mar 2015 at 21:40

The hard way is to transfer the files and database, and reconnect.

The easy way is to use Duplicator plugin by lifeinthegrid.

DezUk · 26 Mar 2015 at 22:36

Cool I'll check that out

touch · 26 Mar 2015 at 22:48

I like to copy the files and database manually. Migrator plugins are easier but havnt always worked perfectly for me in the past.
You'll need to take a backup of the database and files before you use the plugin anyway, so it's not that much extra to do it manually.

If you were using the same domain to develop it you wont even have to change any settings in the db.
Copy database
copy files
edit wp-config with database user account if different from before.

mtalk · 27 Mar 2015 at 05:51

Good news that you have cpanel.. so just login to your cpanel get the mysql database backup for this wordpress site from your cpanel .. and copy wp files for this domain over to new hosting provider and .. create a database with same name and password over their and restore the .sql file which you have backedup.

Black Dynamite · 27 Mar 2015 at 10:08

Really easy mate ...

- Backup database.
- Zip entire wp-content folder (providing you're running the same WP version, if you aren't upgrade on the current setup)
- Install WP on new server. By doing this you stop the risk of a permissions problem with the folder owner. Namesco are a ***** for this.
- Copy and extract wp-content zip file on the new server
- Restore database
- Install and run this to replace the old URL's in the database in required -> https://interconnectit.com/products/search-and-replace-for-wordpress-databases/
- Delete the above when completed.

Job done. Takes about 5 - 10 minutes of "manual" work. The rest is waiting for downloads.

DezUk · 28 Mar 2015 at 18:00

Thanks for all the help, got the database transferred over and the wp site is working but still one major issue. When I click any of my links they are still pointing to my old install on my own server. Just emailed the client to say its live and then noticed this so need to fix it asap.

See http://nelsongray.com/ and try clicking ay of the menu links and you will see its directs to my cruitme.com domain

Hoping this is an easy fix?

DezUk · 28 Mar 2015 at 18:02

I also used searchreplacedb2.php to search and replace after following this guide

Result:
In the process of replacing "http://cruitme.com/projects/nelson/" with "http://nelsongray.com/" we scanned 18 tables with a total of 4581 rows, 1645 cells were changed and 1024 db update performed and it all took 0.901613 seconds.

touch · 28 Mar 2015 at 18:21

Looks like to didnt update urls properly?

all the urls are pointing to http://nelsongray.com/projects/nelson/

try the update again by replacing http://nelsongray.com/projects/nelson/ with http://nelsongray.com

If that doesnt work, restore the original database backup again and try a different plugin. I use GoLive Update URLs.

DezUk · 28 Mar 2015 at 19:09

I have just copied it all over again and setup the database again thinking that might fix it but same result. I would try that plugin but when I go to www.nelsongray.com/wp-admin/ it takes me to my old cruitme instance

touch · 28 Mar 2015 at 19:17

You'll need to go into the wp_options table in the database and manually set the site url and home url fields to the new address.

DezUk · 28 Mar 2015 at 19:27

Ok cool got the plugin working now so what should I enter as old url and new url?

old: cruitme.com/projects/nelson
new: nelsongray.com

?

DezUk · 28 Mar 2015 at 19:48

All fixed, much appreciated mate!

Black Dynamite · 28 Mar 2015 at 19:54

Be careful just updating wp_options table, any URL's in any of the sites posts or pages won't be updated.

You need to do a full search and replace (link on my Previous post does this) to get 100% results.

Black Dynamite · 28 Mar 2015 at 19:57

Just looked for you and the links to images in posts are pointing to your old hosting.

DezUk · 28 Mar 2015 at 20:04

Well spotted!

I ran the GoLive plugin and it sorted most of the links, how do I sort the images without having to do it manually?

Black Dynamite · 28 Mar 2015 at 21:26

Download the stable version of this -> https://interconnectit.com/products/search-and-replace-for-wordpress-databases/

Upload it to your web server and extract it.

Navigate to this folder in your browser. from there just enter www.original-address.com in the replace field and www.new-address.com in the with field.

Click live run and then check your links. If its worked delete the utility.

That should be it mate, if you get stuck, let me know

On Holiday · 28 Mar 2015 at 21:48