When we migrate from one server to another these are the general procedures we will do to accomplish the migration.
- Lower the time-to-live count for the domains involved. This facilitate a quick changeover with little down time when the final change over is done.
- Set up the new server with requested programs and versions, including MySQL, PHP, Apache and any other requested applications needed.
- Migrate the account(s) and data from the old server to the new server.
- Configure any sites that need dedicated IP addresses and verify that SSL certificates are installed.
- Begin the testing phase to make sure all is working correctly. Modifying the hosts file on your home or office computer is the preferred method for doing the testing.
- When the testing phase is complete and you are satisfied that everything looks as it should we will do a final sync of the home directory data and databases.
- The DNS changeover from the old server to the new is then done immediately after step 6.
These are just a general outline of steps necessary for a standard migration. Each situation is different so some of these steps may not apply to your situation.
It is important that once the migration process starts that you don't make any changes on either the old server or the new server with exception of web-based content such as files and folders for web accessible data and the database information associated with those sites. The final sync in step six will copy over those changes.
Changes that should not be done are those that are done inside the WHM, cPanel or Plesk interfaces (whichever applies to your situation,) such as adding or removing email accounts or forwarders, adding new databases, changing sites IP addresses, package details, etc.