How I moved my CMS site from one server to another

[skim1114]

I just wanted to post this method because when I was going through it I couldn't find any sure simple answers on how to move my site from one server to another. I tried a few other ways and got some errors all over the place....I think I didn't edit my config.php file correctly.

Here is my process and it was pretty quick:
I will refer to the old site, or the existing one as Site A, and the place you are moving it to, Site B.

1. Go to your Site A database and export (use "save as file")
2. Set up your new database on Site B and import...be sure to give yourself permission for this database so CMSMS can access it (make sure all check boxes are check...I use GoDaddy, so I didn't see this option...I will address how to deal with this below if this is a case for you).
3. Use FTP to download your website, Site A
4. Download, a fresh copy of CMS Made Simple
5. Upload the CMSMS files to your new server, Site B.
6. Create a new config.php like you would in initial install and upload to Site B.
7. Upload your "uploads" folder from Site A into Site B (this will be all of your sites images).
8. Changes permissions to the folders in Site A: tmp/templates_c, tmp/cache, uploads, uploads/images, modules  (777), congif (666).
9. Go to "yoursite.com/install/index.php" and run the initial install...giving direction to your new database and setting the admin user name and password.
10. On "Step 10" of the install you will need to give access to Site B's database...this is VERY IMPORTANT, make sure you UNCHECK the box that says "Create Tables" this will erase your database info.

That should be it...once you hit continue, you should be all set. Once you login to your admin area, your site should be the same as you left it in Site A.

GoDaddy Note:
I got stuck on Step 10...you have to change the "Database host address" to the address your database is located within your host...it will look something like "p33mysql77.secureserver.net".

You can find this by going to your hosting panel and to "databases" then click on the pencil to edit your database and this location will be specified there.

I think that's it.

I hope this has been helpful. I had such a hard time and some of these posts were too confusing...I know this method worked and it was simple.

[Pierre M.]

Hello,

thank you for sharing this. I would add :
0. Have your SiteA uptodate with upgrades. You must run current official stable release, the same you are going to install on SiteB.

Feel free to contribute further to the documentation. (you have write access to the wiki with your forum account).
Have fun with CMSms !

Pierre M.

[itsc.net]

very useful, thanks

[skim1114]

I'm really glad this has been helpful. Hopefully it's been equally helpful to the others who have read but not posted.

Sometimes it's hard to figure something out...but when I do, I think sharing the process is key. I use these forums so often for answers, I'm just happy to have one to offer.

[Pierre M.]

Hello again,

I think sharing the process is key. I use these forums so often for answers, I'm just happy to have one to offer.

Sure. Make you happy, discover the wiki
Have fun with CMSms

Pierre M.

[Duketown]

These steps worked great on an implementation I did.
As an additional step, one could clear the admin log as a step 0.
An alternative to this is:
I have used the backup from cPanel (mySql). As a result I copied all the statements to notepad and used that on the new server's cPanel to just run the SQL (creating the tables and filling them as in step 2. However in the generated sql also the insert statements for the admin log are provided (if one doesn't want to clear them in step 0). Just remove the lines in notepad before copying all in the SQL window of cPanel. In this way also the the admin log is fresh in the new environment.

Thanks skim1114 for sharing this info, it has been of great help.

Duketown