Hosting Migration Guide: Seamless Server Migration

1. Pre-Migration Preparation

Hosting migration is a critical process that requires careful planning. A migration done incorrectly can result in data loss, SEO ranking drops, and long-term downtime.

Things to do before migration: Take a full backup of the current site (files + database), reduce the DNS TTL value to 300 seconds (at least 48 hours before), prepare and test the new server, install the SSL certificate on the new server.

Create a migration schedule and choose low traffic hours. For Türkiye, the ideal time period is between 02:00 and 06:00. Document the entire process and prepare a turnaround plan.

2. File and Database Transfer

Use rsync (Linux), SCP or SFTP for file transfer. For large sites, rsync's delta transfer feature is a great advantage: rsync -avz --progress old_server:/var/www/ /var/www/

Database transfer: Export with mysqldump -u user -p database > backup.sql, import with mysql -u user -p database < backup.sql on the new server. For large databases, use mydumper/myloader tools.

Update database connection settings after transfer (config.php, wp-config.php, etc.). If there are changes in site URLs, perform search-replace. For WordPress, WP-CLI's search-replace command is ideal.

3. DNS Change and SSL Setup

After the file and database transfer is completed, point the DNS records to the new server IP. Update A record, CNAME and MX records. DNS propagation may take 0-48 hours.

Don't forget to install your SSL certificate on the new server! This is the most common mistake made after immigration. Move the private key and certificate files of your existing SSL certificate to the new server or create a new certificate.

Most SSL certificates come with unlimited server licenses; in that case you can use the same certificate on the old and new server simultaneously. Licence terms may vary by product. This prevents SSL interruption during the migration process.

4. Post-Immigration Checks

After DNS propagation is complete, make the following checks:

✅ Are all pages loading correctly?
✅ Is the SSL certificate active? Check (https://)
✅ Is email sending/receiving working?
✅ Are form submissions working properly?
✅ Are images and media files being uploaded?
✅ Are 301 redirects active?
✅ Is site verification valid in Google Search Console?
✅ Are robots.txt and sitemap.xml accessible?

Keep the old server active for at least 1 week after migration. Do not delete backups so that you can quickly respond to possible problems.