Switching Hosts
 

I'm looking to switch from my current host to a hostgator server. I'm not sure how to switch servers without losing my site. How would I go about switching servers without losing my sites content?

To move servers:
1. Backup database, make sure its complete
2. Move files to new server
3. Import database to new server
4. Change config files to database on new server
5. Point nameservers to new server

The host that I'm currently on doesn't seem to have an option for doing a database backup :(
I saw something about telnet/ssh, would that be the route I have to take? I downloaded the folder that was on my current host and uploaded it to my new server. I also changed the name servers. Would I create a new database with my new host and change the config file to that?

Yes, create a new database and change the config file to that. You need to get a database backup, try getting back into your old vb and doing one from admin cp.

See also: Moving Servers

If you have a lot of data and are not really sure of what you are doing you might want to pay someone to do it. There are lots of people who will do it and it isn't too expensive.

I downloaded all the files from my server. I created a database backup from my admincp. Luckily it wasn't a huge file because I had actually just rebuilt my site because it got hacked and destroyed a week ago. The main problem that I'm having now is the ssh of the database. For some reason I can't log into the ssh program. It keeps saying that it's the wrong password when it's not. I tried the password logging into my ftp client as well as my host cpanel and both worked. I even had my password changed and tried that and it's still saying that it's the wrong password. I have no clue why. It's holding up the entire process.

hostgator will move your forum over for you, i know they've just done it for me:)

Really? Hmm, I did not know that.

For real? Hmm... hey just make sure you sign up with a host that will give your money back and do not shut down your current site until you know it's up and running.

hostgator only copy your forum over to their servers, you have to point your domain name over to your new server. i had a few problems with my board as i ran php5 on my old server and they put me on a php4 server, i got switched over with no problem, even got an appology for their mistake, cant fault their customer service, even during the night to them as i'm 7 hours ahead lol

Yes if both servers are running some form of a Control Panel (cPanel, Plesk, etc) You are usually able to just transfer using the control panel software the entire account.

if you can get shell access on your old shared server, that makes it a LOT easier, since you can zip up your whole webroot and only have to download one file.

^which is rare.. not alot of Shared hosts give out SSH access but still, he's right

Yes. I agree. Find out if you can get your site hosted on a server with the same type of control panel and they will import it very easily.