Move a website from another host to MdmHost cPanel hosting

Moving a website to a new host has three phases: copy everything, test the copy on the new server, then switch DNS. Done in that order, visitors never see an empty site. This guide covers any type of site (static, PHP, CMS). For WordPress specifically, also see migrate WordPress to MdmHost.

Before you start

• An active MdmHost hosting plan; see web hosting.
• Access to the old host: control panel login, or at least FTP and database access.
• A list of what must move: websites, databases, email accounts, cron jobs, DNS records (SPF, verification TXT records and so on).

Option 1: let MdmHost migrate it

If the old host uses cPanel, our team can usually transfer the complete account, including email and DNS, so the copy is identical. Open a ticket with the old host's cPanel login or a full cPanel backup. For other panels we can still help copy sites and databases; tell us what you have.

Option 2: copy it yourself

Files

1. Download the site from the old host: a ZIP from its file manager, or the whole folder by FTP.
2. Upload to the right document root on MdmHost: public_html for the primary domain, or the folder of an addon domain. Upload the ZIP and extract it with File Manager for speed.

Databases

1. Export each database from the old host's phpMyAdmin as SQL.
2. Create a database and user on MdmHost.
3. Import the SQL file with phpMyAdmin.
4. Update the app's configuration file with the new database name, user and password (host stays localhost).

Email

Create the same mailboxes and copy existing mail over IMAP; see move email to cPanel.

Settings

• Choose the same PHP version in MultiPHP Manager and enable needed extensions.
• Recreate cron jobs with the new paths (/home/cpuser/...).

Test before switching DNS

Your domain still points to the old host, so test the new copy with a hosts-file override:

1. Find the shared IP in cPanel General Information.
2. On your computer, add a line to the hosts file (C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc\hosts on Windows, /etc/hosts on macOS/Linux): 203.0.113.10 example.com www.example.com.
3. Open the site; you now see the MdmHost copy. Test pages, forms, logins and checkout.
4. Remove the line when finished.

Switch DNS

• At your registrar, change the nameservers to the MdmHost nameservers from your welcome email, or transfer the domain to MdmHost.
• If you keep DNS elsewhere, update the A records to the new IP and the MX records as needed.
• Recreate any special records (verification TXT, CNAMEs for services) in Zone Editor.

After the move

• Wait for AutoSSL to issue certificates, then enable Force HTTPS.
• For sites with frequent changes (shops, forums), re-export the database right before the DNS switch, or put the old site in maintenance mode.
• Keep the old hosting for a week as a fallback, then cancel it.

Next steps

• Log in to cPanel
• Fix 404s after a move