Migrate from Namecheap to MdmHost cPanel hosting

Migrating from Namecheap to MdmHost is simpler than most moves because Namecheap's shared plans are based on cPanel, so you can take a standard cPanel backup and restore it with the same tools. This guide covers the full backup, restoring files, databases and email, the DNS switch and the checks afterwards.

Before you start

• Your Namecheap login and access to its cPanel.
• An MdmHost plan; see web hosting or reseller hosting for several sites.
• Enough free disk space on Namecheap to create the backup archive.

Download a full cPanel backup from Namecheap

1. Open cPanel at Namecheap and go to Files → Backup (or Backup Wizard).
2. Choose Download a Full Account Backup, destination Home Directory, and generate it.
3. When the email arrives, download backup-MM.DD.YYYY_HH-MM-SS_username.tar.gz from the home directory.
4. Also download the separate partial backups (home directory, each MySQL database, email forwarders and filters). Partial backups are what a normal cPanel user can restore without root. Details: download a full cPanel backup.

Restore on MdmHost

Option A: full backup restored by support or WHM

A full backup (the same format as a cpmove file) is restored in WHM, which needs root or reseller access. On a reseller plan you may be able to restore it yourself; see restore a cPanel account in WHM. On shared hosting, upload the file and open a ticket at support asking for a restore.

Option B: restore partial backups yourself

1. Log in to cPanel from Services in the MdmHost dashboard.
2. Go to Files → Backup; under Restore a Home Directory Backup upload the home archive.
3. Create each database and user in Manage My Databases (names get your new cPanel prefix), then upload each .sql.gz under Restore a MySQL Database Backup or import in phpMyAdmin.
4. Restore email forwarders and filters from their backup files on the same page.
5. Update database names and users in app config files, since the cPanel username prefix has changed.

More on partial restores: Backup Wizard partial backup and restore.

Email

A home directory restore includes the mail folder, but mailboxes only appear once the accounts exist. The safest route is to create the addresses in Email Accounts and copy mail by IMAP, as below, especially for mail that arrives during the move.

Migrate email with IMAP sync

Mailboxes rarely restore cleanly between different control panels, so the dependable method is to create the same addresses in cPanel → Email → Email Accounts and copy the messages over IMAP:

1. List every mailbox on Namecheap with its approximate size.
2. Create the same addresses on cPanel and give each enough quota.
3. Run an IMAP sync per mailbox from the old server (by IP or hostname, since DNS still points there) to the new one. imapsync between servers explains the command; migrate email to cPanel over IMAP covers the cPanel side.
4. After the DNS switch, run the same sync again. imapsync skips messages it has already copied, so the second pass only picks up mail that arrived in between.

Switch DNS with minimal downtime

1. One or two days before the move, lower the TTL of the A, AAAA and MX records at the current DNS host to 300 seconds. See DNS TTL strategy for a server migration.
2. Test the new copy before switching: add the new server IP for the domain to your computer's hosts file and browse the site.
3. Freeze changes on the old site (no new orders, posts or comments), take a final database export and import it on cPanel if content has changed since the first copy.
4. Either point the A records to the new IP, or change the domain's nameservers to the ones in your MdmHost welcome email. Changing records is faster when the TTL is already low; nameserver changes can take up to 24–48 hours.
5. Keep the old account running for at least a week so slow resolvers and delayed mail still land somewhere.

Post-migration checks

• The site loads over HTTPS with a valid certificate. AutoSSL issues it once DNS points to MdmHost; run it from cPanel → Security → SSL/TLS Status if needed.
• Forms, logins, checkouts and uploads work, and there are no database connection errors.
• Sending and receiving email works from webmail and from your mail client, and SPF/DKIM pass in cPanel → Email → Email Deliverability.
• Cron jobs are recreated under cPanel → Advanced → Cron Jobs with the new paths (/home/username/…).
• The PHP version in cPanel → Software → MultiPHP Manager matches what the old server used.

FAQ

Can I just upload the full backup in cPanel?

No. cPanel's own restore page only accepts partial backups; full backups are restored in WHM.

Do I change nameservers or A records at Namecheap?

Either works. Records are faster when TTL is low; nameservers move DNS management to MdmHost.

Does my domain registration need to move too?

No. Hosting and domain are separate. You can keep the domain at Namecheap and change DNS, or transfer it later via domain transfer.

Next steps

• Migrate WordPress to MdmHost
• Move any website to cPanel
• Domain transfer and EPP codes