Transferring website to new Server with no downtime

feenster99 · 3 Sep 2007 at 12:46

Hi all,
I have a dedicated server with Fasthosts. I'm going to be getting another fairly soon with a newer OS (and still with Fasthosts), and will need to transfer all my sites across to it.

I need to devise a method of transferring the sites across with no downtime (or possibly a couple of hours at most). Has anyone done something similar before? I was thinking that if I setup the sites and email etc on the new Server, I could then just change the DNS on the original server so that one of the nameservers pointed to the new server. After a day or two, change the other nameserver to point to the new server.

Any thoughts?

Matt

phi1 · 3 Sep 2007 at 12:49

Leave the old server up, Copy all the files over to the new server. Then once you make sure it works ok the site, Change the DNS over.

Marky · 3 Sep 2007 at 12:51

When I need to move server I do the following:

1. Order the server
2. Copy files from old server to HD
3. Copy files from HD to new server (All this without changing the nameservers yet)
4. Then I change the files on the old server so that all the services are off (So the site is still operational but you can't post anything or edit anything etc.)
5. Then I change the nameservers, this takes around 2 - 4 hours usually.
6. Then the site will show it from the new server, meaning everything is operational and your able to delete everything from your old server

Good luck

feenster99 · 3 Sep 2007 at 18:50

I guess I was just thinking that changes of DNS aren't always replicated around the world in 2-4 hours, hence my "staged" process. I guess it might just be a late night job ;-)

Matt

akakjs · 3 Sep 2007 at 21:07

I just did this for our ECommerce website at work, get your DNS provider to drop the TTL for your DNS records to 30 minutes at least 3-7 days before the move (depending on your current TTL). Once that's setup you should be able to move any static websites in under an hour with no downtime (and maybe a simple stateful web application).

Anything more complex than personalization and personally I'd close the website for a hour while it moves across. I'd also suggest that you have nice "moved server" pages rather than leave the websites blank on the old server for a few days.

If your dealing with ecommerce sites it's going to get complex I'm afraid..

akakjs

Marky · 3 Sep 2007 at 21:27

feenster99 said:
I guess I was just thinking that changes of DNS aren't always replicated around the world in 2-4 hours, hence my "staged" process. I guess it might just be a late night job

Matt

It varies to be honest - it can take 10 minutes, it can take up to 24 hours - The average it's taken for me each time I've done it is around 2 - 4 hours

feenster99 · 3 Sep 2007 at 22:56

Well, the original server is a DNS/nameserver too, so I can change the TTL quite easily. Thanks for the info, i think i know what i have to do now :-)

Matt

Psypher5 · 3 Sep 2007 at 23:42

Marky said:
When I need to move server I do the following:

1. Order the server
2. Copy files from old server to HD
3. Copy files from HD to new server (All this without changing the nameservers yet)
4. Then I change the files on the old server so that all the services are off (So the site is still operational but you can't post anything or edit anything etc.)
5. Then I change the nameservers, this takes around 2 - 4 hours usually.
6. Then the site will show it from the new server, meaning everything is operational and your able to delete everything from your old server

Good luck

I did this the other day actually, for my gf's website.
Old host has gone down (run out) but wass till up, so i transferred everything, changed DNS info on the domain and it was litteraly up and running on the new server as quick as I could make a tab and type in the url.