Back to DocsThis guide covers migrating an existing VPS (from any provider) to a new DeluxHost VPS.
02
Before you start
- Create the new VPS on DeluxHost with the same or compatible operating system
- Verify the space: the new VPS must have disk equal to or larger than the original
- Plan a maintenance window: migration requires minimal or zero downtime (depends on method)
- Take note of IP, password, configurations of the old server
03
Linux Migration
Method 1: rsync (recommended, minimal downtime)
Copy all files from the old server to the new one via SSH:
bash
# Run from the NEW server (or from a third machine)
# Replace OLD_IP with the source server IP
# Complete sync (excludes /proc, /sys, /dev, /run)
rsync -aAXvz --progress \
--exclude={"/dev/*","/proc/*","/sys/*","/tmp/*","/run/*","/mnt/*","/lost+found"} \
root@OLD_IP:/ /
# First run (slow), then update before cutover:
rsync -aAXvz --delete \
--exclude={"/dev/*","/proc/*","/sys/*","/tmp/*","/run/*","/mnt/*","/lost+found"} \
root@OLD_IP:/ /
Running rsync on / overwrites network and hostname configurations. After sync, update /etc/hostname, /etc/hosts and network settings with the new VPS data.
Method 2: selective backup (safer)
Better for migrating only data and configurations, not the entire system:
bash
# On OLD server: create archive of data
tar -czf /tmp/backup-web.tar.gz /var/www/html
tar -czf /tmp/backup-mysql.tar.gz /var/lib/mysql
tar -czf /tmp/backup-nginx.tar.gz /etc/nginx
tar -czf /tmp/backup-certs.tar.gz /etc/letsencrypt
# Transfer to new server
scp /tmp/backup-*.tar.gz root@NEW_IP:/tmp/
# On NEW server: restore
cd / && tar -xzf /tmp/backup-web.tar.gz
cd / && tar -xzf /tmp/backup-nginx.tar.gz
MySQL/MariaDB database migration
bash
# On OLD server: dump all databases
mysqldump --all-databases -u root -p > /tmp/all-databases.sql
# Transfer
scp /tmp/all-databases.sql root@NEW_IP:/tmp/
# On NEW server: restore
mysql -u root -p < /tmp/all-databases.sql
WordPress site migration
bash
# Old server
cd /var/www/html/mysite
tar -czf /tmp/wordpress.tar.gz .
mysqldump -u root -p wordpress_db > /tmp/wordpress_db.sql
# New server
mkdir -p /var/www/html/mysite
cd /var/www/html/mysite
tar -xzf /tmp/wordpress.tar.gz
mysql -u root -p wordpress_db < /tmp/wordpress_db.sql
# Update wp-config.php with new DB credentials
nano /var/www/html/mysite/wp-config.php
Reinstall packages
If you want to recreate the environment from scratch (cleaner):
bash
# On old server: export package list
dpkg --get-selections > /tmp/packages.txt
# On new server: reinstall everything
dpkg --set-selections < /tmp/packages.txt
apt-get dselect-upgrade -y
DNS cutover
When the new server is ready:
- Lower the domain's TTL to 300 seconds at least 24h before
- When ready: change the domain's A record with the new IP
- Wait for DNS propagation (5-30 minutes with low TTL)
- Verify the site responds from the new server
- Keep the old server active for 24-48h as a safety measure
04
Windows Server Migration
Method 1: robocopy (files and data)
From the old server, copy data to a shared network path or directly to the new one:
powershell
# Map the new server as network drive
net use Z: \\NEW_IP\C$ /user:Administrator PASSWORD
# Copy with robocopy (complete mirror)
robocopy C:\inetpub Z:\inetpub /MIR /COPYALL /LOG:C:\robocopy.log
# Copy other important data
robocopy C:\App Z:\App /MIR /COPYALL
robocopy C:\ProgramData Z:\ProgramData /MIR /COPYALL /XJ
Method 2: Windows Server Backup and restore
powershell
# On old server: install Windows Server Backup if not present
Install-WindowsFeature Windows-Server-Backup
# Create complete backup to network share
$policy = New-WBPolicy
$backupLocation = New-WBBackupTarget -NetworkPath "\\NEW_IP\backup" `
-Credential (Get-Credential)
Add-WBBackupTarget -Policy $policy -Target $backupLocation
Set-WBVssBackupOptions -Policy $policy -VssFull
Add-WBVolume -Policy $policy -Volume (Get-WBVolume -AllVolumes | Where-Object {$_.MountPath -eq "C:\"})
Start-WBBackup -Policy $policy
IIS site migration
powershell
# On old server: export IIS configuration
%windir%\system32\inetsrv\appcmd list site /config /xml > C:\iis-backup.xml
# Copy file to new server, then:
%windir%\system32\inetsrv\appcmd add site /in < C:\iis-backup.xml
Or use WebDeploy module:
powershell
# Install Web Deploy on old server
# Then export a site:
msdeploy -verb:sync -source:apphostconfig="SiteName" -dest:package="C:\site.zip"
# On new server:
msdeploy -verb:sync -source:package="C:\site.zip" -dest:apphostconfig="SiteName"
SQL Server migration
sql
-- On old server: backup database
BACKUP DATABASE [DBName] TO DISK = 'C:\backup\DBName.bak' WITH FORMAT;
powershell
# Copy .bak file to new server
Copy-Item "C:\backup\DBName.bak" -Destination "\\NEW_IP\C$\backup\"
sql
-- On new server: restore
RESTORE DATABASE [DBName]
FROM DISK = 'C:\backup\DBName.bak'
WITH MOVE 'DBName' TO 'C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL\Data\DBName.mdf',
MOVE 'DBName_log' TO 'C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL\Data\DBName_log.ldf';
05
Post-migration checklist
□ Site/application responds on new IP
□ Database connected and working
□ SSL certificates installed (Let's Encrypt: sudo certbot renew)
□ Cron jobs recreated (crontab -l on old → crontab -e on new)
□ Firewall configured (same ports as old)
□ DNS updated with new IP
□ Email/SMTP tested
□ Automatic backups configured on new server
□ Old server kept active 48h as safety
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