How to Easily Migrate a Drupal Site from One Host to Another? (Complete Guide)

Thinking about migrating your Drupal website from one host to another? What prompted it? Perhaps your current host is experiencing frequent downtime or slow load times, impacting user experience and SEO. Or maybe you’re looking for advanced features offered by a different hosting provider to boost your website’s functionality.

Whatever the reason, migrating your Drupal site can be a strategic move to optimize its performance and overall health. This process would go from backing up your existing site and transferring files to updating configurations and ensuring proper domain mapping. But this process can be a bit technical for some.

This blog will show you how the Drupal development experts migrate a website from one host to another. Let’s begin.

Why Migrate Your Drupal Website From One Host to Another?

Is your Drupal website underperforming? Experiencing frequent downtime? Or maybe you want better security and scalability. These are just a few reasons why migrating your website to a new host might be necessary. A reliable and optimized hosting environment is crucial for a successful online presence.

• Faster load times: A new host with optimized servers and infrastructure can dramatically improve your website’s speed.
• Robust security measures: Many hosts offer advanced security features like firewalls, intrusion detection systems, and regular backups.
• Protection against threats: A secure hosting environment helps safeguard your website and user data from cyber attacks.
• Optimized resource allocation: By choosing a host that aligns with your website’s traffic and resource needs, you can avoid overpaying.
• Compliance with regulations: Some industries require specific security standards, which can be met through a suitable host.
• Growth accommodation: As your website grows, a new host can offer the flexibility to scale resources accordingly.
• Future-proofing your website: You can confidently expand your online presence without worrying about technical limitations.
• Expert and responsive assistance: Many hosts provide dedicated support teams to assist with technical issues.

If you are facing a similar situation with your website, hire our Drupal developers for migration. We’ll shift your site from the current host to the best one.

How to Migrate Drupal Site From One Host to Another?

Successfully migrating a Drupal site involves a systematic approach that covers everything from backups to domain mapping. Here’s how you execute the migration:

Step 1: Backup Your Website

Create a complete backup of your Drupal site, including both the files and the database. This is crucial in case anything goes wrong during the migration process. You can use tools provided by your hosting provider or third-party backup solutions.

Step 2: Set Up the New Host

Create a new account on your chosen Drupal hosting provider. Set up a database and necessary file directories for your Drupal site.

Step 3: Transfer Files

Use FTP (File Transfer Protocol) or a similar tool to transfer all the files from your old host to the new one. This includes the entire Drupal core directory.

Step 4: Export Database

Create a backup of your Drupal database on the old host. Most hosting control panels offer database management tools to export the database as a SQL file.

Step 5: Create a New Database

Create a new database on your new host with the same name or a different name (you’ll need to update settings.php accordingly).

Step 6: Update settings.php

Edit the settings.php file in your Drupal installation’s sites/default directory. Update the database connection details (hostname, database name, username, password) to match the new database you created.

Step 7: Import Database

Import the exported database from your old host into the newly created database on the new host. You can use phpMyAdmin (one of the key PHP development tools) or other database management tools for this.

Step 8: Update File Paths

If your Drupal site uses absolute file paths, you might need to update them to reflect the new server’s directory structure. This is often related to file uploads and image paths.

Step 9: Verify Module and Theme Compatibility

Ensure that all your Drupal modules and themes are compatible with the new hosting environment. Check for PHP version compatibility, database engine compatibility, and any other potential conflicts.

Step 10: Test Functionality

Thoroughly test your Drupal site on the new host to verify that everything works as expected. Check menus, forms, content display, user logins, and other essential functions.

Step 11: Update DNS and Go Live

Update the DNS settings for your domain to point to the new host. This process usually takes a few hours to propagate. Once the DNS changes have taken effect, your website will be live on the new host.

Step 12: Monitor and Troubleshoot

Continuously monitor your website’s performance and look for any issues. If you encounter problems, refer to your website backups and the steps you followed during the migration to troubleshoot effectively.

Want to ensure the best results with your Drupal, so the hosting won’t have to be changed? Then opt for our Drupal support and maintenance services.

But let’s say you have to change the hosting of your Drupal website. Then how do you choose the best one?

How to Choose the Best Drupal Hosting for Your Website?

There are a few factors to consider when selecting the Drupal hosting provider. Let’s discuss.

• Server Speed: Opt for a host with fast servers and solid-state drives (SSDs).
• Uptime Guarantee: Choose a provider with a high uptime percentage (ideally 99.95% or better).
• Content Delivery Network (CDN): Consider a host offering CDN integration for faster load times.
• Data Center Security: Ensure the host has robust security measures in place, such as firewalls and intrusion detection systems.
• Regular Updates: Verify that the host keeps Drupal and its components up-to-date with security patches.
• Backup Options: Check if the host provides regular backups or offers backup services.
• Resource Allocation: Choose a host that can accommodate your website’s growth and traffic fluctuations.
• Scalable Plans: Look for hosting providers that offer flexible plans to adjust resources as needed.
• Technical Expertise: Select a host with a knowledgeable support team that understands Drupal.
• Response Time: Evaluate the host’s support channels (live chat, email, phone) and response times.
• Pricing Plans: Compare different hosting plans and pricing structures to find the best fit for your budget.

Some of the best Drupal hosting providers are Hostinger, SiteGround, DreamHost, BlueHost, and HostGator. If you need help with choosing and setting up the best hosting for your website, go for our Drupal consulting services.

FAQs on Drupal Host Migration

Conclusion

Migrating a Drupal site from one host to another can be a daunting task. But it’s often a necessary step to optimize your website’s performance, security, and overall health. To select the best host, you need to consider factors like performance, security, cost, and scalability.

The migration process involves several crucial steps, including backing up your site, transferring files and databases, updating configurations, and thorough testing.

While you can migrate your Drupal website yourself, consulting with our Drupal development company might help make the process more thorough. So connect with us today!