Steps to Move Joomla Site to New Web Host Server

There are different reasons to move your Joomla site from one web host server to another. My reasons are normally-

1. Web host Cost increase every year

2. Poor service provided by existing Web Host provider

Whatever reason may be for the move, this article will highlight that it is very easy to move Joomla site from one server to another.

Follow the below steps to move the site in just few hours.

 Step 1 – Take Backup of Existing Joomla Application

There are two parts to Joomla Site – Joomla Apps and Database. Joomla application folders are found in CPanel under public_html folder.  Let’s say your site domain name is test.com and it is accessible using http://test.com then all site folders are found in public_html folder.

Login to CPanel and go to File Manager. Select all the folders and files under public_html and compress them. The compressed file will be created in public_html folder. Use either FileZilla or WinSCP FTP client to download the compressed file to your local drive. Check the article How to use WinSCP or FileZilla to download files from web host server.

Step 2 – Take Backup of Existing Joomla Database tables

Take backup of database tables and its data. Check the article “How to backup and restore database tables and data of your Joomla website “

Step 3 – Modify Configuration.php file

Unzip the compressed Joomla application file in your local drive. You will find this file at top level along with other folders. Make following changes in this file –

Joomla 1.5 settings:

var $log_path = PROVIDE PATH to logs folder’; ——————-Example /home/site/public_html/logs

var $tmp_path = ‘PROVIDE PATH to tmp folder’;—————–Example /home/site/public_html/tmp

var $ftp_host = ‘test.com’;

var $ftp_port = ’21’;

var $ftp_user = ‘ftpuser’;

var $ftp_pass = ‘xyz’;

var $user = ‘DB_user’;

var $mailer = ‘smtp’;

var $mailfrom = ‘YOURMAILID’;

var $smtpuser = ‘YOURMAILID’;

var $smtppass = ‘MAIL_password’;

var $password = ‘DBUSER_PASSWORD’;

More or less same settings will require changes for Joomla 3.0 onwards. Save the file after making changes and zip all the folders and files again.

 Step 4 – Restore DB table backup on New MySQL in new Web Host Server

Login to new Server CPanel and create MySQL DB with same name. Also create same DB user as in old server. Assign the new DB to this user with all rights.

Now import the tables and data into this new DB in new server using PhpMyAdmin. Check the article “How to backup and restore database tables and data of your Joomla website”

 Step 5 – Restore Joomla Application folders in new server

Upload the new compressed file to new server (in public_html folder) using WinSCP or FileZilla FTP client. Check the article How to use WinSCP or FileZilla to download files from web host server.

After uploading decompress the file. It will create all the folders and files in public_html folder.

Your site is ready and can be accessed now through browser.