Moving OsCommerce from one server to a new server

[storm]

I am wanting to move a number of my oscommerce sites to a new server - does anyone know which way and the right way to do this - is there any where I can go to, to get this kind of information - I am unsure about a number of things especially reinstaling the database - I don't think for a minute it will be just a matter of downloading the from the 'old server' and then uploading to the 'new server', any help with this would be gratefully recieved, and if I master it a PDF

to download of the methodollgy will be made by myself and be made available to all.

 

Thanks in advance.

 

!@£

[sam3k]

we are in the middle of transferring to another server and it is causing us more problems than anything else. At this point, we finally got it to display all the catalog products, but when u check out the page comes out blank. why you ask? i have no clue. Is been buggin' me all day.

 

In short, be prepared to spend some time adjusting it to the new server.

[cjmchch]

I am wanting to move a number of my oscommerce sites to a new server - does anyone know which way and the right way to do this - is there any where I can go to, to get this kind of information - I am unsure about a number of things especially reinstaling the database - I don't think for a minute it will be just a matter of downloading the from the 'old server' and then uploading to the 'new server', any help with this would be gratefully recieved, and if I master it a PDF

to download of the methodollgy will be made by myself and be made available to all.

 

Thanks in advance.

 

!@£

 

I wrote this in another topic. Hope it helps-----

 

 

This is how I would go about it.

 

 

Backup your entire shop/s to your harddrive using FTP. Backup your database to your harddrive using OSCommerce or MySQL.

 

Organise your new host with the correct information in order to host your existing domain/s. Find out the nameserver information so as to be able to change the DNS info later on.

 

Upload your entire shop/s to the new host and upload a backup.sql file to the admin/backups folder.

 

Ensure all the correct read write options are sorted on the directories and files.

 

Create a new database on the new server using phpMyadmin, using the same name. Import your database and make sure the two you have match and that there were no errors in the import.

 

Create all the necessary email accounts on your new host to match those used in your store if needed.

 

Probably a good idea to do one shop at a time from here. At least do one and get it up and running properly

 

Make the necessary changes to both of your config files found in catlaog/includes and catalog/admin/includes. (the paths in these files will need to reflect the new server paths and the database name as they will be different. I actually think it is much easier and safer to do a fresh install of osCommerce ensuring that all paths are correct.)

 

So far you have the DB on the new site, the store in the correct folders, now it's time for you to point your domain name at the new host. You will need to log into your domain registry and change the nameservers to that of your new host. DNS updating can take 48 hours so over that time you may find that your store is sometimes showing your old site, sometimes your new area. Just accept that this is going to happen and it will take time.

 

If you have managed to set everything up correctly in your config files and your database etc, then your store should be fine but remember, any transactions done during this time will only be recorded in one database due to the DNS transfers. So a transaction done on the old DNS while you were asleep may not be seen when you wake up because the DB you are seeing is on the new DNS

 

Personally, I would put the site under maintenance mode during the transition. I think it is safer for both you and your customer. Better a sale lost through the site being under maintenance mode than through being lost in site moving. Just change the name of your index.php page to something else and put up a new index.php with "This shop is closed until (give a day two days from now) while we move to a new server. We apologize for any inconvenience and look forward to your return in the near future" on it.

 

Make sure you have the install folder so that when you are on the new site you can do a new install if needed. If your paths are incorrect in your config files then this is the fastest way I feel to get yourself back up running. Just go to your install directory and punch in the info and away you go

 

Once completed, lock down your config files and admin area, rename your install directory, confirm your permissions on your folders and files and change back to your index.

 

I would make a subtle change to your index.php page on your new site, that way you will know if all the DNS's have been updated.

 

Once you are happy that all DNS's are pointing to your nrew host then it's time to dismantle your old server. Back up all files on it before deleting everything and closing your account.

 

 

I hope this helps.