I need to transfer my site to A Small Orange. What is the general process?

This will vary according to how your existing site is set up, but here is a rough outline of the steps.

In a nutshell, you simply need to get a copy of your site uploaded to the new server and then point your domain to your server at ASO.


1. First, close your forums to new posts (also known as maintenence mode). There will be a period of at least a few hours while the DNS updates to points to the new server, so you don't want anyone posting to the old server after the site is transfered. This can also apply if you have a popular blog with many visitor comments.

2. If your host uses Cpanel, you can have the ASO staff copy the account for you. Then go to Step 6.

3. If your host doesn't, you'll need to create your email addresses on your new account at ASO.
4. You'll need to export any databases your site uses, and import into your account here using phpMyAdmin.
4a. If you upload the database dump (filename.sql or filename.sql.gz) and create the database in Cpanel -> MySQL Databases, then the ASO Support Staff will help you import the database.
5. You can upload your website files, forum software, blog scripts, etc using FTP, SFTP or WebDAV.

6. Once everything is copied over, then you can update your Nameservers to point to ASO.
7. If you closed your forums to new posts, you can open the forums on the new server, so that as your members' ISPs update with the new DNS, they will be able to post.



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