Overview

This article will guide you through migrating your website from a (gs) Grid-Service to a (dv) Dedicated-Virtual Server. You will need to place the order for the new (dv) service through your AccountCenter. Alternatively, you may call our Sales Department to add this service to your account.

Once the (dv) Dedicated-Virtual Server has been provisioned, you are responsible for the full migration.

Backup content on the (gs)

Back up all content on the (gs). This includes databases, email, images, and site files. The following articles will assist you:

• Export and import MySQL databases
• Using FTP and SFTP

Lower TTL

For (mt) hosted DNS zone files, the default TTL value is 12 hours. By lowering this value to 5 minutes and waiting for the original 12-hour interval to pass, DNS propagation will complete in 5 minutes.

Here's how to lower the TTL in your AccountCenter for a domain that uses (mt) nameservers.

1. Login to your AccountCenter.
2. Click on the domain for which you wish to lower your TTL.
3. Click on Edit Zone File.
4. Click on Lower TTL Value.

No further action required with the zone file until 12 hours have passed and you are ready to point the DNS from the (gs) to the (dv).

Add the domain to your (dv)

This article will show you how to add a domain to your (dv) within the Plesk control panel: Adding a domain in Plesk.

Upload content via FTP/SFTP

Using your IP address for the (dv), connect as the FTP user to upload your files to the httpdocs directory. Read this article for details: Using FTP and SFTP.

Create MySQL database(s)

Next, you will need to create the database and import the data from your backup. Here's our article on how to create the database: Creating a database.

Creating email users

You need to create the email accounts listed the (gs) on your (dv). Please read the following: Creating a POP/IMAP email account.

Moving messages via IMAP

Setup each email user in an email client twice: One using the Access Domain for the (gs) and the other using IP address for the (dv). Drag and drop messages from the (gs) account to the (dv) account.

Test the site

Once all site content has been migrated, let's test to make sure it works. Navigate to the IP address of your (dv) to preview. If this is an additional domain added to your (dv) and you are sharing an IP, you will need to set it as the default domain for the IP. This article will guide you through the steps: (dv) HOWTO: Set default site for IP address.

Point the DNS

Ready to go live?

1. Log into your AccountCenter.
2. Click on the domain you moved to the (dv).
3. Click on Point to Another Server.
4. Select your (dv), then click next.

Close the (gs) service

Next, please remember to close your (gs) service using the Request To Close link in the Billing section of the AccountCenter. Once your older service has been closed, we will apply any unused portion of the prepaid hosting to your new service.