Blog Moved to New Host
Huff, Puff, trying to catch up with the other Merry Bloggers.
Missed a couple of days of the blog Christmas marathon. Pit stop. Coach Jeanie Marshall checked in with me. Pulse still good. Getting back on track. Can I make up the lost days?
I did not want to change themes for my blog, I like this one very much. But I wanted to move the blog to my new host. Mine is based on k2 which doesn’t play well with the newer versions, nor does it always install easily. So I kept putting off the move.
Time Up! had to move it or pay another years hosting service.
My son said the easiest way would be to move all my blog files to the new server, not the newest wp version. Files on my old host have all my little customizations on it. Suck the content out of the old data base and stuff it back into the new database on the new server. Change the domain’s name servers.
I’m always cautious, no one wants their data lost. I downloaded the blog files, uploaded via ftp. Data base comes next. I went to my control panel, found the backup data base, clicked buttons to include all the tables and saved the compressed file on my machine. I even did the wordpress admin backup database as extra precaution.
I knew it can take a while for the name servers to change, so I moved my domain name over. (that could have waited until last)
Then I imported the data base with tables intact into the new data base.
I expected to have to use the wordpress install command, but to my surprise, there was my blog, working perfectly without it.
Easiest move I’d ever made. Plugins working perfectly, no changes to make!
Except for one thing. I’d heard that the first few days wordpress could flip back and forth between the two data bases. I wasn’t thinking and wrote a new post the next morning. Published it. It looked great. Few hours later the new post was gone. 
(left on old data base, I wonder if I can go back in and pull it out?) Before that I’d approved comments. Then they were waiting to be approved. So I took a breather, while the site flip flopped between the two data bases.
Lesson learned.
Dec 13th, 2007 at 1:58 am
Ah yes, I remember when I switched my blogs from one host to another. It’s definitely good to have the time, not being pressured by coming to the end of a contract with the old host. I recall that I put my posts on both hosts for a few days. I don’t recall having comments to deal with. It is definitely getting better because WordPress is easier to install.
Enjoy your new home,
Jeanie
Dec 13th, 2007 at 4:53 pm
Heidi,
Maybe one day I’ll become a tech expert. I’m just learning how to use the internet but I applaud you for your technical knowledge and expertise.
This blogging challenge is getting tougher. I’m just writing about WHATEVER!
Dec 13th, 2007 at 11:48 pm
Thanks Jeanine, I couldn’t write on both because the name server already moved, no hits on old host (except old data base). This way was much quicker, just needs that time to stabilize.
Beverly no need to know how all this techie stuff works, Just keep writing about Whatever!
Dec 14th, 2007 at 10:10 am
Wow, Heidi! The more I learn, the more there is to learn:)
Thanks for your continued wisdom,
Susan
Dec 18th, 2007 at 11:13 am
Hi Heidi,
I manage a lot of my own marketing myself, but moving blogs to new hosts is NOT one of them. Dabbled in it, don’t know enough, NOT the best use of my time, waste of nonbillable hours.
But GUESS WHO I’M ASKING to update my blog template and/or make server changes next time I’m ready for something like that?
Hint: YOU!
Turn your skills into business. Lots of techie people do this but I’m guessing that you have a much sweeter bedside manner than most.
Keep on truckin’, sister!
Dec 19th, 2007 at 12:17 am
Susan,
when I first started I had no idea how much there was to learn. That is the good thing about blogging, you can start adding content from day one. Rest you can add as you learn and go along. And the worst of the techie stuff, you can always outsource.
Dina,
Yes, I can do that, just let me know when you are ready. Moving to another host isn’t near as much fun as playing with the graphics, customizing themes.
Thanks so much!