Author Topic: Process of moving SYS from one host to another (Read 14106 times)

Redneck · « **on:** August 04, 2013, 07:51 »

I'm in the process of moving my Symbiostock site from one host to another. I've already exported/imported the MySQL database and then started copying all files and folders via FTP. The FTP process has been running for the last 36 hours. It seems like I'm done with the big piece, the /symbiostock_rf/ folder.
However - now it's transmitting the /symbiostock_xml_cache/ folder while I hoped to be done by this time. I checked that folder and it contains tens of thousands files, most of them around 1KB large but some up to 30KB.
Now I'm wondering two things ...
1. Do I need to copy the content of that folder when I move to another host?
2. Regardless of the move, should we clean out that folder from time to time to keep our SYS website clean, lean and fast?

Any opinions?
I was hoping to get the move done today ...

ajt · « **Reply #1 on:** August 04, 2013, 08:09 »

Folder symbiostock_xml_cache can be empty, there is no need to copy all files. Now limit for number of files in cache is set to 50000. Files above this limit are deleted once a day.

Redneck · « **Reply #2 on:** August 04, 2013, 08:10 »

Thanks, good info.

stockphoto-images.com · « **Reply #3 on:** August 04, 2013, 08:48 »

Quote from: Redneck on August 04, 2013, 07:51

I'm in the process of moving my Symbiostock site from one host to another. ...

Do you mind me asking from which host your moving from/to?

Redneck · « **Reply #4 on:** August 04, 2013, 09:02 »

Don't mind at all. Moving from Bluehost to All-inkl.com.

stockphoto-images.com · « **Reply #5 on:** August 04, 2013, 09:48 »

Quote from: Redneck on August 04, 2013, 09:02

Don't mind at all. Moving from Bluehost to All-inkl.com.

Did you also just recently sign up with Bluehost like many others and were disappointed with their service?

Have you been with All-inkl.com before? Why did you pick them?

I've been with Hostgator and I'm very satisfied with the speed of my shared hosting. I referred a friend to Bluehost because it was recommended here on the forums - didn't experience the much discussed outage recently but speed is not that great I must admit.

ShazamImages · « **Reply #6 on:** August 04, 2013, 09:52 »

Quote from: Redneck on August 04, 2013, 07:51

now it's transmitting the /symbiostock_xml_cache/ folder while I hoped to be done by this time. I checked that folder and it contains tens of thousands files, most of them around 1KB large but some up to 30KB.
Now I'm wondering two things ...
1. Do I need to copy the content of that folder when I move to another host?

I excluded the following directories from my backup:

symbiostock_xml_cache
.errordocs
_db_backups (this contains my database backups which are done separately)
stats

Please note that some of these are probably specific to my host (GoDaddy).

Also note that you will also have to backup your MySQL database.

My zip file was about 470 MB (excluding the database backup) and I only have about 200 images online so far.

Sometime soon, I am probably going to split the backup into more manageable pieces since this produces such a large file.

stockphoto-images.com · « **Reply #7 on:** August 04, 2013, 09:58 »

Quote from: Redneck on August 04, 2013, 07:51

I'm in the process of moving my Symbiostock site from one host to another. I've already exported/imported the MySQL database and then started copying all files and folders via FTP. The FTP process has been running for the last 36 hours. ...

I have a (stupid) question:

Why didn't you compress your entire web site into a zip (tar) on the old server instead of transferring all folders and files individually which will take so much longer?

And: You said you transfer the files via FTP from one site to another. Are you downloading the files via FTP to your computer and then FTP them back to the new server?

There are scripts online that can do site to site FTP transfers that will be handled through the backbone without you or your computer acting as a bottleneck. This way you can transfer gigabytes in minutes.

Certain webhosts have to support it though.

Just wanted to know if you tried it?

Redneck · « **Reply #8 on:** August 04, 2013, 10:07 »

Quote from: stockphoto-images.com on August 04, 2013, 09:48

Quote from: Redneck on August 04, 2013, 09:02
Don't mind at all. Moving from Bluehost to All-inkl.com.

Did you also just recently sign up with Bluehost like many others and were disappointed with their service?

Have you been with All-inkl.com before? Why did you pick them?

I've been with Hostgator and I'm very satisfied with the speed of my shared hosting. I referred a friend to Bluehost because it was recommended here on the forums - didn't experience the much discussed outage recently but speed is not that great I must admit.

Yes, I signed up with Bluehost about 6 weeks ago. Had mostly trouble and ever recurring downtimes with them.

And yes I've been with all-inkl.com continuously over 12 years with several of my other websites. One of the best companies I ever had a professional relationship with.
Unfortunately the installation script of the Symbiostock theme did not run out of the box and they don't offer "unlimited" hosting which I thought might be useful with lots of images. But then again, I'm on a 100GB plan which should give plenty space for decades of stock shooting.
So now I'm getting all my websites together putting all eggs into one basket. Tired of gambling.

Redneck · « **Reply #9 on:** August 04, 2013, 10:13 »

Quote from: stockphoto-images.com on August 04, 2013, 09:58

Quote from: Redneck on August 04, 2013, 07:51
I'm in the process of moving my Symbiostock site from one host to another. I've already exported/imported the MySQL database and then started copying all files and folders via FTP. The FTP process has been running for the last 36 hours. ...

I have a (stupid) question:

Why didn't you compress your entire web site into a zip (tar) on the old server instead of transferring all folders and files individually which will take so much longer?

And: You said you transfer the files via FTP from one site to another. Are you downloading the files via FTP to your computer and then FTP them back to the new server?

There are scripts online that can do site to site FTP transfers that will be handled through the backbone without you or your computer acting as a bottleneck. This way you can transfer gigabytes in minutes.

Certain webhosts have to support it though.

Just wanted to know if you tried it?

It's certainly no stupid question. It's actually probably the much better way to go.
I was searching for FXP transfer (from one server to another) but then had to learn that most servers don't support it these days. So I started a FTP transfer with two open server connections, copying from one server to another. But what this actually does is downloading from one and the uploading to the other. Very long process.

I remember that I've done SSH copy years ago which would have been a direct transfer between the servers. But at that time I had already started the FTP transfer. My bad.

Redneck · « **Reply #10 on:** August 04, 2013, 14:41 »

I'm just putting this here in case someone needs to transfer (copy) lots of files and folders. And also if I need to look it up later.

Quote

wget -r -l inf -np --ftp-user=user_name --ftp-password=password ftp://ftp.yoursourcedomain.com/public_html/subdirectoryifneeded/

Log into destination (new) SSH access (ssh [email protected]) on your new server (I used Terminal on Mac). Make the desired directory, change into that directory and type that command line in. Hit enter to have your files and folders copied from your old (source) web to your new web space without transferring them to your local machine.

cathyslife · « **Reply #11 on:** August 04, 2013, 16:00 »

Quote from: Redneck on August 04, 2013, 14:41

I'm just putting this here in case someone needs to transfer (copy) lots of files and folders. And also if I need to look it up later.

Quote
wget -r -l inf -np --ftp-user=user_name --ftp-password=password ftp://ftp.yoursourcedomain.com/public_html/subdirectoryifneeded/

Log into destination (new) SSH access (ssh [email protected]) on your new server (I used Terminal on Mac). Make the desired directory, change into that directory and type that command line in. Hit enter to have your files and folders copied from your old (source) web to your new web space without transferring them to your local machine.

Awesome, I might have to bail on Bluehost too.

Redneck · « **Reply #12 on:** August 04, 2013, 17:19 »

I'm done.

Oh boy - what a pleasure the new website/host is. Finally back to performance - working and surfing on the site is fun again. Happy camper here. And everything works, the SYS image uploader, ImageMagick, image processing and editing is a pleasure ... and did I mention that the website is burning rubber?

@Cascoly & Ajt: I've set a 301 redirect from the "old" domain (picbreeze.com) that you guys are scanning to the new one picturebreeze.com. I'd appreciate if you could update the domain networking to PICTUREBREEZE.com - that's officially the new web.

Now it's time for a drink and a little celebration.

stockphoto-images.com · « **Reply #13 on:** August 04, 2013, 21:11 »

Would you mind to post a list of steps that you went through to accomplish this move?

I think it would be a great help for others to get an idea the steps involved. I know it might be different from host to host but at least someone who has never done this before (like me!) would understand the work involved as well the time it can take to this sorted.

Redneck · « **Reply #14 on:** August 04, 2013, 21:48 »

I'll write a blog post about the moving process very soon and will link to it from here.
I've received so much support, not even to mention a free stock selling platform, that I'm glad to give something back to the community or to whoever needs support. Just not tonight anymore. I need some rest.

ajt · « **Reply #15 on:** August 05, 2013, 01:44 »

I am afraid that's not all. Wordpress database contains many urls leading to your old site (for example home and siteurl addresses in wp_options, column guid in wp_posts.
You have to change them in phpmyadmin.
In wp_options you can change this manually, but for wp_posts
you will need something like

Code: [Select]

update wp_posts set guid = replace(guid, 'picbreeze', 'picturebreeze');

Now your images links to your old site, for example this image:
picturebreeze.com/stock/photos/image/group-of-children-preparing-livestock-animals-for-stock-show-2/
has picture from here (after right-click on show image):
picbreeze.com/wp-content/uploads/symbiostock_rf_content/4213-group-of-children-preparing-livestock-animals-for-stock-show.jpg

elilena · « **Reply #16 on:** August 05, 2013, 02:42 »

Sign in to https://webapp.blogvault.net/, 7 days free (excellenter one-click-back up and restore!)
you can move to anothe host with one klick!

Travelling-light · « **Reply #17 on:** August 05, 2013, 02:47 »

Quote from: ajt on August 05, 2013, 01:44

I am afraid that's not all. Wordpress database contains many urls leading to your old site (for example home and siteurl addresses in wp_options, column guid in wp_posts.
You have to change them in phpmyadmin.
In wp_options you can change this manually, but for wp_posts
you will need something like
Code: [Select]
update wp_posts set guid = replace(guid, 'picbreeze', 'picturebreeze');
Now your images links to your old site, for example this image:
picturebreeze.com/stock/photos/image/group-of-children-preparing-livestock-animals-for-stock-show-2/
has picture from here (after right-click on show image):
picbreeze.com/wp-content/uploads/symbiostock_rf_content/4213-group-of-children-preparing-livestock-animals-for-stock-show.jpg

Inevitably, there's a plugin for this! We used Velvet Blues Update URLs, very successfully.