This tutorial explains a simple, straightforward method for migrating cPanel accounts from one server to another. You can use this method to transfer accounts from an old server to a new one, help customers from another host move to your host, etc. This does not even require root access on one end of the migration. Basically, this is a more reliable method than the “Transfer Account from another Server” tool in WHM, which rarely works.
Requirements:
- cPanel on both servers
- WHM access on the new server (one that the accounts are being moved to)
- root access on the new server
Definitions
The server you are transferring the accounts from = “old server”
The server you are transferring the accounts to = “new server”
Instructions
1. Log into WHM of your new server and create a new account called “restore”, or anything you like for that matter. Remember the FTP address, username (‘restore’, in this example), and account password. We will need these for later.
2. Log into the cPanel account you are wanting to transfer on the old server.
3. Click on “Backup >> Generate/Download a Full Backup”.
4. Once here, select the backup destination to be “Remote FTP Server”.
5. Enter your email address for verification, followed by all of the FTP account information for “restore”, which we created on the new server.
-Remote Server: new server’s address
-Remote User: restore
-Remote Password: restore’s password
-Port: 21
Then, click “Generate Backup”. This may take some time to backup the files, depending on how large the account is. You should receive an email provided in the above info once it is complete.
6. Now, log into SSH on your new server.
7. Type in the following commands:
cd /home/restore/public_html
ls
After running the list command above (ls), you should see the tar file of the account on the old server. This means that you have successfully sent the file via FTP to your new server.
8. Now move the tar file to your new server’s /home directory with the following command:
mv tar_file_name /home
9. Now, log into WHM on your new server and navigate to “Backup >> Restore a Full Backup/cpmove file”
Once here, you should see the old account’s username under “Possible cpmove archives found:”.
If you do not, log back into SSH and be sure that the account’s tar file has been moved into /home.
10. Type in the account name in the text field in WHM, which is proceeded by “Enter the username for the account you wish to restore:”.
11. Click “Restore”.
12. Repeat process for additional accounts.
