How To: Transfer Accounts from one server to another!

[HelloAdam]

Hey,

Note to mods: Maybe you can sticky this thread?


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I have seen many requests on people trying to transfer accounts from one server to another. In this tutorial or how to guide, you will need root access via SSH on both servers. So lets get started!


Steps on backing up accounts
-------------------------------------

This guide is guessing that you have already made backups of each account you want to transfer to the new server by running the command

/scripts/cpbackup

in SSH. Depending on your server specs and how many accounts you want to transfer this could take from 5 min to 6 hours. I'm also guessing that you have enabled backups in root WHM and have setup a folder to backup your file. I'm also guessing that you DO NOT, have Incremental backup enabled. Incremental backups do not put each account in its own .tar.gz file. IF you have Incremental backups enabled please disable them by going into root WHM, Main > Backup > Configure Backup. Once you have all backups done, lets really really start transfering accounts.

This guide I'll be using the folder /backup/ to where my files all my accounts have been backup to. (The full path will look something like /backups/cpbackup/daily)

Lets get started!!!

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1) In SSH cd to backup folder

root@server [/]# cd /backup/cpbackup/

2) Now this is not where your files are located, but rather in a folder called daily, weekly or monthly. Your current backups should be in daily (daily folder is /backups/cpbackup/daily)

3) We are now going to tar the whole daily folder

root@server [/backups/cpbackup]# tar -zcvf backup_daily_folder.tar.gz daily

(Depending on how many accounts or your sever specs this could take anywhere from 5 min to 6 hours, your server may be "laggy" during this time)

4) Once you have that done you should see a file named backup_daily_folder.tar.gz in /backups/cpbackup . We are now going to move this file to your new server!

root@server [/backups/cpbackup]# scp -c arcfour backup_daily_folder.tar.gz root@NEWSERVERIP:/home/

After you enter this, you will be asked for root's password on your NEW server and hit enter when your done. This will then transfer the file to the new server.

Once your done, type

root@server [/backups/cpbackup]# rm -rf backup_daily_folder.tar.gz

(removes the tar file on your old server)

ON YOUR NEW SERVER

5) Go to your /home/ folder

root@NEWserver [/]# cd /home/

and tpye this

root@NEWserver [/home]# tar -xvfz backup_daily_folder.tar.gz

(This will unpack the tar)

Once again lets delete the tar file

root@NEWserver [/home]# rm -rf backup_daily_folder.tar.gz

Now in your new server logon to root WHM and click on the

Backup > Restore a Full Backup/cpmove file

and use the information on that screen to use the accounts on the server.

If you have any questions post them below!

From,
Adam

[dalem]

use whm

Transfers
Copy an account from another server
Copy an account from another server with account password
Copy multiple accounts from another server

[HelloAdam]

use whm

Transfers
Copy an account from another server
Copy an account from another server with account password
Copy multiple accounts from another server

Hey,

Or you could use this method. HOW ever, when trasfering large accounts (anything over 300mb is my limit) you have a higher chance of something going wrong, from a lost packet from old server to new server. This process is longer since it takes each account and extracts them one by one, instead of downloading all the accounts and extracting all the accounts together. Hence the reson the first method is the best...

From,
Adam

[zoelsepur]

i'm reseller hosting who use whm, how can i transfer my client to my server ?
in my whm i don't see trasfer link in main. thx

[Chriz1977]

Hi

This is how I do it :

1. Log into the server that your copying the accounts from via SSH

2. type '/scripts/pkgacct [username]'

3. type 'scp cpmove-[username].tar.gz root@[NEWSERVERIP]:/home/'

4. Log into the [NEWSERVER] via SSH

5. type '/scripts/restorepkg [username]'

DONE!

[HelloAdam]

i'm reseller hosting who use whm, how can i transfer my client to my server ?
in my whm i don't see trasfer link in main. thx

Contact your host, as they have root access...

From,
Adam

[ekhwan]

Hi

This is how I do it :

1. Log into the server that your copying the accounts from via SSH

2. type '/scripts/pkgacct [username]'

3. type 'scp cpmove-[username].tar.gz root@[NEWSERVERIP]:/home/'

4. Log into the [NEWSERVER] via SSH

5. type '/scripts/restorepkg [username]'

DONE!

Can this be done with multiple accounts? Can you provide a similar step by step guide with scripts please.

Thanks a lot

[timbernet]

Hey,
-----
I have seen many requests on people trying to transfer accounts from one server to another. In this tutorial or how to guide, you will need root access via SSH on both servers. So lets get started!


Steps on backing up accounts
-------------------------------------

This guide is guessing that you have already made backups of each account you want to transfer to the new server by running the command

/scripts/cpbackup

Will this method copy MySQL databases and Addon domains as well?

I have seen mention that the WHM method of transfer doesn't copy those two (maybe it does now, but I guess it didn't use to)

Thanks!

[AngleOfDeath]

Hi

This is how I do it :

1. Log into the server that your copying the accounts from via SSH

2. type '/scripts/pkgacct [username]'

3. type 'scp cpmove-[username].tar.gz root@[NEWSERVERIP]:/home/'

4. Log into the [NEWSERVER] via SSH

5. type '/scripts/restorepkg [username]'

DONE!

My friend was a reseller of a server , and he had many clients
He used whm to control them
I have a dedicated server
I want him tobe a reseller in my server
and all his clients will be transfered to my server
So, can I use above guide??

2. type '/scripts/pkgacct [username]'
3. type 'scp cpmove-[username].tar.gz root@[NEWSERVERIP]:/home/'

and when I do them, they will create a tar file in my server???
and they will stay in /home???
thanks sir

[AngleOfDeath]

And do I create a reseller in whm first?

[ddeans]

You can, but either way you are going to have to change ownership of the accounts.

[ddeans]

Will this method copy MySQL databases and Addon domains as well?

I have seen mention that the WHM method of transfer doesn't copy those two (maybe it does now, but I guess it didn't use to)

Thanks!

I use the WHM transfer method a lot and it copies the databases and add on domains for me.

[AngleOfDeath]

You can, but either way you are going to have to change ownership of the accounts.

what does it mean?
how can i change ownership of the accounts?

[ddeans]

In WHM -> Account Information -> List Accounts -> The very last column says who the owner is, click the edit icon next to them and select who the new owner should be.

[markhard]

My friend was a reseller of a server , and he had many clients
He used whm to control them
I have a dedicated server
I want him tobe a reseller in my server
and all his clients will be transfered to my server
So, can I use above guide??

you can only use the guide above only if you have root access to the old server. if your friend only a reseller, which don't have root access, all i know is to transfer accounts using cpanel full backup feature or from your server's WHM "copy account using account password" which is a boring thing to do if you have a lot of accounts