Seamless Server Migration?

[Daemonia]

I need to move a few accounts from a server to another (IP address changes).

How would I got doing that?

Would modifying the DNS Zone files for the corresponding account do it?

e.g.: I recreate the account on the new server, and restore a full backup. Then on the old server, I lower the TTL and change all A records to point to the new IP address.

Will that work? Other suggestions? I do not wish to move all the accounts.

[chirpy]

You can simply copy the tarball from a full backup on the old server to the new server and restore that. Then change the IP address in the zone file where the domain is currently pointing to the new servers IP address. If the zone needs to follow to the new server, then you'll need to modify the domains nameservers too, though it's probably best to do that before or after moving. I'm not much of a fan of lowering TTL's. You can try it, but many ISPs DNS caching servers these days will ignore a TTL set below 24 hours, so it's often a moot point.

[Daemonia]

Would this be possible without changing the NS IPs at the registrar? I don't want to move everything.

domainname.com -> ns1, ns2 (server1) -> server1 zone point to server2 -> account on server2

Thanks, I'm have to admit I don't know everything yet when it comes to DNS.

[chirpy]

Yes, you can do that, i.e. leave the nameservers on the original server and update the domain's zone file that you're moving to point to the IP on the second server.

[asmithjr]

how long would it take to see the domain appear on the new server if you ipdate the IP on the old server.

Shouldn't that take affect almost immediately?

[tuxdesk]

Chirpy have explained all things regarding your doubts. If the domain was already pointed to new server it will appear no time

[asmithjr]

that is what I thought but I just tried it on a domain and do not see it on the new server.

I modified the index.html on the old server and I see my modification.

WHM -> Edit DNS Zone

then changed all the IP's to the new Server's IP's

[chirpy]

If you have done it correctly, it will take as long as any DNS propagation, i.e. usually up to 72 hours.

[asmithjr]

yes, it started working this morning, (less than 24 hrs)

I was just thinking it would be immediate since the DNS points to the old server and the old server tells the new IP address.


Thanks

[chirpy]

Good stuff

The reason for the delay is that other DNS servers cache the domain's information locally for a period of time (usually based on the TTL in the zone file, but not always) and so those records have to expire before they go and get the new DNS information from your server again. It's this that causes the "delay" in the IP address changing and is what is called "DNS propagation".