CentOS 6 to CentOS 7/8 Migration

[Rockforduk]

Hi Everyone,
I would like to know best practice for Cpanel to Cpanel migration from CentOS 6 to CentOS 7/8 Migration? It will be the following

Old Server
Sata Drives
CentOS 6
CloudLinux 6
Apache/Nginx

New Server
NVMe Drives
CentOS 7/8
Cloudlinux
Litespeed

What CentOS would you also recommend for the new server?

Thanks

Rockforduk

 

[vacancy]

Centos 8 is currently experimental for cpanel. Centos 7 is stable. Support will continue until 2024.

Your new server will run pretty fast. Nvme ssd and litespeed will make a big difference.

 

[cPRex]

Hey there! I'd recommend using the Transfer Tool in WHM to move the sites, but there are lots of additional details in our documentation here:

How to Move All cPanel Accounts from One Server to Another | cPanel & WHM Documentation

This tutorial explains how to migrate your cPanel accounts, SSL certificates, and main server IP address from one server to another. Typically, you would do this when you need to replace your server.

docs.cpanel.net

That covers many things you'll want to consider and things to watch out for, but let us know if you have any questions!

 

[Rockforduk]

Thank you guys, I will take a look at the information

 

[Rockforduk]

Ok, I have just read what is happening with CentOS and there looks like trouble could be on the horizon. Saying that would the migration still work alright if I moved to Ubuntu Server instead?

Just thinking of future proofing should it all go wrong with CentOS, which I love by the way

 

[vacancy]

Cpanel currently does not support ubuntu. It will offer cloudlinux fork support for Centos 8. This way, centos 8 support will continue. But this is still very new.

Centos 7 will continue to be supported until 2024, at this stage centos 7 would be a more appropriate choice.

 

[cPRex]

@Rockforduk - CentOS 7 would definitely be the best way to go.

 

[Rockforduk]

Thank you everyone for your advice so far.

I have never done a Transfer/Migration of a Cpanel to Cpanel before so i apologise if some of my questions sound stupid but i just want to make sure i get it right first time.

So, I need the server setup to be identical i.e hostname and SSL Certificates etc.

• I will setup the hostname the same and once everything has been transferred and tested i can the switch the nameserver IPs from the old server to the new one?
• Next i have a load of CloudFlare ssl certificates installed will they transfer automatically over?
• Will all hosting packages and skeleton root pages also be copied over?
• Once everything is transferred i want to make sure all sites are all fully operation and working perfectly before the nameserver IPs are changed, what is the best way to achieve this?
• I have CSF installed with nearly 40K IPs blocked i will be copying the configs over should i also copy the blocked Ip’s or start a fresh?
• Would the hostnames SSL also be transferred over as well?

I am looking to do this over the weekend coming just want to make sure i understand everything before it start.

 

[cPRex]

It's fine to use the same hostname on the new machine. The new server won't be active until the DNS is switched, so there won't be any conflicts between the two systems.

If they are installed like normal SSLs, either through cPanel or through WHM, they'll get moved.

Transfer Tool can move the packages, but skeleton pages would need to be manually copied over or recreated as there is not an automated way to move those with the Transfer Tool.

The best way is to edit your local computer's hosts file to re-route your DNS to the new machine. We have an article that explains this process here: Tutorial - Editing your local hosts file to preview sites

The CSF option is really up to you - if you're happy with that list you could move it over, or you could start fresh.

The hostname SSL wouldn't be transferred, but you'll get issued a new one as soon as the DNS starts working on the new system.

I hope that helps!!

 

[Rockforduk]

Thank you CPRex,
With regards to the editing your local hosts, would this still work even if i am not on the same network? As all if this is being done remotely, will i just need to put the new IP into the host file?

 

[cPRex]

@Rockforduk - that's exactly correct. Your location doesn't matter, as you are telling your local computer where the site should be located.

 

[Rockforduk]

Last but not least is there a command i can run once everything has been transferred and tested. To reset WHM on the old server removing all personal data and setting it back to its default configuration?

 

[cPRex]

There isn't any type of command that will let you do that. You could always reinstall the operating system and then reinstall cPanel to get started with a clean slate. If you are only worried about your account data you could always terminate all the accounts through WHM >> Terminate Accounts, although that would not reset any of the server configurations, such as EasyApache or PHP changes.

 

[Rockforduk]

I am testing the migration by scanning the target server and i am getting the notice coming up

The source server is not running the same Roundcube database type as the target server. cPanel highly recommends that the source server run the same Roundcube database type at least 24 hours to ensure that email accounts using Roundcube will transfer properly.

Should i convert it? or will it be able to migrate it over to MySQL? I did try to convert it but getting the following error

[[email protected] ~]# /usr/local/cpanel/scripts/convert_roundcube_mysql2sqlite
info [convert_roundcube_mysql2sqlite] Roundcube conversion already occurred, bailing out.

 

[ffeingol]

YMMV, but we have never ran the conversion script and not had an issue with the migration tool.

 

[cPRex]

@Rockforduk - I've had the same results at @ffeingol in all my past migrations as well :D

 

[Rockforduk]

Update - I have successfully migrated everything over to the new improved server the nameserver IPs are taking time to update. I am hoping this will be done by the morning latest . Under Basic WebHost Manager® Setup nameservers are still pointing to old IPs, so just wanting for them to update and we should all be go go go. Thank you to everyone that assisted including the moderator i really appreciate it and thank you!

 

[ffeingol]

If you are moving your name servers to new IP's have you gone to your domain registrar and make the change there? They should have a function to update the registered IP of your name server(s).

 

[Rockforduk]

Yep, that is all done just waiting for it to propagate now

If you are moving your name servers to new IP's have you gone to your domain registrar and make the change there? They should have a function to update the registered IP of your name server(s).

 

[andrew.n]

Great work! especially for the very first time