Please whitelist cPanel in your adblocker so that you’re able to see our version release promotions, thanks!

The Community Forums

Interact with an entire community of cPanel & WHM users!
  1. This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this site, you are agreeing to our use of cookies. Learn More.

Copy an Account From Another Server > Express Transfer

Discussion in 'Data Protection' started by GoWilkes, Mar 5, 2014.

  1. GoWilkes

    GoWilkes Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Sep 26, 2006
    Messages:
    396
    Likes Received:
    5
    Trophy Points:
    168
    cPanel Access Level:
    Root Administrator
    So, just how reliable and simple is the "Express Transfer" option, really?

    Is it subject to propogation times, or is it going to work immediately for everyone?

    I ask because I'm in the middle of a server change. The last time I did this was a nightmare; I had to set up .htaccess proxies for 3 weeks so that people on slow-to-update ISPs would see the site and interact properly. I grew a LOT of gray hair that month, and I'm really not looking forward to the same thing! So if this is the awesome fix that it sounds like (making everyone just magically redirect to the new server seamlessly), it would really make my day.

    If it matters, the account I'm transferring has about 100 parked domains, uses about 4G of MySQL data, and about 2G of images (that are uploaded by the user). It also uses PHP and Perl heavily.
     
    #1 GoWilkes, Mar 5, 2014
  2. cPanelMichael

    cPanelMichael Forums Analyst
    Staff Member

    Joined:
    Apr 11, 2011
    Messages:
    38,658
    Likes Received:
    1,418
    Trophy Points:
    363
    cPanel Access Level:
    Root Administrator
    Hello :)

    Express transfers are documented here:

    cPanel - Express Transfers

    The above document includes a list of the actions taken when the express transfer option is enabled. There is no way to guarantee it will work for every domain name unless you verify each domain name uses name servers associated with the source server. The "A" record change in the DNS Zone on the source server is typically reflected right away but you never truly know what type of browser cache settings an end-user might have. It's a good idea to start with a test account and see how it goes before transferring a live account.

    Thank you.
     
    #2 cPanelMichael, Mar 5, 2014
  3. Serra

    Serra Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Oct 27, 2005
    Messages:
    235
    Likes Received:
    9
    Trophy Points:
    168
    Location:
    Florida
    I've done some testing with this express transfer. It should be called "disable and forward transfer", as there is nothing express about it.

    I'm not sold on this transfer method. Here are the changes made to the OLD server:

    1. A records (including the A record for ftp) are updated to the new server. This means anyone who goes to the old server after the transfer will end up on the new server magically. Nice.
    2. .htaccess is updated to show a site moved message for anyone who is seeing cached DNS.
    3. The site is moved from localdomains to remotedomains
    4. The site sis added to secondarymx
    5. Erases the users email passwords so there is no possible way for the client to login at the old server and verify all mail is move or get mail if they forgot to download it. It also causes errors in the clients email program immediately start issuing password failures.

    To undo the move, all of those things must be undone on the old server.

    This is very problematic way to move. I can't recommend anyone using this method for any reason. It is simply too ill conceived to be used.

    1. It is hard to undo if the move fails, miss one thing and the site is broken.
    2. It breaks email for the client if they have a cached DNS (which would be most clients) until their DNS updates. Rather than static routing the mail and letting the client catch up. With a static route, the client checks mail, but on the wrong server. With this method the client gets endless popups that their login is incorrect.

    If this method is used and the owner wants to undo this move. Delete the account and restore from a backup!

    A better way to do this manually is to do a normal transfer. Then when the transfer is done, edit the DNS entries on the old server and put the A records to the new server. Then setup a static route from the old server to the new server to send mail that arrives at the old server to the new one.

    cPanels idea for that also works, but requires another edit, that is move the domain from localdomains to remotedomains. and then set the domain up as a secondarymx. This is a bit safer than a static route.
     
    #3 Serra, Nov 12, 2014
    Last edited: Nov 13, 2014
(You must log in or sign up to post here.)
Loading...
Similar Threads - Copy Account Another
  1. Kent Brockman

    How can I copy autoresponders from one cPanel account to another one?

    Kent Brockman, May 31, 2017, in forum: E-mail Discussions
    Replies:
    7
    Views:
    187
    cPanelMichael
    May 31, 2017
  2. James77

    Copy an Account From Another Server With an Account Password

    James77, Nov 27, 2016, in forum: Data Protection
    Replies:
    1
    Views:
    698
    cPanelMichael
    Nov 28, 2016
  3. iks_in

    How to set copy of outgoing mails of one account to another email account

    iks_in, Jul 25, 2016, in forum: E-mail Discussions
    Replies:
    4
    Views:
    722
    cPanelMichael
    Jul 26, 2016
  4. manish12345

    Copy Files From To cPanel Accounts Using API?

    manish12345, May 2, 2017, in forum: cPanel Developers
    Replies:
    3
    Views:
    462
    cPanelMichael
    May 29, 2017
  5. Harlequin

    SOLVED Manually Copy Mail Accounts

    Harlequin, Mar 26, 2017, in forum: E-mail Discussions
    Replies:
    3
    Views:
    368
    Harlequin
    Apr 5, 2017

Share This Page