Migrating a wordpress, how to access admin before changing DNS ?

[TwistAndShout]

Hello,

The free migration service could not help me, as my old OVH VPS does not authorize SSH access. Nevermind, I am now trying to migrate with UpDraftPlus, as they explain here : How do I migrate to a new site location? - UpdraftPlus.

I have alrady installed Worpress toolkite Lite, I have already installed wordpress on the destination account, and I have also installed UpdraftPlus on this same instance.

Now I need to :

- Acess the wp admin section to set UpDraftPlus to receive the website source.
- Preview the result to check if everything is working fine.

How can I do this, knowing that I will change the DNS only when everything is working perfectly ? Temporary URL ? A dedicated tool ?

Thanks in advanced.

 

[ZenHostingTravis]

Hi @TwistAndShout,

Without SSH access, you can still generate or transport a .tar.gz backup file and then ask your host to restore it.

As you've learnt, you can also use UpdraftPlus.

You can use a website such as hosts.cx to access the /wp-admin/ area.

You'll need the IP address of the destination server.

 

[TwistAndShout]

you can still generate or transport a .tar.gz backup file and then ask your host to restore it.

Thanks @ZenHostingTravis, indeed I can download some backup files extension .xml on tar format. Do you think this could work ?

 

[ZenHostingTravis]

Hi @TwistAndShout,

No, I don't think so.

XML files describe data.

I am only familiar with restoring files in the .tar.gz format when you generate a full backup, from cPanel.

 

[cPRex]

You can also edit your local hosts file to point your local machine to do the DNS of the new server to preview the site:

Tutorial - Editing your local hosts file to preview sites

How to edit your local hosts file to test websites For a long time now Apache's mod_userdir has been the preferred way to check if sites are working properly on a machine without DNS being configured. This allows users to confirm a site is...

forums.cpanel.net

 

[TwistAndShout]

You can also edit your local hosts file to point your local machine to do the DNS

Thanks @cPRex , but for now I need to have both access to the source site and the destination site at the same time, in order to migrate with UpDraftPlus. I am currently trying with hosts.cx as @ZenHostingTravis suggested.

 

[cPRex]

You'd have the option to turn that on and off by editing the hosts file as necessary, but use whatever is easiest and works best for you!

 

[TwistAndShout]

Hmmm, I see, thanks @cPRex this is also what UprdraftPlus is recomending. However I will have to put the migration on hold for a week as my new VPS has been destroyed by a fire : https://www.usnews.com/news/world/a...eaks-out-in-ovh-building-in-strasbourg-france.

 

[cPRex]

Yes, we've been talking about the OVH situation here for a bit as well - very sorry to hear that.