Moving Hosting Servers

[TonyBunney]

Just thought I would ask if there is any documentation available for moving a Zen Cart from one host provider to another.
I will of course take a look around the forums and hopefully find the configuration setting that I need to change but if there is something out there it would save me a great deal of time.

Thanks
Cart Version is define('PROJECT_VERSION_MINOR', '3.8a'); as found in \includes\version.php file.

[stevesh]

The process is here:

https://www.zen-cart.com/tutorials/index.php?article=99

Check with your new host, too. Many will do a CPanel to CPanel move for you.

[llynix]

Moving isn't too hard. What you'll want to do is copy all of your files of course.. and then your database. Change configuration files to point to your new paths and database settings.

This is a neat trick though.. once you get everything moved you may not have a way to test if it's working.. The final step is to repoint the DNS to the new server's IP but you dont' want to do that unless you know your new site is up and running good.

The easy way to fix this is to hack your computers HOSTS file. Search the net for specific instructions.. but you can override DNS for your computer and hit your new server.

Once you've verified it's all running you can modify your DNS. At this point I'd put your old cart in maintenance mode for 24 hours or so to prevent anyone from making orders and changes there. Hopefully they will be redirected to the new site and nothing will be noticed.. but it takes 24-48 hours for DNS to propagate.

You can be all snazzy and set up an external database connection so that you don't have any downtime.. I did that with my move awhile back.. but the external database connection on the old server was slow as heck. Maintenance mode might be the better choice from a usability standpoint.

[TonyBunney]

Cheers guys for your help.
I have actually now set up a test site and the new live ready for the DNS changes.
Config is all changed and all databases all migrated successfully.

I have one small niggle.
I have set up an new hosting account for the new site but of course no DNS changes have been made yet as I need to test the new site before I switch over.

The new hosting account is on a Linux server with an IP address of 79.170.44.141 and the account name/domain name is zakz.co.uk

Can someone confirm what value I should put in DIR_FS_CATALOG and DIR_FS_SQL_CACHE in the config.php file as this is causing the site to fail as it cannot find a number of directories.
I have tried various combinations of /var/www/79.170.44.141 / zakz.co.uk /public_html/shop/ and /var/79.170.44.141/public_html/shop/ but these settings do not work.

Many Thanks in advance.
Tony

[llynix]

Cheers guys for your help.
I have actually now set up a test site and the new live ready for the DNS changes.
Config is all changed and all databases all migrated successfully.

I have one small niggle.
I have set up an new hosting account for the new site but of course no DNS changes have been made yet as I need to test the new site before I switch over.

The new hosting account is on a Linux server with an IP address of 79.170.44.141 and the account name/domain name is zakz.co.uk

Can someone confirm what value I should put in DIR_FS_CATALOG and DIR_FS_SQL_CACHE in the config.php file as this is causing the site to fail as it cannot find a number of directories.
I have tried various combinations of /var/www/79.170.44.141 / zakz.co.uk /public_html/shop/ and /var/79.170.44.141/public_html/shop/ but these settings do not work.

Many Thanks in advance.
Tony

It all depends on where it physically lies on your host. It changes from host to host.

If you shell into your server and issue a 'pwd' (present working directory) it'll give you the full path name. You can also do this command via ftp I think.

When you log into your server your ftp program may give you the full path name.

In any case that's what you'll want to use.