Transfering new WP site

  • Ok, I know this will sound like stupid question but I am stuck(and I’m pretty new at this)!

    A client asked me to build a new website for him(he’s currently using a different web designer and hosting) without loosing downtime. So what I did is I used an old domain name I own that has no live website attached to it, installed a theme and plug ins and built the site. I used WPVivid plug in to back up the site and files locally. Now I need to get the client’s new site live. I still don’t have the cleint’s domain name transferred to me. My questions are:

    1. Can I create a new domain in my Cpanel with the same name as the live site?
    2. Must I first transfer the domain name to my domain hosting provider before doing Question 1?
    3. Does the client’s current service provider have to do something on their side to allow me to transfer the site?

    What I’ve tried:
    – I created a new domain in Cpanel with exactly the same domain name as the currently live site.
    – Once it populated, the live site wasn’t accessible.
    – I then deleted the domain name I created in Cpanel and it’s files(in the file manager).
    – After that the live site was accessible again.
    NOTE: the domain is a South African one(.co.za)

    I am aware that you can install a new site through CPanel and then on the blank WP site, install the same backup plug in and upload the site that I’ve built and in so doing have the new site up. But I’m stuck in the middle.

    I hope this all makes sense and that someone can help me here.

Viewing 3 replies - 1 through 3 (of 3 total)

  • Do you intend to offer hosting to your client? It sounds like they already have their own hosting, so why not host it there?

    My personal approach would be the following:

    1. Set up a new database in the client’s cPanel (section MySQL Databases), then upload the database dump of your new development to the new database you’ve just created via phpMyAdmin
    2. Go to (s)FTP or File Manager, create a new folder next to the public_html folder (not inside it) called wordpress-new. Upload your new site’s files to the newly created folder
    3. Make sure the wp-config.php of your new site is properly set up with the new database username, password etc.
    4. Rename public_html to wordpress-old and wordpress-new to public_html
    5. The new site should be live now. Check functionality. If anything is broken and can’t be easily fixed, you can do the folder renaming backwards and restore the old site

    So basically don’t replace, but add next to the old and then switch.

    Thread Starter webify24

    (@webify24)

    Hi @valentinbora

    Thanks for your reply! I will be hosting their site and domain once the end of the month comes. They are canceling their service with their current provider and host.

    You see, my idea was to get everything ready for when the time comes to change over. Get a new site installed in my Cpanel, Backup the files and ready for transfer, etc.

    You maybe have some feedback for me regarding my questions 1-3? Any assistance would highly appreciated!

    So you’ve tried to set up the same domain on your cPanel, which is fine. I’m wondering why the live site went offline though. Do you have the same hosting provider as your client?

    Normally, if you add the same domain to your cPanel and the DNS servers configured at the registrar of the domain do not point to your server, the live site shouldn’t be affected.

Viewing 3 replies - 1 through 3 (of 3 total)
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