For a simplified version of this guide, see Getting started - Switching from competitors.
This article deals with transferring services from another service provider (domain registrar or hosting provider). To move services from from another user within VEDOS, follow the instructions in Services - Moving from a foreign VEDOS account.
In this article you will learn:
- How to move:
- Common problems
- Frequently Asked Questions
Domain transfer to VEDOS
Domain and hosting are two different services. If you want to run a website, emails or both with VEDOS, you can still have your domain registered with another company.
Before moving the domain, make sure that we have the extension in the ⧉ menu. If we do not offer your extension, you cannot move the domain to us, but you can set up DNS and web hostingservices for it.
If you want to have all services under one roof, please re-register your domain with us by following the Domains - Re-registration instructions.
Moving the site to VEDOS
You can move almost any website to VEDOS where you have access to the source files (via FTP) and possibly to databases. This also applies to most websites created in content management systems (e.g. WordPress).
A normal site move is carried out in the following steps:
- Order web hosting or other services
- File and Database Migration
- Pre-production inspection
- Domain Name System (DNS) routing
Order hosting
For most websites, we recommend ordering a Webhosting service with the NoLimit ⧉ tariff. The service has the following basic features:
- Support for secure HTTPS access
- New versions of PHP and MariaDB database
- Unlimited space for web presentation files
- Sufficient performance for most modern content management systems
- 5 GB of email space expandable up to 0.5 TB.
If you need higher performance for your web application, consider Webhosting with the Extra ⧉ plan, or WMS &box; service with dedicated performance.
If your application requires special technologies or access to the operating system in addition to performance, consider using a VPS ⧉.
We do not provide support for moving websites to server services.
Migration of files and databases to Webhosting
You can move your files and databases to the newly established web hosting in the following ways:
- Automatic file and data migration in basic mode if your website either does not use a database or is created in the WordPress content management system. Follow the instructions for Web Hosting - Automatic Data Migration.
- Automatic migration of files and data in expert mode if your site uses databases or you want to have full control over the migration process. Follow the instructions for Webhosting - Expert Automatic Data Migration.
- A content management system plugin, such as wordpress' UpDraftPlus ⧉, or Duplicator ⧉. Follow the instructions for that plugin.
- Manually according to the instructions below.
If the automatic migration does not work properly, download the files and export the databases of the original web host and upload them to the new web host. The tutorials will help you:
- Web Hosting - File Management
- Webhosting - Databases
- Webhosting - Import and export database in phpMyAdmin
After migrating the databases, update their information in the site configuration files.
Pre-production inspection
During the automatic migration we provide a free domain on which you can check the functionality of the site.
If you do not have such a domain, you can check:
- Via the internal address of the web host. This has the shape of, for example
http://123456.w78.wedos.ws/and you can find it in the email about setting up web hosting or in the service details in the customer administration. It shows the contents of the folder www. It may not work properly with some frameworks and content management systems (WordPress). - On the domain using the hosts file. You can assign a different address to the domain in the operating system's hosts file than it would retrieve from DNS. Edit this file according to your operating system's instructions and assign the domain to the IP address of the new web host, which you can find in the web hosting setup email or in the service details in the customer administration.
Domain Name System (DNS) routing
If the site works as it should after the move, you can point the domain to it:
- Automatically: if you have a domain and DNS with VEDOS, you can point DNS to the new webhost or mailhost automatically according to the Domains - Pointing to Services instructions. The system will overwrite the current settings of the A, AAAA and MX records.
- Manual: If you are using DNS WEDOS, follow the instructions in DNS - Domain Records. Set up new A, AAAA and MX records on the domain.
Moving emails to VEDOS
You can move your emails to the new hosting in the following ways:
- Automatic mailbox migration. Follow the instructions for Emails - Automatic migration.
- Manually using an email client.
Automatically migrate emails to:
If you need to manually create new mailboxes, follow the instructions in Emails - Mailboxes.
Moving DNS to WEDOS
Although it usually takes up to 1 hour to change DNS records and 6 - 48 hours to change DNS servers, it is recommended to do it after thoroughly checking the functionality of the website on the new hosting.
DNS transfer to WEDOS is not automatic, even if you re-register your domain with us. To use our DNS, please enter the DNS servers
ns.wedos.net ns.wedos.cz ns.wedos.eu ns.wedos.com
or, for CZ domain extensions, use NSSET with the name WEDOS.
For detailed instructions on how to set up DNS servers (NSSET) for domains registered with WEDOS, see Domains - DNS Servers (NSSET).
If you have a domain, DNS and hosting services with us, you can point DNS records with a few clicks by following the Domains - Point DNS to Services tutorial. To set up DNS records manually, follow the DNS - Domain Records instructions.
After pointing DNS to the web host, you can activate the HTTPS certificate. Detailed instructions can be found in the article Webhosting - Quick HTTPS Setup.
Common problems
Common problems with moving services from another provider include:
- Unavailable FTP of the original hosting
- Instead of the migrated website, the message "Webhosting is active" is displayed
- The website does not work properly after migration
Unavailable FTP of the original hosting
Problem: The original hosting does not have FTP available to get the site files.
Solution: If the FTP is just blocked, ask your provider's support to restore access or provide a backup.
If the FTP provider does not provide FTP access at all, the site probably cannot be moved.
Webhosting is active
Problem: Even after copying files to FTP, the green Webhosting is active page is displayed.
Cause: the page is cached in the browser, or there is a problem in the directory and file structure.
Solution: First, press Ctrl+Shift+R to verify that this content is not just cached in the browser.
If the problem persists, log in to FTP and check that the site meets one of these conditions:
- The site is uploaded in the www folder and the original index.html file is overwritten by your site's index.html file, or deleted (if you have index.php).
- The site is uploaded in the www/domains/domena.tld folder, where domain.tld is the name of the domain it is supposed to run on, without the www. In the www folder is the default .htaccess file.
Remigrated site is not working properly
Problem: The migrated site shows errors or is broken.
Solution: For the problem and its solution, see the article Webhosting - Non-functional website after migration.
Frequently Asked Questions
I don't know what to do with the migration process, can you do it for me?
Yes, you can find more information on the product Paid transfer from competitors ⧉. The service applies only to Webhosting and WMS, we do not migrate to VPS and other server hosting.
How do I know if WEDOS Web Hosting is the right solution for my website?
All our hosting services have a 7-day trial period. If they don't meet your expectations, you can cancel them before then by following these instructions and get your money back.