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Site Migration

This guide covers technical migration planning between servers, platforms, or domains.

For standard customer migration into SiteForge Hosting, use Website Migration.

Migration phases​

1. Discovery​

  • Inventory website files, database, DNS, email dependencies, and integrations.
  • Identify hardcoded URLs, custom jobs, and external APIs.

2. Preparation​

  • Create source backups.
  • Prepare destination environment.
  • Align PHP/runtime versions and required extensions.

3. Transfer​

  • Move files and import database.
  • Update configuration values (database credentials, base URLs, environment variables).

4. Validation​

  • Test key pages and user flows.
  • Check forms, login, checkout, and notifications.
  • Validate SSL and redirects.

5. Cutover​

  • Update DNS when validation is complete.
  • Monitor post-cutover errors and traffic behavior.

Risk control tips​

  • Schedule cutover during lower traffic windows.
  • Keep rollback plan and previous backups available.
  • Track each migration step in a checklist for auditability.