Changing hosts/servers.

Hi Kohashi,

That helps

I can access all the files and have made back up  of the home directory but it comes downloaded as a .tar.gz - which i can't get any joy from.

Still - i'm using cPanelX and if i go to another cPanelx provider i'm hoping they'll know some easy transfer protocol.

I'm going to see if i can get hold of a new host tomorrow - otherwise monday. So i'll keep the q. open till then in case something comes up.

If you have any special tips on using the CpanelX skin to help let know.

Thanks A Lot.

Well tar.gz is fine.  Make sure your host gives you shall access or has shell access.  You can then upload the tar.gz and unpack it right on the server into the same format.  Also, winzip can decompress it all, so you can use a normal FTP to upload everything again as well.

all the cpanel skins are the same in functionaility in my opinion.  It i just the way it is organized/layed out which differs and suits different people better.

hope that helps,
-kohashi

Hi

Thanks for the input :)

I just having a forum chat with e3servers.com

They do run Linux and cPanel, and i do have full access to the domain registration records fortunately - so i can quickly repoint the dns nameservers.

at e3 they said just changing the nameservers works in some cases if you're going from one cPanel host to another. So that's option1.

actually - here's all they said...

>>>>>>>>"Because you are using another cPanel server right now it might be able to transfer over all of your accounts automatically and you would just have to change nameserver information.  This works in a lot of cases, but if it doesn't then what you would have to do is this:  backup your site at the old cPanel server.  Then download the backup to your computer.  Create the site on our new server.  Then log into the new server and "Restore" the account.  This should move everything over in tact.  If this fails for some reason you would have to upload via ftp everything."

- only problem with that is that i can't get in touch with the current server.

Option 2 - upload .rar.gz backup is looking the most likely.

Option 3 - full ftp upload - PLEASE NO! - I didn't design the site

- i've been trying to work out if there's a way for me to ftp the site from cPanel into my Dreamweaver as another backup.
- trial and error so far has failed!

Hopefully i wont have to go that far - but it would be useful to know how if it's possible.


- Forgot to ask about shell access!


 

I haven't been able to decompress the files with stuffit and haven't found a winzip for Mac yet -

I should have guessed you were on a mac, duh, i apologize.  Just upload the tar.gz (tarball gunzip) and ask your new host to decompress it.  That should be easiest.

hope that helps,
-kohashi

Kohashi -

D'oh - I didn't notice that either, when talking about winzip.  I believe that StuffIt will also understand gziped and tar'ed files, fwiw.

hi Koashi,

no problem.
stuffit says it can handle .rar files but i've always had trouble with it - in fact i've never opened one successfully.

Anyway - i just got a forum message from e3servers - they said  they'd get on of their tecxperts to use their shell access to get me going if the site doesn't transfer automatically with a dns change or i can't get the upload going from my end.

Thanks for mentioning about the shell - i never would've known to ask.

They seem like a good co. - well rated on alexa and excellent forum for pre-sales.

I just signed up - i'll know if all's well by this time tomorrow at the latest hopefully.

I'm just paranoid about losing the backup now - i've downloaded it about 5 times already today. I tried storing a copy on email address but the file's too big! (Knew i should have ordered that usb key earlier - come on Amazon!)

I'll let you know.
macuser

doh! me now - it's .tar not .rar!

If you need a remote backup, I can help you with that (assuming it is a reasonable size)

please email me at kevin #$ at *& kztech ))dot(( net.


the shell access is very useful.  You can use 'wget' and just grab files instantly.  Lots of cPanel providers knowingly (or unknowingly) allow you to use shell access.  Many commands are disabled, but you can still use enough to make it useful.

hope that helps,
-kohashi

periwinkle - two highest rated experts cannot read properly...  do you also find that a bit amusing?  :-D

That's a very kind offer Kohashi, thanks

>please email me at kevin #$ at *& kztech ))dot(( net.

the email add. came thru a bit garbled unfortunately.
Not to worry - it's pretty late here.

I'll be at another computer tomorrow and i'll download a copy there as well in the morning.
I'm sure it'll all work out :)

macuser

i put characters to block email harvesters.  Remove the characters and you will get my email.  Replace at with '@' and dot with '.'

-kohashi

Morning kohashi,

I took you up on the remote back up  after all just now.
My new host still isn't up and i'm delayed getting to my other location. Its 5.1 MB .tar.gz

Thanks
macuser

I have backed up your site on www.ohashi.us, please check your email for the exact URL.

-kohashi

:D

Thanks kohashi,

I just got back in and caught up on emails - brilliant - thanks - that's really good of you - the link is up and available on your host.

My new servers haven't come on line yet - i'll keep you posted.
macuser

:)  You have all our best wishes, good luck!

-kohashi

Good news!

e3servers.com did all the transfer for me. It took some time to get the server package online (1st of the month is a busy time apparently) - about 22 hrs - but then only a couple of hours to work out the transfer through their helpdesk.

I've just repointed the site to new servers.

All seems well :---)

Such was my desire to take control of my site(s - no future hair loss) that i signed up for a multi domain package with WHM.

V.v.v.v. late here - i'll check everything in light of day tomorrow..... night all - (this site rocks!)
macuser

Progess report :)

I have cPanel access through my new host - but the old one is still active.

Changes made in the file manager of the new CPanel have no effect but do still in the old one.

I guess this is new nameserver propogation - right?

Last thinh i need to do is change passwords.
Is it ok to do this while site is in transit like this?

INTERESTINGLY - I think

The whole transfer was facilitated i think by running a script called "pkgacct"
which pooped up in my old current folder but didn't appear in my new cPanel file manager folder.

It's copyrighted - i'm only putting it here to see if i'm right - if iam i think it would be a handy script to purchse/enable (its by the same people who made WHM and can be bundled in somehow)

#!/usr/bin/perl
# cpanel8 - scripts        Copyright(c) 1997-2002 DarkORB Communications Inc.
#                                 All rights Reserved.
# nick@darkorb.net      http://cpanel.net
# This code is subject to the cpanel license. Unauthorized copying is prohibited
require 5.006;

$|=1;

$isinc = $ENV{'INCBACKUP'};
$user = $ARGV[0];

chomp($system = `uname -s`);

$dotbuffer = '/scripts/dotbuffer';
if (! -e "/scripts/dotbuffer") {
   my $tmpdir = (getpwuid($>))[7] . "/tmp";
   if (-f "$tmpdir") {
      print "$tmpdir is a normal file.  Please remove it and try again\n";
      sleep(5);
      exit;
   }
   mkdir($tmpdir,0700);
   open(DOTBUFFER,">$tmpdir/dotbuffer");
   print DOTBUFFER < == 0 && (!($isbackup))) {
   system("rdate","-s","rdate.darkorb.net");
}

$0 = "pkgacct - ${user}";

if (!getpwnam($user)) {
   print "Invalid Account\n";
   exit;
}

$homedir = (getpwnam($user))[7];

if (-l $homedir) {
   $homedir = readlink($homedir);
}

open(CPU,"/var/cpanel/users/${user}");
while() {
   if (/^DNS=(\S+)/) {
      $dns = $1;
   }
}
close(CPU);

if($dns eq "") {
   print "Unable to find domain name for $user\n";
   exit;
}

open(CPU,"/var/cpanel/users/${user}");
while() {
   if (/^DNS\d*=(\S+)/) {
      push(@DNS,$1);
   }
}
close(CPU);



if ($prefix eq "" && ($tarroot eq "/home" || $tarroot eq getmntpoint())) {
   print "Bailing out .. no prefix set and tarroot is /home\n";
   exit;
}



if ($prefix ne "") {
   if (-d "${tarroot}/${prefix}${user}" && ! -l "${tarroot}/${prefix}${user}") {
      if (!$isinc) {
         system("rm","-rf","${tarroot}/${prefix}${user}");
      }
   }
   if (-f "${tarroot}/${prefix}${user}.tar.gz" && ! -l "${tarroot}/${prefix}${user}.tar.gz")
   {
      system("rm","-rf","${tarroot}/${prefix}${user}.tar.gz");
   }
}

if (!$isinc) {
   open(CPM,">${tarroot}/${prefix}${user}.tar.gz");
   close(CPM);
   chmod(0600,"${tarroot}/${prefix}${user}.tar.gz");
}

if (! -e "${tarroot}/${prefix}${user}") {
   mkdir("${tarroot}/${prefix}${user}",0700);
   mkdir("${tarroot}/${prefix}${user}/cp",0700);
   mkdir("${tarroot}/${prefix}${user}/logs",0700);
   mkdir("${tarroot}/${prefix}${user}/mysql",0700);
   mkdir("${tarroot}/${prefix}${user}/mm",0700);
   mkdir("${tarroot}/${prefix}${user}/mma",0700);
   mkdir("${tarroot}/${prefix}${user}/mma/pub",0700);
   mkdir("${tarroot}/${prefix}${user}/mma/priv",0700);
   mkdir("${tarroot}/${prefix}${user}/va",0700);
   mkdir("${tarroot}/${prefix}${user}/fp",0700);
   mkdir("${tarroot}/${prefix}${user}/vf",0700);
   mkdir("${tarroot}/${prefix}${user}/cron",0700);
} else {
   if (!$isinc) {
      print "${tarroot}/${prefix}${user} exists, please remove it and try again\n";
      exit;
   }
}



print "Copying Mail files....";
foreach $domain (@DNS) {
   next if (! -e "/etc/valiases/${domain}");
   if ($isinc) {
      system("rsync","-a","/etc/valiases/${domain}","${tarroot}/${prefix}${user}/va");  
   } else {
      system("cp","/etc/valiases/${domain}","${tarroot}/${prefix}${user}/va");  
   }
}
foreach $domain (@DNS) {
   next if (! -e "/etc/vfilters/${domain}");
   if ($isinc) {
      system("rsync","-a","/etc/vfilters/${domain}","${tarroot}/${prefix}${user}/vf");  
   } else {
      system("cp","/etc/vfilters/${domain}","${tarroot}/${prefix}${user}/vf");  
   }
}
print "Done\n";

if (-e "/usr/local/frontpage/www.${dns}:80.cnf") {
   print "Copying frontpage file....";
   if ($isinc) {
      system("rsync","-a","/usr/local/frontpage/www.${dns}:80.cnf","${tarroot}/${prefix}${user}/fp");
   } else {
      system("cp","/usr/local/frontpage/www.${dns}:80.cnf","${tarroot}/${prefix}${user}/fp");
   }
   print "Done\n";
}

print "Copying proftpd file....";
if ($> == 0) {
   system("cp","/etc/proftpd/${user}","${tarroot}/${prefix}${user}/proftpdpasswd");
} else {
   system("/usr/local/cpanel/bin/ftpwrap DUMP 0 0 >> ${tarroot}/${prefix}${user}/proftpdpasswd");
}
print "Done\n";

if ($ENV{'pkgacct-logs'} eq "yes" || $ENV{'pkgacct-cpbackup'} eq "") {
   print "Copying www logs....";
   foreach $domain (@DNS) {
      if ($pid = fork()) {
         my $dotcount = 5;
         while(waitpid($pid,1) != -1) {
            if ($dotcount % 5 == 0) {
               print ".........\n";
            }
            sleep(1);
            $dotcount++;
         }
      } else {
         $0 = "pkgacct - ${user} - log copy child";
         system("cp /usr/local/apache/domlogs/${domain}* ${tarroot}/${prefix}${user}/logs 2>/dev/null");
         system("cp /usr/local/apache/domlogs/www.${domain}* ${tarroot}/${prefix}${user}/logs 2>/dev/null");    
         system("cp /usr/local/apache/domlogs/ftp.${domain}* ${tarroot}/${prefix}${user}/logs 2>/dev/null");
         exit;
      }
   }
   print "Done\n";
}

my $mysqladmin = find_mysqladmin();



my($mysqldatadir) = '/var/lib/mysql';
open(MADMIN,"$mysqladmin variables|");
while() {
   s/\|//g;
   if(/[\s\t]+datadir[\s\t]+(\S+)/) {
      $mysqldatadir = $1;
   }
}
close(MADMIN);
while(-l $mysqldatadir) {
   $mysqldatadir = readlink($mysqldatadir);
}


if ($ENV{'pkgacct-mysql'} eq "yes" || $ENV{'pkgacct-cpbackup'} eq "") {

   print "Grabbing mysql dbs...";
   my($mysqluser) = $user;
   $mysqluser =~ s/-//g;
   if ($> == 0) {
      if ($system =~ /freebsd/i) {
         system("cp -Rp $mysqldatadir/${user}_* ${tarroot}/${prefix}${user}/mysql 2>/dev/null");
         system("cp -Rp $mysqldatadir/${user} ${tarroot}/${prefix}${user}/mysql 2>/dev/null");
         system("cp -Rp $mysqldatadir/${mysqluser}_* ${tarroot}/${prefix}${user}/mysql 2>/dev/null");
         system("cp -Rp $mysqldatadir/${mysqluser} ${tarroot}/${prefix}${user}/mysql 2>/dev/null");
      } else {
         system("cp -a $mysqldatadir/${user}_* ${tarroot}/${prefix}${user}/mysql 2>/dev/null");
         system("cp -a $mysqldatadir/${user} ${tarroot}/${prefix}${user}/mysql 2>/dev/null");
         system("cp -a $mysqldatadir/${mysqluser}_* ${tarroot}/${prefix}${user}/mysql 2>/dev/null");
         system("cp -a $mysqldatadir/${mysqluser} ${tarroot}/${prefix}${user}/mysql 2>/dev/null");
      }
   } else {
      my $users = `/usr/local/cpanel/bin/mysqlwrap LISTUSERS 0 0`;
      @DBS = split(/\n/,`/usr/local/cpanel/bin/mysqlwrap LISTDBS 0 0`);
      foreach $db (@DBS) {
         $db =~ s/\n//g;
         system("mysqldump -c -q -u${user} -p$ENV{'REMOTE_PASSWORD'} ${db} > ${tarroot}/${prefix}${user}/mysql/${db}.sql 2>/dev/null");
      }
      system("mysqldump -c -q -u${user} -p$ENV{'REMOTE_PASSWORD'} ${user} > ${tarroot}/${prefix}${user}/mysql/${user}.sql 2>/dev/null");
   }
   print "Done\n";

   print "Grabbing mysql privs...";
   if ($> == 0) {
      my $uid = (getpwnam($user))[2];
      system("echo \"$uid DUMPSQL 0 0\" | /usr/local/cpanel/bin/mysqladmin >>  ${tarroot}/${prefix}${user}/mysql.sql");
   } else {
      system("/usr/local/cpanel/bin/mysqlwrap DUMPSQL 0 0 >>  ${tarroot}/${prefix}${user}/mysql.sql");
   }
   print "Done\n";
}


print "Copying mailman lists....";
if ($system =~ /freebsd/i) {
   system("/bin/cp -Rp /usr/local/cpanel/3rdparty/mailman/lists/*_${dns} ${tarroot}/${prefix}${user}/mm 2>/dev/null");
} else {
   system("/bin/cp -a /usr/local/cpanel/3rdparty/mailman/lists/*_${dns} ${tarroot}/${prefix}${user}/mm 2>/dev/null");
}
print "Done\n";

print "Copying mailman archives....";
if ($system =~ /freebsd/i) {
   system("/bin/cp -Rp /usr/local/cpanel/3rdparty/mailman/archives/public/*_${dns} ${tarroot}/${prefix}${user}/mma/pub 2>/dev/null");
   system("/bin/cp -Rp /usr/local/cpanel/3rdparty/mailman/archives/public/*_${dns}.mbox ${tarroot}/${prefix}${user}/mma/pub 2>/dev/null");
   system("/bin/cp -Rp /usr/local/cpanel/3rdparty/mailman/archives/private/*_${dns} ${tarroot}/${prefix}${user}/mma/priv 2>/dev/null");
   system("/bin/cp -Rp /usr/local/cpanel/3rdparty/mailman/archives/private/*_${dns}.mbox ${tarroot}/${prefix}${user}/mma/priv 2>/dev/null");
} else {
   system("/bin/cp -a /usr/local/cpanel/3rdparty/mailman/archives/public/*_${dns}  ${tarroot}/${prefix}${user}/mma/pub 2>/dev/null");
   system("/bin/cp -a /usr/local/cpanel/3rdparty/mailman/archives/public/*_${dns}.mbox ${tarroot}/${prefix}${user}/mma/pub 2>/dev/null");
   system("/bin/cp -a /usr/local/cpanel/3rdparty/mailman/archives/private/*_${dns} ${tarroot}/${prefix}${user}/mma/priv 2>/dev/null");
   system("/bin/cp -a /usr/local/cpanel/3rdparty/mailman/archives/private/*_${dns}.mbox ${tarroot}/${prefix}${user}/mma/priv 2>/dev/null");
}
print "Done\n";

print "Copying homedir....";
open(NFILES,">${tarroot}/${prefix}${user}/nobodyfiles");
open(FIND,"find $homedir -user nobody|");
while () {
   s/^$homedir//g;
   print NFILES;
}
close(FIND);
close(NFILES);

if ($isbackup) {
   if ($isuserbackup) {
      system("rsync","-a","--exclude=/backup-*_*-*-*_${user}*","${homedir}/","${tarroot}/${prefix}${user}/homedir");
   } else {
      if ($isinc) {
         system("rsync","-a","--delete","$homedir/","${tarroot}/${prefix}${user}/homedir");
      } else {
         if ($system =~ /freebsd/i) {
            system("cp","-Rp","$homedir","${tarroot}/${prefix}${user}/homedir");
         } else {
            system("cp","-a","$homedir","${tarroot}/${prefix}${user}/homedir");
         }
      }
   }
} else {
   if ($system =~ /freebsd/i) {
      system("cp -Rpv $homedir ${tarroot}/${prefix}${user}/homedir | $dotbuffer 20");
   } else {
      system("cp -av $homedir ${tarroot}/${prefix}${user}/homedir | $dotbuffer 20");
   }
}
print "Done\n";

print "Copying cpuser file.......";
system("cp","/var/cpanel/users/${user}","${tarroot}/${prefix}${user}/cp");
print "Done\n";

print "Copying crontab file.......";
system("cp","/var/spool/cron/${user}","${tarroot}/${prefix}${user}/cron");
print "Done\n";

print "Copying quota info.......";
open(QUOTA,">${tarroot}/${prefix}${user}/quota");
open(QC,"/etc/quota.conf");
while() {
   if(/^${user}=(\d+)/){
      $quota = $1;
   }
}
close(QC);
print QUOTA "$quota";
close(QUOTA);
print "Done\n";


print "Storing Subdomains....\n";
@SUBS=listsubdomains(@DNS);

open(SH,">${tarroot}/${prefix}${user}/sds");
foreach $sd (@SUBS) {
   print SH "$sd\n";
}
close(SH);
print "Done\n";


print "Storing Parked Domains....\n";
@SDS=getparked(${dns});

open(SH,">${tarroot}/${prefix}${user}/pds");
foreach $sd (@SDS) {
   print SH "$sd\n";
}
close(SH);
print "Done\n";

print "Storing Addon Domains....\n";
my(@PSUBS);
my(%PN,%FN,$pname,$fname);

foreach(@SUBS) {
   $fname = $_;
   s/_/\./g;
   $FN{$_}= $fname;
   push(@PSUBS,$_);
}

my %PARKED = getmultiparked(@PSUBS);
open(SH,">${tarroot}/${prefix}${user}/addons");
foreach my $subdomain (keys %PARKED) {
   foreach my $parked (keys %{$PARKED{$subdomain}}) {
      print SH "$parked=$FN{$subdomain}\n";
   }
}

close(SH);
print "Done\n";

print "Copying password.......";
open(SH,">${tarroot}/${prefix}${user}/shadow");
my $pass = (getpwnam($user))[1];
print SH "$pass";
close(SH);
print "Done\n";


print "Copying shell.......";
open(SH,">${tarroot}/${prefix}${user}/shell");
my $shell = (getpwnam($user))[8];
print SH "$shell";
close(SH);
print "Done\n";


chdir("${tarroot}");
print "pkgacctfile is: ${tarroot}/${prefix}${user}.tar.gz\n";
print "Creating Archive ....";
if (!$isinc) {
   if ($isbackup){
      system("tar","pczf","${prefix}${user}.tar.gz","${prefix}${user}");
   } else {
      system("tar pczfv ${prefix}${user}.tar.gz ${prefix}${user} | $dotbuffer 3");
   }
   if (-d "${tarroot}/${prefix}${user}" && ! -l "${tarroot}/${prefix}${user}") {
      system("rm","-rf","${tarroot}/${prefix}${user}");
   }
}
print "Done\n";

if (!$isinc) {

   if ($system =~ /freebsd/i) {
      chomp($md5sum = `md5 -r ${tarroot}/${prefix}${user}.tar.gz`);
   } else {
      chomp($md5sum = `md5sum ${tarroot}/${prefix}${user}.tar.gz`);
   }
   $md5sum =~ /^(\S+)[\s|\t]*/;
   $md5sum = $1;

   print "md5sum is: $md5sum\n";

}


sub find_httpconf {
   my(@LOC,$loc);
   @LOC = ("/usr/local/apache/conf/httpd.conf",
         "/etc/httpd/conf/httpd.conf",
         "/usr/local/etc/apache/apache.conf");
   foreach $loc (@LOC) {
      if (-e $loc) { return $loc; }
   }
   return "";
}  




sub getparked {
   my($mydomain) = @_;
   my $httpdconf = find_httpconf();
   open(HTTPDCONF,"$httpdconf");
   $xu=0;
   while() {
      s/\>//g;

      if ($_ !~ /#/) {
         if (/\) {
      $_ =~ s/\n//g;
      if ($_ !~ /^;/) {
         if ($_ =~ /HOMEDIR/) {
            (undef,$homedir) = split(/ /, $_);
         }
         if ($_ =~ /HOMEMATCH/) {
            (undef,$homematch) = split(/ /, $_);
         }
      }
   }
   close(CONF);


   $disk = `df`;


   my $max = 0;
   my $mnt = "/";
   my(@DISK) = split(/\n/, $disk);
   my $addline = '';
   foreach $line (@DISK) {
      if ($line !~ /[\s|\t]+/) {
         $addline = $line;
         $addline =~ s/\n//g;
         next;
      }
      if ($line =~ /^\/dev/ || $addline ne "") {  
         $line =~ s/\n//g;

         $line =~ / (\d*)\s*\d*\%\s*(\S+)$/;
         my   $free = $1;
         my   $mount = $2;

         my   $assess = 1;
         if ( ($mount eq "/") && ($homedir eq 0) ) {
            $assess = 0;
         }
         $free = int($free);
         $max = int($max);

         if ( ($max < $free) && ($assess eq 1) && ($mount =~ /$homematch/ || $mount eq "/") ) {
            $max = $free;
            if ($mount eq "/") {
               $mount = $homedir;
            }
            $mnt = $mount;
         }
      }
   }

   if ($mnt eq "" || $mnt eq "/") { $mnt = '/home'; }
   return($mnt);

}

sub find_mysqladmin {
   my(@LOC,$loc);
   @LOC = ("/usr/bin/mysqladmin",
         "/usr/local/bin/mysqladmin");
   foreach $loc (@LOC) {
      if (-e $loc) { return $loc; }
   }
}



sub getmultiparked {
   my(@MYDOMAINS) = @_;


   my $httpdconf = find_httpconf();
   my %DR;
   my(%PARKED);
   my %SN;
   my $sn;
   my $sa;
   my $xu;
   my $mvh;
   my $vh;
   my %SA;

   open(HTTPDCONF,"$httpdconf");
   $xu=0;
   while() {
      s/\>//g;

      if ($_ !~ /#/) {
         if (/\) {
      s/\>//g;

      if ($_ !~ /#/) {
         if (/\

http://www.cpanel.net/docs/whm/Scripts.htm

It takes 24-72 hours for a domain to propogate to the new hosts.  After that time period the new site should be fully operational.

-kohashi

Hiya - well the site's gone down while it propogates.

Should be ok - feel like i've taken a crash course in hosting last couple of days -
- in terms of picking a new host "it's a jungle out there"

If you don't mind i'll keep this thread open until the site comes up again - then we can clear out all the backups!

- looking forward to an early night...

thanks
macuser

I'm Up! - thanks kohashi.
You can wipe the backup now.

:)

Macuser

good to hear :)  I will leave it for a while, maybe I will erase it another time when I need more space.

-kohashi

Thanks, macuser - glad to hear all is working well now!