How to access WordPress website through IP address given only cPanel access
I've been given an ip address & port number as a url which gives me access to cPanel to set up a WordPress site. I can log in to cPanel ok, and used QuickInstall to install WordPress.
cPanel seems to be set up with the domain name of the intended website (let's call it mysite.com), but the domain DNS settings are still pointing at the old host, so mysite.com loads the website from the old host.
Through the new web host's cPanel, the QuickInstall tool says to access the new WordPress install at mysite.com, but of course that just loads the site at the old host.
How can I access the new WordPress installation on the new host?
For a smooth transition from the old host to the new host, I want to migrate the old WordPress site to the new WordPress site and test it before updating the DNS settings for mysite.com to point to the new host.
cPanel seems to be set up with the domain name of the intended website (let's call it mysite.com), but the domain DNS settings are still pointing at the old host, so mysite.com loads the website from the old host.
Through the new web host's cPanel, the QuickInstall tool says to access the new WordPress install at mysite.com, but of course that just loads the site at the old host.
How can I access the new WordPress installation on the new host?
For a smooth transition from the old host to the new host, I want to migrate the old WordPress site to the new WordPress site and test it before updating the DNS settings for mysite.com to point to the new host.
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@Lucas: that technique only works if the host has only one site at that IP.
If there are more sites for that IP (and usually there are), you'll get the "Great success" page from Apache or whatever web server they use.
@Terry: yes, that's the IP for the address (A) record.
If there are more sites for that IP (and usually there are), you'll get the "Great success" page from Apache or whatever web server they use.
@Terry: yes, that's the IP for the address (A) record.
@Dan: this works perfectly for sites hosted on dedicated AND shared ip addresses. I've tested close to 100 web sites on my own shared ip this way. Only way this fails is if your server isn't configured to listen for the domain.
This is the recommended testing process nearly every host will advise you on:
http://www.hostdime.com/resources/advanced-website-testing-via-the-hosts-file/
https://www.namecheap.com/support/knowledgebase/article.aspx/9178/27/how-can-i-check-the-content-of-my-website-before-switching-the-dns-records
http://wiki.dreamhost.com/Viewing_site_before_DNS_change
This is the recommended testing process nearly every host will advise you on:
http://www.hostdime.com/resources/advanced-website-testing-via-the-hosts-file/
https://www.namecheap.com/support/knowledgebase/article.aspx/9178/27/how-can-i-check-the-content-of-my-website-before-switching-the-dns-records
http://wiki.dreamhost.com/Viewing_site_before_DNS_change
@Lucas: yup, my bad. I navigated to the IP without changing the hosts file, so the request did not contain the site's name.
ASKER
Thanks guys!
ASKER
I think I might just have to make the new host live then fix the site up, and accept the downtime.
Slightly different question - presumably the ip address for accessing cPanel (but without the port number of course) will be the ip address I should use for the A record setting for the domain mysite.com?