How to Migrate a Website from Shared Hosting to a VPS

Is your website growing, traffic is increasing, but it's starting to feel slow and sluggish? Hitting resource limits on your Shared Hosting is a clear sign that it's time for a more powerful new home. That home is a Virtual Private Server (VPS).

In this guide, we'll show you step-by-step how to migrate your entire website from Shared Hosting to a VPS safely and efficiently.

When Should You Leave Shared Hosting?

Consider upgrading to a VPS if you're facing these issues:

  • Your website is frequently slow or crashes during traffic spikes.
  • You receive "CPU Limit Reached" or "508 Resource Limit Is Reached" errors.
  • You need to install specific software or modules that Shared Hosting doesn't support.
  • You require higher security and don't want to be affected by other websites on the same server.

Why is a VPS the Optimal Solution?

Moving to a VPS isn't just an upgrade; it's a major step forward that gives you full control over your hosting environment. Key benefits include:

  • Guaranteed Resources: You get a dedicated amount of CPU, RAM, and disk space, with no need to share. This ensures stable performance.
  • Full Root Access: You have the highest level of access to the server, allowing you to install any operating system, control panel, or software you want.
  • Superior Security: Your environment is completely isolated, minimizing the risk of cross-site contamination from other users.
  • Flexible Scalability: Easily upgrade your resources as your website continues to grow without needing to migrate again.

The Step-by-Step Migration Process

The migration consists of 5 main steps. Follow them carefully to ensure no data is lost.

Step 1: Back Up All Your Data

This is the most critical step. You need to back up both your source code (files) and your database.

  1. For Source Code: Log in to your Shared Hosting's cPanel and go to the File Manager. Compress the entire public_html directory (or your website's folder) into a single .zip file and download it to your computer.
  2. For the Database: In cPanel, navigate to phpMyAdmin. Select your database, go to the Export tab, choose the Quick method and SQL format, then click Go to download the .sql file.
Important Note: Always keep a copy of these backup files in a safe place on your local computer.

Step 2: Set Up the Environment on the New VPS

Your new VPS is like a blank slate; you need to install the necessary software to run a website. There are two main approaches:

2.1. The Manual Method (For Experienced Users)

You'll install each component of a web server stack. The most common is LAMP (Linux, Apache, MySQL, PHP). Here are the basic commands to install LAMP on an Ubuntu server:

# Step 1: Update the system
sudo apt update

# Step 2: Install Apache Webserver
sudo apt install apache2

# Step 3: Install MySQL Database Server
sudo apt install mysql-server

# Step 4: Install PHP and necessary modules for Apache & MySQL
sudo apt install php libapache2-mod-php php-mysql

# Step 5: Restart Apache to apply changes
sudo systemctl restart apache2

Alternatively, you can consider the LEMP stack (using Nginx instead of Apache) for higher performance.

2.2. The Control Panel Method (Simpler and More User-Friendly)

Using a Control Panel allows you to manage your VPS through a graphical user interface without needing extensive command-line work.

  • Free Solutions: Control panels like CyberPanel (which uses the powerful LiteSpeed Webserver) or aaPanel are excellent free options with a full feature set for most needs.
  • Paid Solutions: For professional stability, dedicated support, and a vast ecosystem, cPanel or DirectAdmin are the leading choices trusted by businesses.

Step 3: Upload and Restore Your Data on the VPS

Use an FTP client like FileZilla or the scp command to upload the compressed .zip file from Step 1 to your VPS. Then, extract it to the web server's root directory (usually /var/www/html).

For the database, you'll need to:

  • Create a new database and a new user on the VPS.
  • Grant privileges to that user on the newly created database.
  • Import the backed-up .sql file using the following command:
mysql -u [username] -p [database_name] < /path/to/your/backup.sql

Step 4: Update Configuration Files

Your website needs to know the new database credentials on the VPS. Open your configuration file and update these parameters.

For example, with WordPress, you need to edit the wp-config.php file with the database details created in Step 3.

Step 5: Point Your Domain to the VPS IP

Before officially pointing your domain, you should test if the website is working on the VPS by editing the hosts file on your computer.

Once everything is working perfectly, log in to your domain registrar's management panel and change the domain's A Record to point to the new VPS IP address.

A Note on DNS

The DNS propagation process can take from a few minutes to several hours, depending on your domain registrar and ISP. During this time, your website might be accessible intermittently.

Conclusion

Migrating from Shared Hosting to a VPS is a necessary step for your website's growth. While the process requires some technical knowledge, the benefits in performance, security, and control are absolutely worth it.

The migration process can involve many technical steps. If you want to save time or need professional assistance, our team is always ready to help with our free data migration service when you sign up for our high-performance KVM VPS plans at VietHosting.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Frequently Asked Questions and Essential Knowledge about VietHosting Services

cPanel Hosting is a web hosting service that comes equipped with the cPanel control panel. It is one of the world's most popular hosting management systems, renowned for its intuitive graphical interface that allows users to easily manage their websites and servers without needing deep command-line knowledge.

Key tasks you can perform via cPanel:

  • File Management: Upload, download, edit, and organize your website's files.
  • Database Management: Intuitively create and manage MySQL databases.
  • Domain Management: Add, remove, and manage subdomains and addon domains.
  • Email Accounts: Create and manage email accounts with your own domain name.

Why Choose cPanel Hosting at VietHosting?

At VietHosting, our cPanel Hosting service is optimized for performance and security, featuring: CloudLinux OS, Imunify360 security, Enterprise SSD RAID-10 storage, and LiteSpeed Web Server, ensuring your website runs stably and at high speed.

DirectAdmin Hosting is a web hosting service that utilizes the DirectAdmin control panel. This control panel is known for its simple interface, fast performance, low resource consumption, and is considered an effective alternative to cPanel.

Key advantages of DirectAdmin:

  • Minimalist Interface: Focuses on core features, allowing users to operate quickly and without clutter.
  • High Performance: Consumes fewer system resources (RAM, CPU) compared to other control panels.
  • Stability: Highly regarded by the community for its stability and infrequent operational errors.
  • Cost-Effective: Licensing costs are typically lower than cPanel, which helps reduce the price of hosting services.

Why Choose DirectAdmin Hosting at VietHosting?

At VietHosting, DirectAdmin Hosting is equipped with Enterprise SSD RAID-10 drives, LiteSpeed Web Server for superior speed, CloudLinux OS for enhanced stability, and Imunify360 security, providing a powerful hosting solution at an optimal cost.

KVM VPS is a Virtual Private Server (VPS) that uses KVM (Kernel-based Virtual Machine) virtualization technology. This is true hardware-level virtualization, integrated directly into the Linux kernel, allowing each VPS to operate as a completely independent physical server.

Key Advantages of KVM VPS:

  • 100% Dedicated Resources: Each KVM VPS is allocated a private amount of RAM, CPU, and disk space, which is not shared and is not affected by the performance of other VPSs on the same server.
  • Full Kernel Customization: Since each VPS has its own kernel, users have full control to customize and install kernel modules, providing maximum flexibility.
  • Broad OS Compatibility: KVM supports the installation of Linux, Windows, and other custom operating systems via an ISO file.
  • Higher Security: The complete isolation between VPSs enhances security, effectively preventing local attacks.

High-Performance KVM VPS at VietHosting:

VietHosting's KVM VPS service is built on a powerful hardware platform featuring Intel Xeon Platinum CPUs and Enterprise SSD RAID-10 storage, combined with the advantages of KVM technology to deliver a stable, secure, and powerful virtual server solution for any project.

Large VPS is a line of Virtual Private Server (VPS) products designed with exceptionally large resource configurations (CPU, RAM, disk space), comparable to a mid-range physical server. It is the ideal solution for websites and applications with high traffic or heavy processing demands that require power close to a dedicated server but at a more optimized cost.

When should you choose a Large VPS?

  • When standard KVM VPS packages no longer meet your resource needs.
  • When you require high performance for large systems like E-commerce, ERP, CRM, or game applications.
  • When you want the power of a dedicated server but with the more affordable price and flexible management of a VPS.

What makes Large VPS at VietHosting special?

At VietHosting, Large VPS still utilizes KVM technology, ensuring 100% dedicated resources. The service is built on the highest-grade hardware platform with Intel Xeon Platinum CPUs and Enterprise SSD RAID-10 storage, guaranteeing superior performance for any demanding task.

A Dedicated Server, also known as a Bare Metal Server, is a service where you exclusively lease an entire physical server. This means you have full access to 100% of the server's resources—including CPU, RAM, storage, and bandwidth—without sharing with any other users.

Key Characteristics of a Dedicated Server:

  • Maximum Performance: All hardware resources are dedicated to you, delivering the highest performance for demanding applications.
  • Superior Security: An isolated environment minimizes security risks from other users.
  • Full Administrative Access (Root Access): You have the highest level of access to the server, allowing you to install any operating system, software, and configure it to your exact needs.
  • Reliability and Stability: Not being affected by the activities of other users ensures stability for critical services.

When should you choose a Dedicated Server?

  • Websites with extremely high traffic or large-scale e-commerce systems.
  • Enterprise applications and databases that demand high processing performance.
  • Projects that require specific software or OS configurations not supported in a shared environment.

Colocation Service allows businesses and individuals to place their own servers in a professional data center facility. Instead of building and operating a costly server room, you rent space in a provider's data center.

By using a colocation service, you benefit from:

  • Professional Infrastructure: Your server operates in an environment with international standards for power, cooling, and fire suppression.
  • High-Speed Network Connectivity: Enjoy high-bandwidth, stable, and redundant internet connections.
  • Strict Physical Security: The data center is protected 24/7 with multiple security layers, surveillance cameras, and access control.
  • Cost Savings: Reduce infrastructure investment and operational costs compared to building your own facility.

In simple terms, you bring your server to our "home," and we ensure that "home" is always secure, cool, and has the best network connection. VietHosting offers initial setup support and associated server management services if needed.

Server Licenses grant the legal right to use specific software essential for managing, optimizing, or securing a server environment.

Unlike typical desktop software licenses, these are often required for operating systems (like CloudLinux), control panels (such as cPanel or DirectAdmin), web servers (like LiteSpeed), virtualization software, or security applications running on your VPS or Dedicated Server. Purchasing or renting these licenses ensures you receive updates, support, and operate legally within the software provider's terms.

SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) is a global security technology standard that encrypts the connection between a web server and a user's browser. An SSL Certificate is a data file installed on a server that acts as a digital "passport" to authenticate the website's identity and enable the HTTPS protocol (HTTP over SSL).

When a website has SSL (HTTPS), it ensures:

  • Data Encryption: All information exchanged between the user and the website (such as passwords, credit card details, personal data) is encrypted, preventing malicious actors from eavesdropping.
  • Data Integrity: Data cannot be altered or forged during transmission.
  • Authentication: SSL confirms that the user is connecting to the correct server for the website they intend to visit, not a fraudulent one.

Today, SSL is a mandatory requirement for all websites, not only for security but also as a crucial factor for Google SEO ranking and building customer trust.

VietHosting guarantees a full refund to customers within 7 days of service registration for eligible services (like Web Hosting, Reseller Hosting, KVM VPS, Large VPS) if they are dissatisfied with the service quality. Please refer to our Refund Policy for detailed terms and conditions.

Yes, customers are welcome to send an email or submit a support ticket, and we will assist in migrating your data from other providers to VietHosting as quickly as possible, ensuring data security and completely free of charge.

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