How to migrate websites between panels

Quick answer: There is no universal converter between panels — you migrate the site, not the panel: create the domain on the new panel, copy files to the new document root, dump and import the database, re-issue SSL, test via a hosts-file override, then switch DNS. cPanel-to-cPanel is the exception (native transfer tools).

Overview

Panels store sites in different layouts and configs (document roots, PHP-FPM pools, vhosts), so "install new panel and restore old panel's backup" almost never works across brands. The reliable route is a clean per-site move. Plan a small window per site and migrate one at a time.

Before you start

• The new server/panel ready, with the domain added and PHP version matched (add domain, PHP versions).
• Full copies of site files and a fresh database dump from the old server.
• Access to DNS, and both servers reachable over SSH.

Step-by-step guide

1. On the old server, archive the site and dump the DB:

   tar czf site.tar.gz -C /path/to/docroot .
   mysqldump -u USER -p DBNAME > site.sql

2. Copy both to the new server (scp site.tar.gz site.sql newserver:).
3. Create the site + database on the new panel, unpack files into the new document root, import the dump:

   mysql -u NEWUSER -p NEWDB < site.sql

4. Update the app config (DB credentials, paths), fix ownership to the new site user.
5. Test the site on the new server via a hosts-file entry pointing the domain at the new IP.
6. Lower the DNS TTL in advance, switch the A record, keep the old server running for a day or two as a fallback.

Common issues

• Different document roots: hard-coded paths in app configs break — search the config for the old path.
• SSL gap after DNS switch: issue the certificate on the new server immediately after DNS points there (or pre-issue via DNS-01).
• Mail hosted on the old panel: migrate mailboxes separately and update MX — mail is easy to forget.
• Cron jobs and daemons: re-create panel cron entries on the new server.

When to contact support

Migrating to Cloud2Y? Open a ticket — we can advise on the plan (and see the Migration Center articles for provider-specific guides).

Frequently asked questions

Can I restore a cPanel backup into another panel?

Not directly — backup formats are panel-specific. Extract the files and database from the archive and import them into the new panel manually; only cPanel-to-cPanel restores natively.

How do I avoid downtime during the move?

Lower the DNS TTL a day ahead, fully test the site on the new server using a hosts-file override, then switch the A record and keep the old server running as a fallback.

What gets forgotten most often in migrations?

Email accounts and MX records, cron jobs, and SSL on the new server. Walk through mail, scheduled tasks and HTTPS explicitly in your post-migration checks.

Related articles

• How to add a domain in a control panel
• How to create a database
• How to create backups in a control panel
• How to issue an SSL certificate

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