To migrate your WordPress website to NetLink Web Host, you can
use a migration plugin for simplicity or perform a manual migration using FTP and phpMyAdmin. Using a plugin is generally recommended for most users as it automates the process and reduces errors.
Method 1: Using a Migration Plugin
Plugins like Duplicator or All-in-One WP Migration simplify the process by bundling your entire site (database, themes, plugins, and files) into a single package.
Prepare your old site:
- Back up your entire site (files and database) using a reliable backup method as a safety net.
- Install and activate a migration plugin (e.g., Duplicator or All-in-One WP Migration) on your current WordPress site.
- Use the plugin to create a full site package (an archive file and an installer file if using Duplicator Lite) and download these files to your local computer.
Prepare your new host (NetLink Web Host):
- Log in to your NetLink Web Host control panel (likely cPanel) and create a new MySQL database and a new user, ensuring you grant all privileges to the user and note down the database name, username, and password.
- Upload the downloaded package files to the root directory (e.g., public_html) of your new NetLink Web Host account using an FTP client like FileZilla or the cPanel File Manager.
Import your website:
- Launch the installation wizard by navigating to yourdomain.com/installer.php in your web browser (replace yourdomain.com with your actual domain name).
- Follow the Duplicator installation steps, entering your new database details when prompted. The installer will automatically unpack your site files and update all links in the database.
Finalize the migration:
- After the installation is complete, log in to your new WordPress admin dashboard using your old site’s credentials and thoroughly check all pages, posts, and functionality to ensure everything works correctly.
- Update your DNS records (nameservers or A record) at your domain registrar to point to the NetLink Web Host server IP address. This change can take up to 48 hours to propagate globally.
- Once confirmed, you can safely close your old hosting account and remove the installer files from your new host.
Method 2: Manual Migration
This method gives you complete control but requires technical knowledge of FTP and databases.
- Back up your files and database from your old host using FTP and phpMyAdmin, downloading them to your computer.
- Create a new database and user on NetLink Web Host via cPanel (as described in Step 2 of Method 1).
- Edit the wp-config.php file in your downloaded site files to reflect the new database name, username, and password for your NetLink Web Host account.
- Upload the edited files to the public_html directory of your new host using FTP.
- Import the database SQL file into the newly created database on NetLink Web Host using phpMyAdmin’s Import tab.
- Perform a search and replace on your database (using a plugin like Better Search Replace or an SQL query) if your domain name is changing, to update all instances of the old URL to the new one.
- Update your DNS records to point to the NetLink Web Host server.
For professional assistance, contact the NetLink Web Host customer support team for free migration services.