Move your website from HostGator to Hostvento

What does moving a website involve?

A website has three main parts. Files (pages and pictures), a database (stored content such as posts and users) and email. To move, you copy all three to the new host. Then you point your domain to the new place.

Hostvento support can tell you whether they will help with the move. Ask before you start.

Step 1: Back up everything at HostGator

1. Log in to your HostGator cPanel. cPanel is the control panel for your hosting.
2. Open Backup.
3. Under full backup, click Download a Full Account Backup and follow the prompts. If full backups are not allowed on your plan, use the next step.
4. Or download the parts by hand: the public_html folder from File Manager, each MySQL database from the Backup page, and your email forwarders.

Keep these files safe. Do not cancel the old hosting yet.

Step 2: Ask Hostvento to restore or set up

1. Log in to the client area at https://secure.hostvento.com/clientarea.php.
2. Open a ticket at https://secure.hostvento.com/submitticket.php.
3. Say you are moving from HostGator and give your domain name.
4. Ask if support can restore the full backup, or how to upload the files and database yourself.

Step 3: Do it yourself if needed

1. Log in to your Hostvento cPanel. The details are in your welcome email.
2. Upload your site files into public_html with File Manager.
3. Create a new database and user in MySQL Databases.
4. Import your database file with phpMyAdmin and its Import tab.
5. Update the database name, user and password in your site's config file. For WordPress this is wp-config.php.

Step 4: Test the site

Ask support how to preview it before the switch. Check pages, images, forms and logins.

Step 5: Point the domain

1. Log in where your domain is registered.
2. Change the nameservers to the ones Hostvento gives you.
3. Wait. DNS can take several hours to spread everywhere.

DNS is the phone book of the internet. It tells browsers where your site now lives.

Quick recap

• Back up files, databases and email first.
• Ask Hostvento support what help they offer.
• Upload, import and update the config file.
• Switch nameservers last and keep the old host for a few days.