Question

Help with moving a website on old droplet with PHP 7.0 and Ubuntu 16.04 to a new one

Posted on December 15, 2023
Ubuntu 22.04 Initial Server Setup DigitalOcean Droplets Configuration Management LAMP Stack
Asked by bp360

I have an old droplet that I neglected to update, but want to move the Wordpress website on it to a new droplet where everything is up to date. What’s the process? If I make a snapshot of the site, will it just include the old PHP/apache files and old Ubuntu or is that not part of the process? I made a backup of the site using Updraft that included the database, plugin files, etc. but Im unsure of how to even get to the point of using it for a new droplet.

Is it as easy as setting up a new droplet with a snapshot and then switching the domain name for the nameservers to the new IP?
Will http still work? I set up some reoccuring http over 5 years ago through Let’s Encrypt and it’s worked since.
Do you still have to do the LAMP stack process on new droplet?

If anyone could provide a list of steps it would be helpful. Thanks.

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Bobby Iliev

Site Moderator

• December 15, 2023

Accepted Answer

Hello,

What I could suggest here is using the WordPress 1-Click App on the DigitalOcean Marketplace. It is a great choice for setting up your new environment with Ubuntu 22.04:

https://marketplace.digitalocean.com/apps/wordpress

The 1-Click App will install WordPress, MySQL, and all the necessary dependencies for you. It will also create a new MySQL database and user for WordPress. You can then migrate your WordPress files and database to the new Droplet.

Create a New Droplet Using WordPress 1-Click App:
- Visit the WordPress 1-Click App page on the DigitalOcean Marketplace and set up your new Droplet.
Migrate Your WordPress Files:
- Upload your WordPress files (from the Updraft backup) to the new Droplet. Use SFTP to transfer files to the /var/www/html directory or wherever WordPress is installed.
Importing Your Database:
- To import your database, first create a new database and user on your new Droplet. You can use the MySQL command line for this:
```
mysql -u root -p
```
Then, run the following SQL commands:
```
CREATE DATABASE new_wp_db;
CREATE USER 'new_wp_user'@'localhost' IDENTIFIED BY 'password';
GRANT ALL PRIVILEGES ON new_wp_db.* TO 'new_wp_user'@'localhost';
FLUSH PRIVILEGES;
EXIT;
```
Note: Replace new_wp_db, new_wp_user, and password with your own values.
- Once your new database is ready, import your backup. Assuming your backup file is named wordpress_db_backup.sql, you can import it with:
```
mysql -u new_wp_user -p new_wp_db < /path/to/wordpress_db_backup.sql
```
- Adjust the new_wp_user, new_wp_db, and the path to your backup file as necessary.
Update WordPress Configuration:
- Edit the wp-config.php file to update the database name, user, and password.
- If needed, use a plugin like “Better Search Replace” for changing URLs in the database.
Testing Your New Site:
- Temporarily modify your hosts file for testing the new site with your domain name. Point the domain to the new Droplet’s IP address.
- Check the website thoroughly to ensure all functionalities are working.
Update DNS and SSL Configuration:
- After successful testing, update your domain’s DNS settings to point to the new Droplet’s IP.
- Set up Let’s Encrypt for SSL on your new Droplet. Ensure HTTPS is functioning properly. You can run the following command to set up Let’s Encrypt:
```
sudo certbot --apache -d example.com -d www.example.com
```
Final Checks and Monitoring:
- After DNS changes, keep an eye on your site for any potential issues and be ready for any troubleshooting.