How to Move Customized Store to a New Server?
 

I have had our store customized by a developer and would like to move it to a new server. Many of the files have been customized, as well as the database (added some new tables).

Does anyone have a good technique for migrating all of the changes to a new location? Should I do a fresh install, then move everything? Or should I just export/import the DB, then copy and paste the files, and make changes to config.php? (I am running Linux).

Also, how do I know what files are necessary vs. which ones I can get rid of? Is there documentation that discusses how the files all interact?

Are there any type of control panel on the servers?
Are these shared hosting servers or dedicated?

There is a control panel, and I have SSH/command line access. It is a 'virtual dedicated server', so it behaves as if it is dedicated.

Is it cpanel?
If it is, you can download a back up of you site and upload it to the new server.
Additionally, if you have access to WHM, you can transfer accounts in between servers.

Account migration from the WHM (CPanel) works awesome. I didn't believe it would work that good, but it does.

Yes, it is a HUGE time saver :!:

Thanks for the responses...but my question is geared more towards the specifics of x-cart:

When moving a development instance of xcart to a test or production server, do you:

a. install a fresh copy of x-cart, then move the modified files?
or...
b. just copy and paste the entire development instance of x-cart?
or...
c. it doesn't matter, either one will work.
or...
d. something else?

Move files, copy database, update config.php.

That's it....

Don't know what you mean by copying files, but it's best to tar the files with permissions from the ssh shell prompt.

tar cfvpz backupname.tar.gz *

This will create a file named backupname.tar.gz which you can download and upload to your new server. Move it to the directory, and then in ssh:

tar xfvpz backuname.tar.gz

That will unpack all the new files. If necessary, you may need to change the file ownerships. For example, if your files were domaincom.psacln before, and now they are domain2com.psacln, you'll need to change ownership with: chown -R domain2com.psacln

Then backup and restore your mysql database.

Edit your config.php

And everything should be good.

Don't do a fresh install unless your upgrading your x-cart, otherwise you'll have to reimplement all of the customizations for no reason.

Thanks. I'll give it a try.