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Migration

A Zero-Downtime Website Migration Checklist

Last updated August 14, 2026

The secret to a migration nobody notices is simple: never point your domain at the new server until the new server is fully working. Do that, and there is no window where visitors hit a broken site. This checklist keeps your move calm and downtime-free.

Before you start

  • Take a full backup of the current site — see taking a full website backup. Never migrate without one.
  • Lower your DNS TTL a day ahead so the final switch propagates quickly.
  • Note every moving part: files, databases, email, cron jobs, SSL.

Step 1: Copy everything to the new server

  1. Move the files.
  2. Move the databases and update your config.
  3. Recreate cron jobs and email accounts.

Step 2: Test on the new server before going live

This is the step that guarantees zero downtime. Preview the site on the new server using a temporary URL or a local hosts-file entry, and click through everything — pages, forms, logins, checkout. Fix problems now, while the old site still serves real visitors.

Step 3: Prepare SSL on the new server

Install the SSL certificate on the new server ahead of the switch, so HTTPS works the moment DNS changes.

Step 4: Make the switch

Once you are confident, update your nameservers or A records to the new server. Because you lowered the TTL, propagation is quick. Keep the old server running for a few days so anyone still seeing the old DNS gets a working site.

Step 5: Verify after go-live

Check the site loads over HTTPS, test email send and receive, and watch your error log for anything unexpected.

Frequently asked questions

Why keep the old host running after switching?

DNS does not update everywhere at once. For a short period, some visitors still reach the old server, so keeping it live means everyone gets a working site during the transition.

What does lowering the TTL do?

TTL controls how long DNS answers are cached. Lowering it before the move means the switch reaches visitors faster, shrinking the transition window to minutes.

Can VernalWeb migrate it with zero downtime for me?

Yes — our team follows exactly this approach. Request a migration and we will move and test before switching anything.

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