How do I migrate from another host to DreamPress?

The following describes various options to consider when migrating your WordPress site from another host to DreamPress.

Option 1 — DreamHost Automated Migration Plugin

If you are migrating a WordPress site from another hosting company to a DreamPress plan, DreamHost has partnered with the makers of BlogVault to provide the DreamHost Automated Migration Plugin, a free WordPress plugin that allows you to quickly migrate your WordPress site to DreamPress, on your own.

See the following links for more information:

• Using the DreamHost Automated Migration WordPress plugin (Knowledge Base article)
• Migrating to a DreamPress plan with the DreamHost Automated Migration Plugin (YouTube video)

Option 2 — Professional Services migration

If you are migrating a WordPress site from another hosting company to a DreamPress plan, DreamHost's Professional Services team will transfer your site for free. If you would like DreamHost to move forward with migrating your site to DreamPress, please contact support with the domain name you wish to migrate:

• If you are a current DreamHost customer, click here to contact support.
• If you are looking to migrate your site to DreamHost, but have not yet signed up, click here to contact the DreamHost support team.

A DreamHost Professional Services team member will respond to help get you started.

Option 3 — Manual migration

If you prefer to migrate your WordPress site manually to DreamPress, you can do so using the following steps:

1. Export the WordPress MySQL database(s). View the following article for further instructions:
   • Backup MySQL
2. Download your entire WordPress installation. View the following article for further instructions:
   • FTP
3. View the Setting up a new domain article to add your site to DreamPress.
4. You can import your database through phpMyAdmin or through a SHELL user.
   • Option #1 — Import via phpMyAdmin: View the following article which explains how to import using phpMyAdmin:

   • Importing your database via phpMyAdmin

   • Option #2 — Import via SSH: View the following article which explains how to import using SSH:

   • Importing your database via SSH

   • Option #3 — Import using wp-cli

   • The wp-cli tool is handy for the MySQL dump and import. You can read about this tool in the following article:
     • WordPress wp-cli
     • Using the wp-cli tool is the fastest method.
     • To use the wp-cli tool, you'll need to make sure your DreamPress user has Shell access.
     • You can also visit the following articles for further instructions on how to change the user type and how to log in via SSH:
     • Creating a user with Shell (SSH) access
     • SSH

     After connecting via SSH with your DreamPress user, run the following command (replacing "backup.sql" with the name of the MySQL backup that you uploaded previously):

     [server]$ wp db import backup.sql

5. Import any necessary WordPress files (such as your custom theme, images and wp-config.php file) via FTP.

The database is now imported and your wp-config.php file links to the new installation.

If your site does not display as it should at this point, you may need to flush both the object cache and the DreamPress cache. View the following articles for further details:

• Flushing the DreamPress cache
• Flushing the object cache using 'wp cache flush'

Below are examples on how to flush both via SSH:

Flush the DreamPress cache for all of your theme files

[server]$ curl -X PURGE "http://example.com/wp-content/themes/.*" 

Flush the object cache using the WordPress wp-cli

[server]$ wp cache flush