Overview
This article explains how to move a domain between DreamHost web servers. These instructions only move the website files, as the database is located on a separate MySQL server.
Make sure that you have created the new user on the other server before proceeding.
Moving a website
To move a website, you just need to edit the domain in your panel and assign a new username to it.
See this article instead if you only want to change the username assigned to a domain but not migrate it to a different server.
- Navigate to the Manage Websites page.
- Click the Manage button to open the Domain Settings page, which allows you to adjust various settings for your site.
- Click the Content tab.
- Click the Login Info button to the right side of Manage Files under Manage Your Site section.
- Click the Switch user button.
- From the dropdown, select a user located on the web server you want to host this domain from.
- Leave the Move files to the new user? toggle on.
- Click the Save Changes button.
Depending on how much data is moved, It can take several hours to move to the new user.
To check the status, visit the Manage Websites page. A progress bar appears under your domain with an estimated completion percentage.
Updating DNS
When the website is hosted on a new server, its IP addresses are changed.
- If your domain is using DreamHost's nameservers, the domain's DNS records are updated automatically.
- If your domain is NOT using DreamHost’s nameservers, you must update the domain's A records manually at the company where your nameservers are hosted. These must point to your domain's new DreamHost's A records.
See this article to determine where your website is hosted.
Please note that after any DNS change, the records will take several hours to update online. During this time period, you should avoid working on your website. This is because it's possible your changes will be made to the old site, not the new one.