Recently I thought of moving my web server files from Bluehost to DigitalOcean VPS. There I learnt the techniques of moving my web server files using SSH without downloading the file on to my local machine. I just had transferred the files from old server to new server successfully using SCP command.
To move web server files from one server to other, need access to SSH for both the servers. Following are pre-requisites needed to move files online using SCP command.
Copy or move web files from old server to new server
Note: If you need to transfer a complete folder, then best way is to ZIP the folder and copy the ZIP file through SCP command.
New Server Details (A):
- Server IP Address
- Server Username
- Server Password
- Server path to file or folder
Old Server Details (B):
- Server IP Address
- Server Username
- Server Password
- Server path to file or folder
Software Needed:
- PuTTy Software for SSH connection.
- FileZilla – File Manager Software (not needed, if everything goes fine).
Once you have completed all above mentioned pre-requisite, then we are ready to move files. Login into web server using server username and password through PuTTy software.
To copy a file from B to A while logged into B:
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scp /path/to/file UsernameofA@IPofA:/path/to/destination |
To copy a file from B to A while logged into A:
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scp UsernameofB@IPofB:/path/to/file /path/to/destination |
It will ask password before transferring, on validation the copy process is started. Here we are using SCP (secure copy protocol) command to transfer with is considered as best and fastest online file copier.
Once transfer is completed to new server (A), you can check files availability using FileZilla that were transferred.
Note and Conclusion:
File transfer rate depends on server speed and size of file you are transferring. There might be no response from PuTTy while transferring file if server copy speed is slow.
The biggest problem is when transfer gets interrupted and you have to start all over. Binfer file transfer software can transfer big files quite easily. This is a good file transfer software.