Migrate a Domain from Windows Shared hosting to Windows Server (IIS and MSSQL)

To get more control, you can host your windows applications on a VPS which gives autonomy on what can be installed among other things. Windows VPS can use a control panel called Plesk, which is normally licensed separately. However, to avoid licensing costs, you may choose to host your website/application without Plesk using IIS and MSSQL installed on your WIndows server

Prerequisites

To get started, please ensure your Windows VPS has the following installed

-IIS (Comes with Windows Server by default)

-MSSQL

-Required version of ASP.NET

Once done, follow the steps below

1. Create a new site on the VPS

To create a new Web site in IIS, follow these steps:

  1. Log on to the Web server computer as an administrator.
  2. Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.
  3. Double-click Administrative Tools, and then double-click Internet Services Manager.
  4. Click Action, point to New, and then click Web Site.
  5. After the Web Site Creation Wizard starts, click Next.
  6. Type a description for the Web site.

    This description is used internally to identify the Web site in Internet Services Manager only.
  7. Select the IP address to use for the site.

    If you select All (unassigned), the Web site is accessible on all interfaces and all configured IP addresses.
  8. Type the TCP port number to publish the site on.
  9. Type the Host Header name (the real name that is used to access this site).
  10. Click Next.
  11. Either type the path to the folder that is holding the Web site documents or click Browse to select the folder, and then click Next.
  12. Select the access permissions for the Web site, and then click Next.
  13. Click Finish.
  14. Repeat the process for all domains and subdomains you want to host on he VPS

2. Migrate your files

To migrate files:

1. Login to your plesk control panel

2. Go to Files and compress the httpdocs folder. THis is the one that contains your files by default.

3. Once compression is down. Download the Files to your local computer

4. Upload the files to your web directory on the VPS (This is the directory identified in step 11 above)

5. Repeat this process for all folders for for domains and subdomains being migrated

3. Migrate your databases

To migrate your MSSQL Databases, first ensure the database installed on both servers are compatible. If the database in Plesk is MSSQL v2012, please MSSQL v2012 installed on VPS. The same applies to any other version. You can install more than 1 version of MSSQL on the VPS

1. Login to plesk control panel

2. Go to Databases then select your database

3. Click Export Dump to get a backup of your database.

4. Restore the database on your SQL Server Management Studio. Section A on the guide below can help with the process

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/sql/relational-databases/backup-restore/restore-a-database-backup-using-ssms?view=sql-server-ver15

5. Connect to your MSSQL Server on the VPS and Import your database

6. Configure your configuration files with the new correct database name, user and password

7. Repeat the process for all databases that should be migrated.

4. Point your domains to the VPS

Once done with the file migration, you now need to point the domain to the VPS IP address.

To do this, depends on your DNS host. The process differs if you use Cloudflare or any other DNS host.
But if your DNS is managed at the is managed using Plesk follow the steps below

1. Login to your plesk control panel

2. Go to DNS Settings

3. Select the DNS Record Type labelled A

4. Under Edit the Resource Record section, change the IP address to your VPS IP and click Apply.

5. Repeat the process for all domains and subdomains being migrated.

Was this article helpful?

Related Articles

Leave A Comment?