How to Do a Manual WordPress Migration to Bluehost Cloud

Migrating your WordPress site to Bluehost Cloud manually can be overwhelming, mainly when you rely on backups without automated migration tools. However, with the proper steps, you can efficiently perform a manual WordPress migration to Bluehost Cloud and ensure your website transitions smoothly. In this guide, we'll walk you through each stage of the WordPress migration process—whether you're moving your site from another host or transferring a backup. Learn how to migrate WordPress without plugins and efficiently transfer your files and database to Bluehost Cloud.

• Before You Begin
• Manual WordPress Migration to Bluehost Cloud
  • Step 1: Upload the Backup Files
  • Step 2: Prepare the Files
  • Step 3: Import the Files
  • Step 4: Verify the Site
  • Step 5: Clean Up
• Troubleshooting: Database Import Errors
• Summary

Before You Begin

Before manually transferring your website to Bluehost Cloud, ensure everything is ready. Let's discuss these prerequisites to guarantee a successful hosting migration.

Domain

A domain is a memorable link or shortcut to an IP address, making accessing a website without remembering its numeric address easier. To learn more about domains, read this article: About Domain Names. If you want to transfer your domain to us, please follow the steps outlined in this article: How to Transfer a Domain to Us.

Bluehost Cloud Plan

Bluehost Cloud is a managed WordPress hosting service that ensures fast page loading times and reliable uptime. It can handle growth and is built to keep your website running smoothly. Bluehost works closely with WordPress creators to provide top-notch support backed by a strong global server network. Bluehost Cloud is an excellent option if you want a powerful and speedy way to host your WordPress site.

Website Files and Database

The compressed archive of the site's wp-content folder and the site's database file (usually a .sql file) are essential website components. The files include all the code, images, and other assets that constitute the website. Meanwhile, the database stores all the information needed to operate the website effectively. These two components work harmoniously to ensure the website functions correctly and delivers a seamless user experience.

You will receive these files in one of two ways:

• SFTP Upload: The user will upload the files to the ~/htdocs/tmp directory on the Cloud server via SFTP.
• Direct Download Link: The user may provide direct download links from services like Dropbox or AWS S3 (for example, https://www.dropbox.com/s/xxx/wp-content-file-name.zip).

  Note: Services like Google Drive or WeTransfer don't provide direct download links and may not work.

FTP Client

An FTP client is a software application that allows users to transfer files to and from a remote server. It facilitates the easy uploading, downloading, and management of files on the server. Typically, users must enter their username and password to access the remote server.

Manual WordPress Migration to Bluehost Cloud

Step 1: Upload the Backup Files

• Option 1: SFTP Upload - Upload the files to the ~/htdocs/tmp directory on the Cloud site via SFTP.
• Option 2: Dropbox/Direct Download Link
  1. SSH into the site: Log in via SSH and navigate to the ~/htdocs/tmp directory:

     cd ~htdocs/tmp

  2. Run wget to download the files. Sometimes, you'll see one archive for the file system and database or separate ones. Example:

     wget https://www.dropbox.com/s/xxx/wp-content-file-name.zip

  3. Check Database Size: Confirm the size of the database file by running:

     du --apparent-size -sh database.sql

     Important: If it's over 10GB, the import could be slow or problematic.

Handle Large wp-content Files:  Remove any specific files or folders from the wp-content directory that are not necessary to speed up the migration.

Remove WordPress Core Files:  If you have a backup that includes WordPress core files, remove them. Bluehost WordPress Cloud already provides and maintains these core files for hosted sites.

Step 2: Prepare the Files

1. Uncompress the Files:
   • For .zip files:

     unzip file-name.zip

   • For .bz2 or .tar files:

     tar -xvf file-name.bz2

   • For .gz files:

     gunzip file-name.gz

2. Provided that you have correctly followed the steps and uploaded only the wp-content directory to the ~/htdocs/tmp folder, extracting the compressed file will restore all required files.
   Confirm the extracted wp-content folder is located in the ~/htdocs/tmp folder by using

   ls -lah

3. In case you have followed the instructions, the wp-content directory should already be located in the ~/htdocs/tmp folder. Simply extracting the compressed file will restore all necessary files.
4. Handle Additional Files: If you need other files or folders to be imported, move them to ~/htdocs/tmp.

Step 3: Import the Files

1. Sync the wp-content Folder: Use the following command to copy the wp-content folder from ~/htdocs/tmp to your site's htdocs folder:

   rsync -zavhP ~/htdocs/tmp/wp-content/ ~/htdocs/wp-content/

   And add --exclude= to exclude folders like mu-plugins to prevent errors, as they are pre-installed.

2. Check the Database Prefix: Before importing the database, open the .sql file to check the database prefix.

   • The default prefix for new sites on WP Cloud is wp_.
   • If the prefix in the .sql file differs, you must update it in the wp-config.php file.
3. Update the Database Prefix (if needed):
   • Open wp-config.php (located in the root directory of your site).
   • Look for this line:

     php 
     $table_prefix = 'wp_';

   • If the prefix in your database differs, change 'wp_' to match the one in the .sql file.
4. Once the prefix is set correctly, import the database using the command:

   wp db import file-name.sql

5. Move Additional Files/Folders: If other files or folders exist, move them to the appropriate location in the site's file structure.

Step 4: Verify the Site

Visit the site to ensure everything is imported correctly and loads as expected.

Step 5: Clean Up

After the import, remove any unnecessary files ~/htdocs/tmp to keep things tidy.

• To remove individual files:

  rm file-name.sql

• To remove folders:

  rm -rf wp-content

If you're unsure about deleting files, leave them as they are—they're not harming the site.

Troubleshooting: Database Import Errors

One of the most common issues with large databases is that they can become too big to handle effectively, causing slow imports.

To resolve this, partition your database tables and import smaller chunks of data rather than the entire database at once. This can help avoid performance issues and timeouts.

• Partition Tables: Use database partitioning to split large tables into smaller, more manageable parts (e.g., by date or region).
• Export in Chunks: Instead of exporting the whole database, work with individual tables or subsets of data.
• Optimize the Process: To reduce disruption, Automate chunked imports and schedule them during off-peak hours.

Additionally, if the database import throws errors while importing, it might be due to incorrect permissions during the export process. Export the database again using the following settings:

Summary

Completing a Manual WordPress Migration to Bluehost Cloud must be done carefully, which involves uploading your site's files and ensuring the database imports correctly. You can very well manage your WordPress transfer with the help of the steps in this guide, even in the absence of automated tools. Whether you are migrating from another host or restoring a site from a backup, the process is pretty straightforward if you take the time to verify each step. After migrating, you usually test your site, clean up unnecessary files, and ensure everything runs smoothly. Doing so will ensure a seamless transition to Bluehost Cloud and a fully optimized WordPress site.