How to Migrate from Shared Hosting to VPS with Zero Downtime
Your website is growing. Traffic is increasing, features are becoming more complex, and the performance of your current shared hosting is starting to show its limits. Slow pages, 503 errors during traffic spikes, limited resources: these are clear signs that it’s time to level up. It’s time to migrate from shared hosting to a VPS (Virtual Private Server).
Many people fear this step, associating it with complex technical procedures and, above all, the risk of downtime – having the site offline for hours or even days. But it doesn’t have to be that way. With careful planning and by following a proven process, you can migrate your site to a high-performance, secure VPS that is fully under your control, all without a single second of downtime. In this practical guide, we’ll show you exactly how to do it, step by step.
Why and When Should You Migrate to a VPS?
Shared hosting is a great solution when you’re starting out, but by its nature it comes with limitations. Resources (CPU, RAM, I/O) are shared with dozens or hundreds of other sites, and a traffic spike on a neighboring site can slow yours down. A VPS, on the other hand, offers you:
- Guaranteed Resources: CPU and RAM are dedicated exclusively to your site.
- Superior Performance: Thanks to dedicated resources and technologies like NVMe storage, loading speed improves dramatically.
- Full Control: You have root access to the server and can install whatever software you like, optimizing the environment for your needs.
- Scalability: You can increase your VPS resources at any time, in step with your business growth.
- Improved Security: Isolation from other customers and the ability to configure custom firewall rules enhance security.
| Warning Sign | Cause in Shared Hosting | Solution with a Servereasy VPS |
|---|---|---|
| Slow Site | Insufficient and shared CPU/RAM resources. | Dedicated resources and ultra-fast NVMe storage. |
| 5xx errors during peaks | Hitting the usage limits imposed by the provider. | Full power to handle traffic spikes without issues. |
| Limits on software or configurations | Rigid, non-customizable environment. | Root access to install and configure whatever you want. |
| Security issues | Vulnerabilities caused by other sites on the same server. | Isolated environment and built-in proprietary DDoS protection. |
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Zero-Downtime Migration: The 5-Step Strategy
The secret to a migration with no interruptions is simple: prepare the new environment (the VPS) while the old site (on shared hosting) is still online and working. Only when everything is ready and tested do you perform the final “switch”, which will be instantaneous for users. Here is our proven checklist.
Step 1: Choose and Prepare the New VPS
The first step is to choose the most suitable VPS plan. If you’re coming from shared hosting, our VPS Cloud BL1 plan (2 vCores, 4GB RAM, 60GB NVMe) is often the ideal starting point, offering a huge performance leap at a reasonable cost. Once the VPS is activated, we’ll provide you with a dedicated IP address. This IP will be your private staging area.
On the new VPS, we will install and configure the same software stack as your old hosting (e.g. Apache/Nginx, PHP, MySQL/MariaDB). This ensures maximum compatibility.
Step 2: Backup and Transfer of Files
While your site is still online on shared hosting, we will perform a full backup of all files (the entire public_html folder or similar). We’ll then transfer this archive to the new VPS using secure protocols such as rsync or scp. This process copies all of your site’s files, including the CMS core, plugins, themes and media, into the new environment.
Step 3: Backup and Transfer of the Database
This is a crucial step. We will run a full dump of your site’s database (e.g. using mysqldump). This .sql file contains all your content: posts, pages, users, comments, settings. The dump is then transferred and imported into a new database created on the VPS. Finally, we’ll update your site’s configuration file (e.g. wp-config.php for WordPress) with the new VPS database credentials.
Step 4: Testing and Final Synchronization (The Secret to Zero Downtime)
Now your site has been replicated on the VPS, but how do you test it if the domain still points to the old hosting? Simple: by editing the hosts file on your local computer. By adding a line such as 123.45.67.89 yourdomain.com (where 123.45.67.89 is the IP of the new VPS), only your computer will “see” the site on the new server. This allows us to browse and test every single feature of the replicated site, checking that forms work, images load, and no errors appear – all while your users keep browsing the old site without noticing anything.
Shortly before the final switch, in order not to lose any new orders or comments, we’ll perform an incremental synchronization of the files and a fresh dump/import of the database to perfectly align the two environments.
Step 5: The DNS Switch
This is the final moment. Once we’re 100% sure the site on the new VPS is perfect, the only thing left to do is log in to your domain management panel and change the DNS records. Specifically, the “A” record of your domain (e.g. yourdomain.com) and the www subdomain must be updated by replacing the old shared hosting IP with the new IP of your Servereasy VPS.
DNS propagation can take from a few minutes to a few hours, but thanks to a technique called “lowering the TTL” (Time To Live), carried out the day before, the transition will be almost instantaneous for most users. The result? Zero perceived downtime.
Post-Migration: Welcome to Your New World
Once the migration is complete, you’ll have a powerful and flexible server at your disposal. You’ll be able to install Let’s Encrypt SSL certificates, configure advanced caching systems like Redis or Varnish, and monitor performance with professional tools. And above all, you’ll have the peace of mind of an infrastructure that can grow together with your business, supported 24/7 by our team of experts.
Migrating to a VPS is easier than you think. Let us help you plan your upgrade.
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How long does a migration from shared hosting to VPS take?
The actual work time ranges from 2 to 6 hours, depending on the complexity of the site. However, thanks to our zero-downtime procedure, your site will remain online at all times. The testing phase is carried out on the new server while the old one is still active, and the final DNS switch is almost instantaneous for most users.
Can I migrate any type of site to your VPS?
Absolutely yes. Whether you have a WordPress, Joomla, Drupal, Magento, PrestaShop site or a custom application, we can migrate it. Our VPS environment is extremely flexible and we can configure the software stack (PHP, MySQL, etc.) to replicate exactly that of your current provider, ensuring maximum compatibility.
Do you offer a managed migration service?
Yes, we offer a turnkey managed migration service. Our team of specialists will take care of every single aspect of the migration, from preparing the new VPS to transferring files and the database, right through to final testing and the DNS switch. You only need to provide us with access to your old hosting – we’ll handle the rest.
What happens to my old shared hosting account?
We always recommend keeping your old shared hosting account active for at least 48–72 hours after the DNS switch. This serves as a safety measure and ensures that DNS propagation is fully completed worldwide. Once you’ve confirmed that all traffic is being correctly served from the new VPS, you can safely cancel the old service.
Will migrating to a VPS improve my SEO rankings?
Indirectly, yes. Google rewards fast and reliable sites. By dramatically improving your loading performance (Core Web Vitals) and your site’s uptime, you’ll offer a superior user experience, which is one of the most important factors for SEO ranking. A VPS gives you the resources you need to fully optimize these aspects.
Which VPS plan should I choose if I’m coming from shared hosting?
For most sites migrating from shared hosting, our **VPS Cloud BL1** plan (2 vCores, 4GB RAM, 60GB NVMe) represents a huge step forward in terms of performance and resources. It’s the ideal starting point. If your site already has very high traffic or is a complex e-commerce, we may recommend the BL2 plan. Contact us for a free consultation.
After the migration, will the server be managed by you?
Our VPS plans are basically “unmanaged”, which means you have full root access and complete control. However, we offer several levels of system administration (SysAdmin) as an additional service. We can take care of updates, monitoring and security on your server, so you can focus solely on your business while enjoying the power of a VPS with the peace of mind of a managed service.
Does the migration also include email accounts?
Our standard migration procedure focuses on the website (files and database). The migration of email mailboxes is a separate service that must be evaluated on a case-by-case basis, depending on how they are currently managed. If your email is on an external service (e.g. Google Workspace, Microsoft 365), there will be no impact at all. If it is managed by your current hosting provider, we can help you plan the migration of your email as well.
