Internetblog.org.uk Web hosting, Domain names, Dedicated servers
Migrating a server is never really a good idea, but in some cases, it may be just what you need for business growth or website stability and security. Depending on your needs, you may be switch from Windows to Linux, Linux to Windows, Solaris to BSD, or any number of possibilities. When you do switch, there are a few issues you should consider.
1. Find out what is compatible and what will not convert over to the new system. HTML files and other static material will. But will scripts written in PHP, ASP, Perl, etc. be lost?
2. Test any data conversion before pulling the plug on the old server. Just because your old Solaris server ran MySQL does not mean that your data will work without any glitches on the new Linux server with MySQL. They may be different versions or have different settings enabled. Test and retest.
3. Try out the new server and learn its administrative ins and outs. Do not wait until you have a security problem to realize you have no idea what to do.
4. Consider the financial ramifications. While moving from licensed software to free software is probably a good step in the long run, you still might have expenses. Make sure you take those into account.
5. Finally, make sure you have backups of everything and a backup plan if it all falls apart. Good luck!
Photo Source: Flickr
