How to Migrate from Shared Hosting to VPS Without Downtime

Step 1: Set Up Your VPS Before You Touch Anything

Provision your VPS with the same stack as your shared host. Match your PHP version exactly.

Step 2: Sync Files with rsync (Not FTP)

FTP is slow and error-prone. Use rsync to preserve permissions and symlinks.

Step 3: Database Migration Without the Drama

Use mysqldump and mysql restore. Update database configs if localhost vs 127.0.0.1 differs.

Step 4: Test on a Staging Domain First

Test everything on the VPS IP before flipping DNS.

Step 5: Lower TTL Before DNS Switch

Lower DNS TTL to 300 seconds 48-72 hours before migration.

Step 6: The Actual Switch (5-Minute Window)

Put old site in maintenance mode, final database sync, update DNS.

Common Migration Failures

SSL certificates break, email stops working, file permissions wrong, database connection limits.

Bottom line: A zero-downtime migration is not about speed — it is about having a rollback plan.