docs/content/migrate/from-namecheap.md

title, description, section, order

title	description	section	order
Migrate from Namecheap	Move your website and email from Namecheap shared hosting to Arcline — step by step, with zero downtime.	migrate	4

Migrate from Namecheap

Namecheap's shared hosting runs cPanel, which makes moving to Arcline straightforward. The process covers exporting your files and databases from Namecheap, setting them up on Arcline, testing, and then switching DNS.

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Before you start

• Namecheap cPanel login (reachable from your Namecheap dashboard → Hosting List → Manage → cPanel)
• Arcline cPanel account
• 30–90 minutes depending on site size
• Note your Namecheap PHP version: cPanel → Software → Select PHP Version

Namecheap is often both the host and the registrar — if your domain is registered there, you'll update nameservers in Namecheap's domain panel (covered in Step 6).

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Step 1 — Export your files from Namecheap

Full cPanel backup

1. Namecheap cPanel → Files → Backup (or Backup Wizard)
2. Choose Full Backup and download to your local machine

This includes public_html and all databases in one archive.

Manual export via SFTP

If you prefer to download files individually:

• Host: your server hostname or IP (find it in Namecheap cPanel → Server Information)
• Port: 21098 (Namecheap's default SFTP port) or 21 (FTP)
• Username and password: your cPanel credentials

Download /home/username/public_html/ to your local machine.

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Step 2 — Export your database from Namecheap

1. Namecheap cPanel → Databases → phpMyAdmin
2. Click your database name in the left sidebar
3. Click Export → Quick → SQL → Go

Save the .sql file.

For large databases (over 50 MB), use Custom export and enable Add DROP TABLE, or export via SSH:

mysqldump -u cpaneluser_dbuser -p cpaneluser_dbname > namecheap_backup.sql

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Step 3 — Set up on Arcline

Create the database:

1. Arcline cPanel → Databases → MySQL Databases
2. Create a new database and a new user
3. Add the user to the database with All Privileges
4. Note the database name, username, and password — you'll need them for wp-config.php

Import the database:

1. cPanel → phpMyAdmin → select the new database → Import
2. Upload the .sql file from Namecheap
3. Click Go

For files over 50 MB, import via the command line instead (see Back Up and Restore a MySQL Database).

Upload your files:

Connect to Arcline via SFTP (see Upload Files via SFTP) and upload your site to /home/username/public_html/.

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Step 4 — Update your database connection settings

WordPress stores database credentials in wp-config.php. Edit it to point to the new Arcline database:

define( 'DB_NAME',     'arclineuser_newdbname' );
define( 'DB_USER',     'arclineuser_newdbuser' );
define( 'DB_PASSWORD', 'your-new-password' );
define( 'DB_HOST',     'localhost' );

On Namecheap, DB_HOST is typically localhost — same as Arcline. Change the other three values to match your new Arcline database.

For non-WordPress sites, update whatever config file stores your database credentials (.env, config.php, database.yml, etc.).

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Step 5 — Match the PHP version

Namecheap's default PHP version may differ from Arcline's. Check and match:

1. Namecheap cPanel → Software → Select PHP Version — note the version
2. Arcline cPanel → Software → Select PHP Version — set the same version
3. Also check the Extensions tab to enable any extensions your site needs (common ones: mbstring, curl, gd, zip, intl)

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Step 6 — Test before going live

Before switching DNS, preview your site on Arcline using your local hosts file.

Find your Arcline server IP in cPanel → Server Information.

On macOS / Linux, edit /etc/hosts (requires sudo):

YOUR_ARCLINE_IP  yourdomain.com www.yourdomain.com

On Windows, edit C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc\hosts as Administrator with the same line.

Now visit https://yourdomain.com in your browser. Check:

• Pages load correctly
• Images appear
• WordPress admin (/wp-admin) works
• Contact forms submit
• Any dynamic features (shopping cart, search) work

Remove the hosts entry when done testing.

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Step 7 — Switch nameservers

Since Namecheap is likely both your host and registrar, you'll update nameservers in the Namecheap domain panel (not cPanel).

1. Log in to Namecheap → Domain List
2. Click Manage next to your domain
3. Under Nameservers, change the dropdown from Namecheap BasicDNS to Custom DNS
4. Enter:
   • ns1.arcline.it
   • ns2.arcline.it
5. Click the green checkmark to save

DNS propagation takes 15 minutes to a few hours. Keep Namecheap's hosting active during propagation — both servers will serve the site until DNS fully switches.

If your domain is registered elsewhere, update nameservers at that registrar. See Point Your Domain to Arcline for steps by provider.

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Step 8 — Email migration

Moving to Arcline email:

1. Create email accounts in Arcline cPanel → Email → Email Accounts
2. After nameservers switch, Arcline's MX records activate automatically
3. Export any mail you want to keep from Namecheap webmail (usually Roundcube) before cancelling

Keeping Namecheap email (Private Email):

If you subscribed to Namecheap's Private Email service and want to keep it, add the MX records back in Arcline cPanel → Domains → Zone Editor after switching nameservers. Namecheap Private Email uses:

Type	Priority	Value
MX	10	mx1.privateemail.com
MX	20	mx2.privateemail.com

You'll also need the SPF record Namecheap provides in your Private Email settings.

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Namecheap-specific notes

Namecheap's SSL certificates — Namecheap sells PositiveSSL certificates. These don't transfer to Arcline. Arcline includes free AutoSSL (Let's Encrypt) which will issue automatically once your domain resolves to Arcline. Don't bother exporting Namecheap's SSL cert.

Supersonic CDN — Namecheap includes a basic CDN on some plans. Your site doesn't need it on Arcline; our infrastructure already includes caching and performance optimization by default.

Namecheap's backup service — Namecheap offers paid automated backups. You don't need this add-on on Arcline — use cPanel's built-in backup tools or set up a cron-based backup (see Back Up and Restore a MySQL Database).

EasyWP (Namecheap managed WordPress) — if you're on Namecheap's EasyWP platform instead of cPanel hosting, you can't export via cPanel. Use a WordPress backup plugin (UpdraftPlus or All-in-One WP Migration) to export your files and database, then import the backup on Arcline.

.htaccess redirects — if Namecheap added custom redirects in your .htaccess file (e.g., non-www to www), they'll come over with your files and work on Arcline without changes.

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After migration checklist

• Site loads at https://yourdomain.com
• WordPress admin accessible at /wp-admin
• Forms submit and send email
• SSL certificate valid (check cPanel → SSL/TLS Status)
• Email accounts created and working
• PHP version and extensions match
• DNS fully propagated (verify at dnschecker.org)
• Namecheap hosting account kept active for 48 hours as fallback