185 lines
6.5 KiB
Markdown
185 lines
6.5 KiB
Markdown
---
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title: "Migrate from Bluehost"
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description: "How to move your website and email from Bluehost to Arcline, including WordPress sites and cPanel-to-cPanel transfers."
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section: migrate
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order: 2
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---
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# Migrate from Bluehost
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Bluehost runs cPanel on its shared hosting plans, which makes migrating to Arcline straightforward — both platforms speak the same language. The process is: export from Bluehost, set up on Arcline, test, then switch nameservers.
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---
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## Before you start
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- Bluehost cPanel access (log in at your Bluehost dashboard → **Advanced** to reach cPanel)
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- Arcline cPanel account
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- 30–90 minutes depending on database and file size
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- Note your Bluehost PHP version: cPanel → **Software → Select PHP Version**
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---
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## Step 1 — Back up files from Bluehost
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### Full cPanel backup
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1. Bluehost cPanel → **Files → Backup** (or search for "Backup Wizard")
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2. Choose **Full Backup** and download to your local machine
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This gives you an archive with `public_html` and all databases.
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### Manual file backup via SFTP
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If you only want specific files, connect to Bluehost via SFTP:
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- Host: `ftp.yourdomain.com` or your server hostname
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- Port: `21` (FTP) or `22` (SFTP) — use SFTP if available
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- Username/password: your cPanel credentials
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Download `/home/username/public_html/` to your local machine.
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---
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## Step 2 — Export your database from Bluehost
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1. Bluehost cPanel → **Databases → phpMyAdmin**
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2. Click your database name in the left sidebar
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3. Click **Export → Quick → SQL → Go**
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For large databases, use **Custom** export and enable **Add DROP TABLE**. You can also export via SSH:
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```bash
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mysqldump -u cpanelusername_dbuser -p cpanelusername_dbname > bluehost_backup.sql
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```
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---
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## Step 3 — Set up on Arcline
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**Create the database:**
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1. Arcline cPanel → **Databases → MySQL Databases**
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2. Create a database and a database user
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3. Assign the user to the database with **All Privileges**
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**Import the database:**
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1. cPanel → phpMyAdmin → select your new database → **Import**
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2. Upload the `.sql` file from Bluehost
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3. Click **Go**
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For files over 50 MB, use the command line (see [Back Up and Restore a MySQL Database](/getting-started/mysql-backup/)).
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**Upload your files:**
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Connect to Arcline via SFTP and upload your site to `/home/username/public_html/`. See [Upload Files via SFTP](/getting-started/sftp/).
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---
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## Step 4 — Update wp-config.php
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WordPress stores database credentials in `wp-config.php`. Update the values to match the new database you created:
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```php
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define( 'DB_NAME', 'newcpanel_dbname' );
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define( 'DB_USER', 'newcpanel_dbuser' );
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define( 'DB_PASSWORD', 'your-password' );
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define( 'DB_HOST', 'localhost' );
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```
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Bluehost sometimes uses a custom `DB_HOST` value. On Arcline it is always `localhost`.
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---
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## Step 5 — Match the PHP version
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Bluehost's default PHP version may differ from Arcline's. To prevent compatibility errors:
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1. Check the PHP version in Bluehost cPanel → **Software → Select PHP Version**
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2. Set the same version in Arcline cPanel → **Software → Select PHP Version**
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3. Also check that any PHP extensions your site requires are enabled on Arcline (the **Extensions** tab in MultiPHP Manager)
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WordPress 6.x requires PHP 7.4 minimum; PHP 8.1 or 8.2 is recommended.
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---
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## Step 6 — Test the site before switching DNS
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Edit your local `hosts` file to preview the Arcline version without changing DNS.
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Find your Arcline server IP in cPanel → **Server Information**.
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Add this line to your hosts file:
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```
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YOUR_ARCLINE_IP yourdomain.com www.yourdomain.com
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```
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**macOS / Linux:** `/etc/hosts` (requires sudo)
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**Windows:** `C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc\hosts` (open as Administrator)
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Visit your domain in a browser and verify:
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- Pages and images load
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- WordPress admin works
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- Forms and any dynamic features work
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- SSL is active (AutoSSL issues a cert after DNS resolves, which it will once nameservers switch — for pre-launch testing self-signed is normal)
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Remove the hosts entry once done.
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---
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## Step 7 — Switch nameservers
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When the site checks out, update nameservers to Arcline. Bluehost is often both the host and the registrar.
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**If your domain is registered at Bluehost:**
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1. Log in to Bluehost → **Domains → My Domains**
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2. Click **Manage** → **Nameservers** → select **Custom Nameservers**
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3. Enter:
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- `ns1.arcline.it`
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- `ns2.arcline.it`
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4. Save
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**If your domain is registered elsewhere**, update nameservers at that registrar instead. See [Point Your Domain to Arcline](/getting-started/nameservers/).
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Keep Bluehost live for 24–48 hours while DNS propagates. Don't cancel your Bluehost account until propagation is confirmed and you've verified email is working.
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---
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## Step 8 — Email
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**Moving to Arcline email:**
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1. Create accounts in Arcline cPanel → **Email → Email Accounts**
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2. Once nameservers switch, Arcline's MX records activate automatically
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3. Export any mail you want to keep from Bluehost webmail (Bluehost uses Roundcube or Horde) before cancelling
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**Keeping external email (Google Workspace, Microsoft 365):**
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After switching nameservers to Arcline, add your existing MX records back in cPanel → **Domains → Zone Editor**. You'll find the required MX records in your Google or Microsoft 365 admin panel.
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---
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## Bluehost-specific notes
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**SiteLock or CodeGuard backups** — these are Bluehost add-ons. You don't need them on Arcline; standard cPanel backups are included.
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**WordPress staging site** — Bluehost provides a staging environment. After migration, delete the staging version from Bluehost to avoid confusion during the transition.
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**Bluehost's custom wp-config constants** — Bluehost adds some non-standard constants to `wp-config.php` (like `COOKIE_DOMAIN` or Bluehost-specific feature flags). These can be removed safely after migrating.
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**"Account Suspension" page appearing** — if Bluehost's CDN or caching layer still serves your domain during propagation, visitors may briefly see a Bluehost holding page. This resolves once propagation is complete.
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**File permissions** — Bluehost uses suPHP/suEXEC. Standard permissions (644 files, 755 directories) work on Arcline. If Bluehost set unusual permissions (e.g., 777), correct them on Arcline.
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---
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## After migration checklist
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- [ ] Site loads at `https://yourdomain.com`
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- [ ] WordPress admin accessible at `/wp-admin`
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- [ ] Forms submit and send email
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- [ ] SSL certificate shows valid in browser
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- [ ] Email accounts created and working
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- [ ] Old Bluehost account not yet cancelled (wait 48 hours)
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- [ ] DNS fully propagated (check at dnschecker.org)
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