How to move your game server to a new host without downtime

Why moves fail

Most failed moves have the same cause: the admin tries to do everything in one step. Stop the old server, copy the files, start the new one, change the address. Players are without a server for hours, and some never come back.

It is better to run both servers for a short while and move players gradually.

Before anything: backup

Make a full backup of your current server before touching anything else. Specifically:

• world files and player data
• all settings: server config, plugin settings, permissions
• plugins or mods you installed by hand
• custom content: maps, models, sounds
• a database export if the server uses MySQL (DarkRP, some Minecraft plugins)

Download everything to your own computer. Do not rely only on the backup sitting on the server you are leaving.

Step 1: set up the new server completely

Before telling players anything, make the new server identical to the old one: same game version, same plugins, same settings. Upload the world backup and check that it loads correctly.

Test everything: join yourself, try the main features, check the plugins. The new server must be running and tested before a single player is sent to it.

Step 2: run both servers for 24 to 48 hours

Keep the old server running and the new one next to it. This gives you time to catch setting problems without players feeling them.

For Minecraft, anything players do on the old server during this time does not carry over. Keep the window as short as possible and avoid peak hours.

Step 3: announce the move in advance

Tell players what is happening and when. Post on Discord, announce in game and give them at least 24 hours. Tell them:

• why you are moving (better servers, lower ping, stability)
• when the switch happens
• whether they need to do anything

Players who know what is going on stay calm. Players who log in to find the server gone or changed without warning feel abandoned.

Step 4: final backup and switch

At the set time (pick a quiet period, usually between 2 and 4 AM), take a final backup of the world on the old server, upload it to the new one and start it as the main server.

Update the server address everywhere: in DNS, on Discord and on community pages. If players saved an IP, they need to update it.

Step 5: keep the old server reachable for 48 more hours

Do not shut the old server down straight away. Keep it running but clearly marked as the old address, for example with a message in the server name. This catches players who missed the announcement and shows them where to go.

If you are moving to Wiptor

Your server is activated automatically right after payment, so you have a test server to work on within minutes. You upload files over SFTP or the file manager, and if you get stuck, message us on live chat: we will help you check everything works before you move your players.

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