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How to Migrate WordPress from cPanel to a Native Ubuntu 24.04 VPS Without Plugins

Philip Jensen

— 2 min read

Introduction

Moving a WordPress site from cPanel hosting to a dedicated VPS can seem daunting, especially if you want to avoid using plugins. At ByteHosting, we understand the importance of a smooth, secure migration process that maintains your site's integrity and performance. In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to migrate WordPress from cPanel to a native Ubuntu 24.04 VPS without relying on plugins, focusing on manual data transfer, database migration, and configuration.

Prerequisites

  • An existing cPanel hosting account with your WordPress site
  • A fresh Ubuntu 24.04 VPS from ByteHosting or another provider
  • Domain name configured to point to your new server’s IP address
  • Basic knowledge of Linux command line and MySQL

Exporting WordPress Files and Database from cPanel

1. Download WordPress Files

First, access your cPanel file manager or connect via FTP. Locate your WordPress installation directory, typically in public_html. Compress the entire folder into a ZIP archive for easier transfer.

zip -r wordpress-files.zip /path/to/your/wordpress

Download the ZIP file to your local machine.

2. Export the Database

In cPanel, open phpMyAdmin. Select your WordPress database, then click on the Export tab. Choose the Quick export method and SQL format, then click Go.

This will download a .sql file containing your database data.

Setting Up Your Ubuntu 24.04 VPS

1. Install LAMP Stack

Connect to your server via SSH:

ssh root@your_server_ip

Update your package list and install Apache, MySQL, and PHP:

apt update
apt install apache2 mysql-server php libapache2-mod-php php-mysql -y

Secure your MySQL installation:

mysql_secure_installation

Follow the prompts to set a root password and secure your database server.

Importing Data to Your New Server

1. Upload Files and Database

Transfer your ZIP archive and SQL dump to the server, using SCP or SFTP:

scp wordpress-files.zip root@your_server_ip:/var/www/html
scp database.sql root@your_server_ip:/tmp

Unzip your WordPress files into the web root:

unzip /var/www/html/wordpress-files.zip -d /var/www/html/yourdomain

Replace /var/www/html/yourdomain with your actual domain directory.

2. Create a New Database and User

mysql -u root -p

Inside MySQL shell, run:

CREATE DATABASE wordpress_db DEFAULT CHARACTER SET utf8mb4 COLLATE utf8mb4_unicode_ci;
CREATE USER 'wpuser'@'localhost' IDENTIFIED BY 'your_password';
GRANT ALL PRIVILEGES ON wordpress_db.* TO 'wpuser'@'localhost';
FLUSH PRIVILEGES;
EXIT;

3. Import the Database

mysql -u wpuser -p wordpress_db < /tmp/database.sql

Configuring wp-config.php

Navigate to your WordPress directory and edit wp-config.php:

nano /var/www/html/yourdomain/wp-config.php

Update the database connection details:

define('DB_NAME', 'wordpress_db');
define('DB_USER', 'wpuser');
define('DB_PASSWORD', 'your_password');
define('DB_HOST', 'localhost');

Save and exit.

Updating DNS and Testing

Point your domain’s DNS A record to your new server’s IP address. It may take some time for DNS propagation.

Once propagated, visit your domain in a browser. Your WordPress site should load from the new server. Check all pages and functionalities to ensure everything migrated correctly.

Troubleshooting Common Migration Issues

  • 404 errors or missing images: Check your wp-config.php and permalinks settings.
  • Database connection errors: Verify your wp-config.php database credentials.
  • Site URL issues: Update the siteurl and home options in the database if needed.

Conclusion

Manually migrating WordPress from cPanel to a native Ubuntu 24.04 VPS without plugins is entirely feasible with some basic Linux and database management skills. At ByteHosting, we provide reliable, affordable VPS hosting that can serve as a robust platform for your WordPress site. By following this step-by-step guide, you can ensure a smooth transition, maintain control over your data, and optimize your site’s performance on your new server. If you need a cost-effective VPS to host your WordPress site, explore our plans and experience enterprise-grade infrastructure with instant deployment and excellent support.

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