Best Way to Transfer Entire Site.?

[BillGatesSenior]

I am making an exact replica of one of my sites. I ahve already created the databases and logins. I just need to copy over the files to another server and begin tweaking.

My question is, what is the best way to transfer a HUGE amount of files from one server to the other. I'm assuming ftp will not suffice.

Both sites are on shared hosting. One with hostgator, one with bluehost. I have full access to both sites and servers (to an understandable degree).

Appreciate some advice on this. Thanks.

[caribguy]

Can't you create a tar ball, gzip it and ftp/scp it over?

[BillGatesSenior]

Hi caribguy, thanks for the reply. I have actually, stupidly, overlooked the backup feature in cpanel.

I have now downloaded the entire home directory into a tar.gz file. Thing is, I have never worked with this format and have no idea how to extract to my other server.

Do you know how I can achieve this?

Thanks.

[caribguy]

Not all too familiar with CPanel, assuming the new host has a similar management interface?

Wild guess would be to use a "restore" or similar function. Make sure not to overwrite any exiting files you'd like to keep :)

If you have access to a login shell, gunzip (gzip -d) and tar -xvf

[phranque]

welcome to WebmasterWorld [webmasterworld.com], BillGatesSenior!

ftp is probably the best protocol for this purpose since it is the file transfer protocol.
some ftp clients will transfer and maintain directory structure.
if this is your case, you can ftp the complete tar.gz and then uncompress/extract or simply move an entire directory tree with ftp.

a tar.gz file is simple a gzip-compressed tar file.
the tar format will retain the directory structure and location of files.
you must first uncompress it with the gunzip utility before you extract it with the tar utility:
[gzip.org...]