How to migrate from Hetzner to another hosting without downtime

Migrating from Hetzner to another hosting provider without downtime is possible by using a combination of meticulous planning, step-by-step data synchronization via rsync, and smart DNS management, allowing traffic to be switched to the new server smoothly and imperceptibly for end-users. This process requires attention to detail, but with the right approach, it guarantees the continuous operation of your services, and Valebyte offers not only powerful servers but also expert support at every stage of such a migration.

Why Users Decide to leave Hetzner?

Hetzner Online is a well-known and respected hosting provider, offering competitive prices and reliable infrastructure. However, even such a giant has its peculiarities that may not suit all users. The decision to leave Hetzner is often dictated by several key factors:

• Support: While Hetzner provides basic support, it is often limited to hardware and network-related issues. For tasks requiring deep dives into software or configuration, users may seek a provider with more extensive and responsive technical assistance.
• Flexibility and Customization: Some users require more flexible server settings, specific operating systems, or custom configurations that may be limited or less available with Hetzner.
• Geographical Location: Hetzner's main data centers are located in Germany and Finland. For projects targeting audiences in other regions, such as North America or Asia, a server located closer to the target audience may be required to reduce latency.
• DDoS Protection and Security: While Hetzner offers basic protection, advanced or specialized solutions for DDoS attack protection and other security threats may be a higher priority for some projects.
• Pricing Policy: Despite Hetzner's attractive prices, users sometimes find that for their specific requirements (e.g., high I/O performance or specific licenses), other providers offer more favorable terms or a better balance of price and quality.

Migrating to Valebyte can solve many of these problems, offering a high level of support, flexible configurations, and modern servers.

Preparing for Hetzner migration: What to Consider?

A successful Hetzner migration begins long before files are copied. Thorough preparation is the key to avoiding problems and downtime. Here's what you need to consider:

1. Inventory of the Current Server: Compile a complete list of everything running on your current Hetzner server. This includes:
   • Operating system and its version.
   • Web server (Apache, Nginx, LiteSpeed) and its configuration.
   • Databases (MySQL, PostgreSQL, MongoDB, Redis) and their versions.
   • Programming languages (PHP, Python, Node.js, Ruby) and their versions, modules used.
   • Mail servers (Postfix, Exim), FTP servers, DNS servers.
   • Task schedulers (cron jobs).
   • SSL certificates and their paths.
   • Any third-party applications, control panels (cPanel, Plesk, ISPmanager).
   • Data size (files, databases) — this will help estimate synchronization time and choose the appropriate disk space on the new server.
2. Choosing a New Hosting Provider and Server: Determine the requirements for the new server. Do you need a VPS or a dedicated server? What amount of RAM, number of CPU cores, type and size of disk (NVMe, SSD) do you need? Valebyte offers a wide range of options to meet any needs.
3. Dependency Analysis: Ensure that all components of your application (PHP versions, Python libraries, etc.) will be compatible with the new environment. Sometimes software updates are required.
4. Testing Plan: Develop a testing strategy to ensure that all services are working correctly on the new server before switching DNS.
5. Migration Schedule: Choose the least busy time to start the migration to minimize potential impact on users if something goes wrong.

Step-by-Step Migration from Hetzner: Action Plan

Choosing a New Server on Valebyte: What to Pay Attention To?

The first and one of the most important steps is choosing the right infrastructure on Valebyte. We offer both powerful VPS and dedicated servers, optimized for various workloads. When choosing, consider:

• Processor (CPU): For high-load applications, choose servers with more cores and a high clock speed. Our servers use Intel Xeon E-series and AMD EPYC processors, ensuring excellent performance.
• Random Access Memory (RAM): Determine the required amount of RAM. For most web applications and databases, at least 4-8 GB is recommended. For large projects and high-load databases, 16 GB or more may be required.
• Disk Subsystem: Valebyte actively uses NVMe drives, which are 5-10 times faster than regular SSDs. This is critically important for databases, file servers, and applications that heavily interact with the disk.
• Network Bandwidth: Ensure that the new server has sufficient bandwidth for your traffic. Our servers are typically equipped with 1 Gbps or 10 Gbps ports.
• Support: Valebyte offers 24/7 technical support, ready to assist with installation, configuration, and even the migration process itself.

For clarity, let's compare typical Hetzner configurations with similar offers from Valebyte:

*Prices and characteristics may vary, provided for example. See current offers on our website.

Creating a Data Backup: Your Insurance

Before starting any migration, it is crucial to create a full backup of all data on your current Hetzner server. This is your insurance against unforeseen problems.

For databases (e.g., MySQL/MariaDB):

mysqldump -u root -p --all-databases > all_databases.sql

Or for a specific database:

mysqldump -u username -p database_name > database_name.sql

For files:

tar -czvf /root/full_backup_$(date +%F).tar.gz --exclude=/dev --exclude=/proc --exclude=/sys --exclude=/tmp --exclude=/run --exclude=/mnt --exclude=/media --exclude=/lost+found /

Save this backup in a secure location, preferably on external storage, separate from both servers.

Data Synchronization with rsync: The Key to Downtime-Free Migration

rsync is a powerful tool for incremental file synchronization that helps minimize downtime. The process consists of several stages:

1. Initial Synchronization: Copy all files from Hetzner to the new Valebyte server. This can take a significant amount of time depending on the data volume.

rsync -avzP --exclude='/dev/*' --exclude='/proc/*' --exclude='/sys/*' --exclude='/tmp/*' --exclude='/run/*' --exclude='/mnt/*' --exclude='/media/*' --exclude='/lost+found/*' / root@ВАШ_НОВЫЙ_IP_VALEBYTE:/

Note: Replace ВАШ_НОВЫЙ_IP_VALEBYTE with the IP address of your new server. Options: -a (archive mode), -v (verbose output), -z (compression), -P (show progress and resume interrupted transfers).

2. Database Synchronization: After the initial file synchronization, transfer the databases. First, export them on the old server, then import them on the new one.

# On the old server (Hetzner)
mysqldump -u root -p --all-databases > all_databases.sql

# Copy the file to the new server (Valebyte)
scp all_databases.sql root@ВАШ_НОВЫЙ_IP_VALEBYTE:/root/

# On the new server (Valebyte)
mysql -u root -p < all_databases.sql

3. Incremental Synchronizations: As you continue to work on the old server, keep running rsync. This will only copy changed files, which is significantly faster.

rsync -avzP --exclude='/dev/*' --exclude='/proc/*' --exclude='/sys/*' --exclude='/tmp/*' --exclude='/run/*' --exclude='/mnt/*' --exclude='/media/*' --exclude='/lost+found/*' / root@ВАШ_НОВЫЙ_IP_VALEBYTE:/

Configuring and Testing the New Valebyte Server

Once the data has been copied, you need to configure the new Valebyte server so that it is fully ready for operation:

• Software Installation and Configuration: Install and configure the web server (Nginx, Apache), PHP, databases (MySQL, PostgreSQL), mail servers, and other necessary applications according to your inventory.
• Application Configuration: Update your application's configuration files to point to local databases and other resources.
• SSL Certificates: Install SSL certificates.
• Testing Without DNS Changes: To test the website on the new server before switching DNS, you can temporarily modify the hosts file on your local computer or use a proxy server. Add a line like:

  ВАШ_НОВЫЙ_IP_VALEBYTE yourdomain.com www.yourdomain.com
      

  This will allow your computer to access the new Valebyte server by domain name, while other users still see the old Hetzner server. Thoroughly check all website functions, forms, admin panels, etc.

DNS Switchover and Finalization: How to switch from Hetzner?

This is the most critical moment when you finally switch from Hetzner to Valebyte.

1. Reduce DNS Record TTL (Time To Live): 24-48 hours before the switch, change the TTL for your A-records (and possibly CNAMEs) to a minimum value, for example, 300 seconds (5 minutes). This will speed up the propagation of DNS changes.
2. Stop Data Writing on the Old Server: If possible, put your website into maintenance mode or stop all processes that write data to the database or file system on the old Hetzner server.
3. Final Synchronization: Perform the last rsync command. Since the data is already almost identical, this will only take a few seconds or minutes.
4. Import Final Data: If there were changes in the databases, perform a final dump and import.
5. Change DNS Records: In your domain registrar's control panel (or DNS provider), change the domain's A-records to point to the IP address of your new Valebyte server.
6. Monitoring: Over the next hours and days, carefully monitor the new server's logs, performance, and website availability. Ensure that traffic is being redirected correctly.
7. Delete the Old Server: Once you are sure that everything is working stably on the new Valebyte server and the old Hetzner server is no longer receiving traffic, you can safely shut it down and delete it.

Recommendations for a Successful Migration from Hetzner

To ensure your migration from Hetzner is as smooth and successful as possible, follow these recommendations:

• Thorough Testing: Never neglect testing. Check every function, every page, every integration on the new server before switching DNS.
• Communication: If your website has a large audience, consider notifying users about the upcoming migration, especially if a short maintenance window is expected.
• Monitoring: Use monitoring tools (Prometheus, Grafana, Zabbix) to track the performance and availability of both servers before, during, and after the migration.
• Documentation: Document every step of the migration, including all commands, configurations, and changes. This will help in case of a rollback or future migrations.
• Start Small: If you have multiple services, consider migrating the least critical service first to practice the process.
• Seek Assistance: If you are unsure of your abilities or lack sufficient experience, the Valebyte support team is ready to provide consultations and assist with the migration. We have extensive experience in project transfers.
• Use SSH Keys: For secure and convenient access to servers when working with rsync and scp, always use SSH keys instead of passwords.
• Check Firewall: Ensure that the firewall on the new Valebyte server is configured correctly and does not block necessary ports for your application (HTTP, HTTPS, SSH, MySQL, etc.).

Why Valebyte is Your Optimal Choice for Migration?

By choosing Valebyte for your migration from Hetzner, you gain not just a new server, but a comprehensive solution with several advantages:

• High-Performance Infrastructure: Our VPS and dedicated servers are built on modern hardware with NVMe drives and powerful AMD EPYC and Intel Xeon E-series processors. This ensures superior I/O speed and computational power, which is critically important for databases and high-load applications. For example, our VPS M plan provides 4 vCPU, 8 GB RAM, and 100 GB NVMe disk for just $29/month, offering significantly better performance compared to similar offerings.
• 24/7 Expert Support: Unlike the basic support often offered by large providers, our team is available 24/7 and ready to assist not only with hardware issues but also with software configuration, optimization, and, of course, the migration process itself. We can provide detailed instructions or even help with transferring your data.
• Flexible Pricing Plans: We offer a wide range of VPS and dedicated servers that can be customized to your unique requirements. You only pay for the resources you truly need.
• Advanced DDoS Protection: All our servers include multi-layered DDoS attack protection, ensuring stable operation of your projects even under load.
• Reliable Network: Our data centers are equipped with high-speed, low-latency channels, guaranteeing fast access to your services from anywhere in the world.

By migrating to Valebyte, you invest in reliability, performance, and peace of mind, knowing that your infrastructure is in the hands of professionals.

Conclusion

Migrating from Hetzner to a new hosting provider, such as Valebyte, without downtime is an achievable goal with meticulous planning and the use of proven methodologies, such as incremental rsync synchronization and thoughtful DNS management. Valebyte offers not only powerful and flexible server infrastructure with NVMe drives and modern CPUs but also expert technical support that will be your reliable partner at every stage of this process, ensuring a smooth and secure transfer of your projects.