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Import a server from another host

The Import a server tab copies your server files from your previous host straight to your YorkHost server, over SFTP, FTP or FTPS. The transfer goes from server to server: nothing goes through your PC.

Before you start​

  • Get your previous host's SFTP or FTP access: host, port, username and password. They are only used for this transfer and never saved
  • Order a YorkHost server for the same game, ideally on the same version
  • Stop your YorkHost server before importing, so that it does not change or lock files during the copy
  • If your YorkHost server already holds data you want to keep, create a backup from Management → Backups

Steps​

  1. Log in to the YorkHost Panel:
  2. Select your server
  3. Go to Tools → Import a server
  4. Under Previous host, choose the Protocol:
    • SFTP: recommended, encrypted connection (usually port 22)
    • FTP: unencrypted connection (port 21)
    • FTPS (explicit TLS): encrypted FTP (port 21)
  5. Fill in the Host, Port, Username and Password
  6. Click Test the connection. If it works, the panel shows the server key fingerprint (SFTP) or the TLS certificate (FTPS): if your previous host shows it, compare it to make sure you are connected to the right server
  7. Under Folder to import, open the folder that holds your server files: all of its content will be copied
  8. Under Destination, enter the Destination folder on your server (/ for the root), then choose the options:
    • Overwrite existing files: otherwise, a file already present on your server is kept as is
    • Empty the destination before importing: deletes the current content of the destination folder, once the connection and the file inventory succeeded (protected files are kept)
  9. Click Start the import, check the summary and confirm

The import keeps running in the background: you can leave the page. The progress shows the number of files and the amount of data copied, the speed and the estimated time left. Cancel the import stops the copy: files already copied stay on your server.

After the import​

  • If some files could not be copied, the Files and folders not copied list gives the reason (protected file, folder with the same name, read refused by the previous host…)
  • Symbolic links are ignored
  • If your server was running during the import, restart it so that it picks up the imported files
  • Check your server configuration, especially the ports: keep the ones assigned by YorkHost (Network tab), not your previous host's
  • Databases are not handled by this tool: to copy a MySQL database hosted elsewhere, use Management → SQL Import & Access (Import from another host button)
Unencrypted FTP

Over FTP, the password and the files travel unencrypted. Prefer SFTP or FTPS if your previous host offers them.

Permissions

Importing requires the permission to create files, and the Empty the destination before importing option requires the permission to delete files.