Server migration is a process where data is moved from one server to another. Data may be moved between servers for security reasons, replacing equipment, and for a variety of other reasons. This process is usually done by a team of specialists who work specifically with servers, although it is also possible for people with some computer skills to migrate their own data between servers. During the migration process, data may become temporarily inaccessible.
Data may be moved between servers for security reasons, replacing equipment, and for a variety of other reasons.
Before a server migration takes place, a plan is drawn up. Migrators may need to reformat the data to make it accessible on the new server or take other steps to make the migration go smoothly. Data should be backed up in case something goes wrong with the server migration and plans should be made to keep data safe during the transition process.
When data is migrated between servers running the same server management system, the process is usually straightforward, with no adjustments required. However, in cases where data is migrated between different types of servers, it is necessary to reformat the data. Once all the data has been moved, it will undergo a verification to confirm that it is intact and that no part has been damaged by the move. At this point, the migration is complete and the new server is up.
The new server can be located in the same building as the old one or in a different location. One reason people might choose to use server migration might be to allow data to load faster by moving to a server in a new location. Data can also be moved via server migration because a company is changing hosts and can no longer store stuff on the old host’s servers. Another reason could be an upgrade, with a company wanting access to a more stable or secure server.
Since the content is served over the Internet, a server migration can take a while to complete, as the address to get the information is different. Although Internet users are familiar with typing alphanumeric addresses to access websites, each of these addresses maps to a numeric address. When a server migration occurs, the records need to be changed so that people are sent to the correct server by typing in a web address, with the alphanumeric address linked to the new numeric one. This may take 24 hours or more as these logs are not continuously updated.
