Assistance Needed for Transitioning to a new VPS Server
Answered
Hi,
I am currently managing a VPS server running CentOS 7, and considering the approaching end-of-life for this Linux version, I am in the process of migrating to a new server running either AlmaLinux 8 or 9.
To ensure a smooth transition, I am seeking assistance in setting up the new server's name servers and host name. Currently, all my websites on the CentOS server are configured with the following name servers:
- NS1.MYDOMAIN.COM
- NS2.MYDOMAIN.COM
My question is whether I can continue to use the same name servers when configuring the new AlmaLinux server. Any guidance or instructions you could provide on this matter would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you in advance for your support.
Best regards,
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You can surely use the same nameservers again, will your new server have new IP's? If so once you've migrated all your accounts to the new server just change the IP's pointing to these nameservers.
Then once the propagation is completed, it should all switch over seamlessly.
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The migration of 75 websites requires some time to complete., meanwhile I'm not sure if I can use the same name servers (NS) for two separate servers.
For instance, if a website, let's say anywebsite.com, is configured with NS1.MYDOMAIN.COM, I'm not certain where its going to be pointed, the new or old one server ?
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You can surely use them on two separate servers. Depending on the DNS Propagation, it may grab from the old or new server.
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When I do a migration and want to keep the same nameservers, I just do the data migration and then change the DNS of the nameservers when everything is complete so they point to the new system. That way, there is seemingly no downtime to the end user as the DNS will point either to the old system or the new system.
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You can certainly do what you want, but moving the name servers is more than just updating DNS (that's half). You will also need to to to your domain registrar and update the IP's that are registered for those name servers.
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cPRex, I appreciate your input. However, I have a concern with your suggested solution. When migrating multiple websites, I find it challenging that I have to point the domain name to the new server (NS1, NS2). Otherwise, the websites continue to be directed to the old domain for a few weeks until I complete the migration of all 75 websites.
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psytanium it's not that complicated. You basically let the old VPS be the name server until you are all done. If you do a "Live" migration the transfer tool will update the DNS zone on the old VPS to point the DNS record to the new VPS. If you don't want to use the live option, you just update the zone on the old VPS to point to the new. After all the sites are migrated the old VPS is doing nothing but being the DNS server and the new VPS (logically) has the exact same DNS zones. You simply shift the IP's of your name servers from the old VPS's IPs to the new VPS's IPs.
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ffeingol, I'm currently utilizing transfer tools for migrating the majority of websites. Suppose I've successfully completed the migration for one account. Before proceeding with the migration of the remaining accounts, I want visitors to access the website hosted on the new server. In this scenario, should I change the domain name's NS1 and NS2 to the new server, or is it preferable to keep it pointed to the old server and update the DNS zone on the old server?
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In that scenario, it would be best to update the IP on the old machine. If you change the nameservers, you'll change the DNS for every domain using them.
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Hi cPRex, what do you mean by update the IP on the old machine ? From WHM ?
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The second option you listed in your previous reply - "or is it preferable to keep it pointed to the old server and update the DNS zone on the old server?"
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CPrex, this is what ffeingol proposed. To update the old server DNS.
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Correct. ffeingol is always right on the money with his recommendations.
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cPRex, could you or ffeingol guide me on updating the DNS settings for the old server? Starting fomr the old server WHM, I'm seeking step-by-step instructions and the specific values to fill in. Your assistance in this matter would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you.
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It's pretty simple. You would just edit the zone(s) for the account you transferred and change any occurrences of the old IP address to be the new IP address. That keeps DNS on the old server, but points the site to the new server. The only exception to this would be that you don't want to update the IP's of the name servers (in the domain that is the name servers) until you are all done and ready to move the name servers.
Before you start migrating you'll also (possibly) want to lower the TTL's on all the zones, so DNS updates faster.
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Thanks ffeingol, it worked! I also discovered that Cloudflare can be quite useful..
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I'm glad to hear that worked well!
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