Title: Migrate multisite
Last modified: August 21, 2016

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# Migrate multisite

 *  Resolved [alittlebitofnothing](https://wordpress.org/support/users/ecomonkey/)
 * (@ecomonkey)
 * [12 years, 9 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/migrate-multisite/)
 * I am looking at migrating a small/medium sized multisite from one virtual machine
   to another. The stumbling block is the IP address, and this must be a common 
   issue to others. I am unable to take my msite IP address to the new vm – my friends
   [@bytemark](https://wordpress.org/support/users/bytemark/) say this is not possible–
   presumably because it goes back to a pool and unavailable to the new virtual 
   environment that is running on bigv.io.
 * There are literally dozens and dozens of A records to amend from all sorts of
   people, who I have never met, and multiple domain registrars. The msite has under
   a 100 sites. From experience mapping has always confused people.
 * What do the experts suggest?
 * Thanks
 * [http://wordpress.org/plugins/wordpress-mu-domain-mapping/](http://wordpress.org/plugins/wordpress-mu-domain-mapping/)

Viewing 4 replies - 1 through 4 (of 4 total)

 *  Plugin Author [Ron Rennick](https://wordpress.org/support/users/wpmuguru/)
 * (@wpmuguru)
 * [12 years, 8 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/migrate-multisite/#post-4050645)
 * > What do the experts suggest?
 * Unfortunately the only choice you have is to update all the DNS records.
 *  Thread Starter [alittlebitofnothing](https://wordpress.org/support/users/ecomonkey/)
 * (@ecomonkey)
 * [12 years, 8 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/migrate-multisite/#post-4050658)
 * Thanks Ron.
 * Alas, I was coming to that conclusion as I was hitting the submit button, but
 * 1) is there a sensible running order that would limit downtime, while not entailing
   excessive effort?
 * Just switching and catching up with people could mean they go offline for weeks!
   My best guess is that I ask everyone to send me their registrar login details,
   if they agree, which means I can compress the process into hours rather than 
   days.
 * It doesn’t look to me that switching to CNAME would make it any easier, except
   that it would mean futures server changes may be easier to manage. But that would
   mean we are responsible for NS and MX … an additional complication.
 * There’s an earlier related discussion/question here:
 * [http://wordpress.org/support/topic/plugin-wordpress-mu-domain-mapping-a-record-vs-cname-please-explain-like-im-5?replies=8](http://wordpress.org/support/topic/plugin-wordpress-mu-domain-mapping-a-record-vs-cname-please-explain-like-im-5?replies=8)
 * I am still checking how an @ CNAME works on a new test site and my main registrar,
   so my other question is
 * 2) how widespread is the CNAME limitation referred to in the link above (Some
   registrars do not allow TLDs to have CNAMEs while others do)? Is this a show 
   stopper?
 * Thanks
 *  Plugin Author [Ron Rennick](https://wordpress.org/support/users/wpmuguru/)
 * (@wpmuguru)
 * [12 years, 8 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/migrate-multisite/#post-4050678)
 * > 1) is there a sensible running order that would limit downtime, while not entailing
   > excessive effort?
 * Any time I’ve done it I have kept both installs active at the same time. I access
   the new install using my hosts file. I backup everything, get it set up on the
   new server then switch the DNS.
 * Once the domains’ DNS has all propagated over then you can close down the old
   install.
 *  Thread Starter [alittlebitofnothing](https://wordpress.org/support/users/ecomonkey/)
 * (@ecomonkey)
 * [12 years, 8 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/migrate-multisite/#post-4050694)
 * OK, looking at how CNAME (canonical name, doh!) works it seems logical to switch
   to CNAME, not just because this will not interrupt service. What I hadn’t appreciated
   is that you can use an A record or a CNAME regardless of whether I have set a
   CNAME or an IP in the mu domain mapping plugin – just wish I had figured this
   out sooner.
 * All I need to do is ask people to switch to CNAME, and pray I can do the move
   this side of xmas.
 * Thanks

Viewing 4 replies - 1 through 4 (of 4 total)

The topic ‘Migrate multisite’ is closed to new replies.

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## Tags

 * [CNAME](https://wordpress.org/support/topic-tag/cname/)
 * [IP](https://wordpress.org/support/topic-tag/ip/)

 * 4 replies
 * 2 participants
 * Last reply from: [alittlebitofnothing](https://wordpress.org/support/users/ecomonkey/)
 * Last activity: [12 years, 8 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/migrate-multisite/#post-4050694)
 * Status: resolved