How to utilise WHM’s Transfer Tool feature

This guide explains how to utilise WHM’s Transfer Tool feature to seamlessly migrate accounts between cPanel servers while preserving settings, configurations, and data.

Follow the guide:

1. Log in to WHM.
2. Select the “Transfer” option and click on the “Transfer Tool” sub-option.
   
3. Before we get started, keep the following in mind when utilising this feature:
   1. Throughout the transfer, kindly refrain from stopping, restarting, or rebooting any services.
   2. To avoid the update failing, avoid starting a transfer while the system is updating.
   3. If a domain has DNSSEC enabled and uses a DS record, remove it prior to migration and add it again afterwards.
   4. The destination server will use the default DNS records; the transfer tool will not transfer DNS zone templates.
   5. Verify that both servers can connect to the OpenSSH port (typically 22, but check for custom ports) and port 2087.
4. Let us continue now that you have some knowledge of this tool. The “Remote Server Information” section will be the first thing you see when you visit the “Transfer Tool” page. There are two fields in it:
   1. Remote Server Address: Enter the remote server’s IP address or fully qualified domain name (FQDN) in this space.
   2. Remote SSH Port: Type the remote server’s SSH port here. If port 22 doesn’t work, try asking your remote service provider what the correct port is.
      
      1. As you proceed to the “Authentication” stage, the following will be required of you:
         1. Login: The “root” user will be selected as the radio button’s default value. On your remote server, you have an alternative user to select. If you choose “User,” the username will show in a text field below.
         2. Authentication Method: “Password” is chosen by default. The text field labeled “Root Password” will change to “SSH Key Passphrase,” and a drop-down menu will appear for you to select the public key if you select “SSH Public Key.”
            
5. This part will appear as described below if you select the “User” and “SSH Public Key” choices.
   
6. The “Root Escalation Method” is a new feature in this example. The server’s root password can be entered in the “Root Password” field that appears if you select the “su” option. The “Root Password” column will disappear, and just the “Username Password” field will be accessible if you choose the “sudo” option. Remember that in order for the transfer process to continue, the user on the remote server needs to have “sudo” rights. If not, there will be no connection made between the two servers.
   1. The “Security” section is located as you scroll down the page. Only one checkbox is available for it: “Restricted Restore.” It’s experimental right now and not a trustworthy security control mechanism. Its function is to make it possible to restore backups from unreliable sources. Transferring and restoring account backups from suppliers you don’t trust is strongly discouraged. Click “Scan Remote Server” to begin the server scan.
      
   2. The “Advanced” portion is the last section on this page. Click the “Show” button located on its right side to get additional details.
      
      1. There are several options available when you click the “Show” button. Let us examine each one in turn:
         1. Remote Server Type: Select the remote server’s control panel from the drop-down menu. “Auto Detect,” “WHM & cPanel,” “DirectAdmin,” “Ensim,” and “Plesk” are among the available options.
         2. Unencrypted: The transfer session is encrypted if left unchecked. Verifying it results in the session being decrypted. We advise against choosing this option.
         3. Compressed Transfers: Checking this option causes files to be compressed while being transferred.
         4. Low Priority: The transfer consumes less CPU and disk resources if it is checked, which slows it down.
         5. Number of Transfer Threads: Indicate how many CPU processes—up to five—there will be throughout the transfer session.
         6. Number of Restore Threads: Specify the number of CPU processes for the restore session, up to 5.
         7. Transfer Session Timeout: Set the number of seconds that will elapse before the transfer session ends.
            
7. Click the “Scan Remote Server” button at the bottom of the screen after making your selections, establishing your login credentials, and providing authentication information.
   

Please wait a short while after doing this task to be sure the process was successful.

Isn’t that simple? You now understand how to effortlessly move accounts between cPanel servers while maintaining settings, configurations, and data by utilizing WHM’s Transfer Tool feature.

Once you’ve transferred data, learn How to Restore cPanel Accounts using the “Transfer” option in WHM