How to Duplicate a Website on OzSpeed Using hPanel

Duplicating a website can be useful for various reasons, such as creating a backup, setting up a staging environment for testing, or reusing an existing design for a new project. With OzSpeed’s hPanel, you can easily duplicate your website without needing extensive technical knowledge. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you duplicate your website safely and efficiently.

---

Step 1: Backup Your Website #

Before duplicating your website, create a complete backup to ensure that you can restore your site if something goes wrong during the process.

How to Create a Backup: #

1. Log in to your hPanel Dashboard at ozspeed.com.au.
2. Go to Files > Backups.
3. Click “Create New Backup” and wait for the process to complete.
4. Download the backup file for safekeeping.

Tip: #

• Store a copy of the backup file on your local computer or cloud storage for extra protection.

---

Step 2: Set Up a New Hosting Account #

You need a separate hosting account or subdomain where you can duplicate the website.

How to Set Up a New Hosting Account: #

1. Go to Hosting > Add New Website in hPanel.
2. Choose a new domain or create a subdomain (e.g., staging.yourdomain.com).
3. Click “Set Up Hosting” and follow the prompts to complete the setup.

Tip: #

• Use a subdomain if you’re creating a staging environment or testing changes before deploying them to the live site.

---

Step 3: Export Your Website Files #

You need to export your website files and database to duplicate the site.

How to Export Files: #

1. Go to Files > File Manager in hPanel.
2. Select the public_html folder and click “Download” to save the entire folder as a ZIP file.

How to Export the Database: #

1. Go to Databases > phpMyAdmin in hPanel.
2. Select your website’s database and click “Export”.
3. Choose Quick Export and click “Go” to download the SQL file.

Tip: #

• Use the Download All Files option if you want to include additional folders outside of public_html.

---

Step 4: Upload the Website Files to the New Hosting Account #

After exporting the files, upload them to the new hosting account.

How to Upload Files: #

1. Go to Files > File Manager in hPanel for the new hosting account.
2. Open the public_html folder.
3. Click “Upload” and select the ZIP file you downloaded earlier.
4. Extract the ZIP file once the upload is complete.

Tip: #

• Ensure that all files are in the correct directory (e.g., public_html) to avoid broken links.

---

Step 5: Import the Database #

You also need to import the database for the duplicated website to function correctly.

How to Import the Database: #

1. Go to Databases > phpMyAdmin for the new hosting account.
2. Click “Import” and select the SQL file you exported earlier.
3. Click “Go” to complete the import.

Tip: #

• If the database size is large, use the BigDump tool for a faster import process.

---

Step 6: Update the Configuration File #

You need to update the database credentials in the website’s configuration file to match the new hosting account.

How to Update wp-config.php (for WordPress): #

1. Go to Files > File Manager.
2. Open the wp-config.php file in the editor.
3. Update the following details:phpCopy codedefine('DB_NAME', 'new_database_name'); define('DB_USER', 'new_database_user'); define('DB_PASSWORD', 'new_database_password'); define('DB_HOST', 'localhost');
4. Click Save to apply the changes.

Tip: #

• If you’re not using WordPress, update the configuration file for your specific CMS (e.g., config.php for Joomla).

---

Step 7: Update URLs in the Database #

If you’re duplicating the website to a new domain or subdomain, you need to update the URLs in the database.

How to Update URLs: #

1. Go to phpMyAdmin and select the new database.
2. Click on the SQL tab and run the following query:sqlCopy codeUPDATE wp_options SET option_value = REPLACE(option_value, 'old-domain.com', 'new-domain.com') WHERE option_name = 'home' OR option_name = 'siteurl'; UPDATE wp_posts SET guid = REPLACE(guid, 'old-domain.com', 'new-domain.com'); UPDATE wp_postmeta SET meta_value = REPLACE(meta_value, 'old-domain.com', 'new-domain.com'); UPDATE wp_links SET link_url = REPLACE(link_url, 'old-domain.com', 'new-domain.com'); UPDATE wp_comments SET comment_content = REPLACE(comment_content, 'old-domain.com', 'new-domain.com');
3. Click Go to execute the changes.

Tip: #

• Use a plugin like Better Search Replace in WordPress to simplify this process.

---

Step 8: Test the Duplicated Website #

Before making the duplicated website live, thoroughly test it to ensure everything is working correctly.

Testing Checklist: #

1. Check All Pages: Ensure that all pages load correctly without errors.
2. Test Forms: Submit a test message through any contact forms to verify they work.
3. Verify Links: Click on all links to ensure they point to the correct domain or subdomain.
4. Check Mobile Compatibility: Use the responsive design mode in your browser to test how the site looks on mobile devices.

Tip: #

• Use an incognito window or clear your browser cache to avoid seeing cached versions of the old site.

---

Step 9: Update SEO and Analytics Settings #

If you’re duplicating the website to a new domain, update your SEO settings and analytics tracking codes.

How to Update SEO Settings: #

1. Go to Marketing > SEO Tools in hPanel.
2. Update the Meta Title, Meta Description, and Keywords for the new domain.

Update Analytics: #

1. Go to Settings > Tracking Codes.
2. Replace the old Google Analytics tracking code with the new one.

Tip: #

• Use Google Search Console to submit a new sitemap for the duplicated site.

---

Step 10: Go Live with the Duplicated Website #

Once you’ve tested the duplicated site and made all necessary updates, it’s ready to go live.

How to Publish: #

1. Click Publish in hPanel for the new hosting account.
2. Confirm the domain settings and click “Go Live”.

Tip: #

• Inform your clients or team members about the new duplicated site, especially if it’s being used for testing or staging.

---

Troubleshooting Tips #

1. Database Connection Error:
   • Double-check the database credentials in the configuration file (wp-config.php or config.php).
   • Ensure the database user has the correct permissions.
2. Broken Links or Images:
   • Use a link checker tool to find broken links.
   • Update the URLs in the database or use a plugin like Better Search Replace.
3. Website Not Loading Properly:
   • Clear the website cache in hPanel and your browser cache.
   • Verify that all files are in the correct directory (e.g., public_html).

---

Additional Tips: #

• Keep the Original Site Active: Maintain the original site until you’ve fully tested the duplicated version.
• Use Staging for Testing: Create a staging environment for testing major changes before deploying them to the live site.
• Regular Backups: Schedule regular backups in hPanel to protect your data.