Contabo VPS Migration to InterServer: Self-Managed Guide

Contabo provides VPS and dedicated-server products; cPanel is an optional panel, not a default shared-hosting assumption. Identify the source operating system, panel, web server, application, database and email services before planning a move. This guide covers website migration, not a one-click transfer of an entire VPS image.

Complimentary migration eligibility: InterServer provides migrations for web hosting plans only, limited to cPanel-to-cPanel and DirectAdmin-to-DirectAdmin. VPS and dedicated-server migrations are not offered. Cross-panel transfers and website-builder conversions are outside this service; the manual instructions below are for self-managed moves when the matching-panel web hosting requirements are not met.

If the source server runs cPanel

An authorized administrator can start cPanel’s Transfer Tool from the destination WHM server to copy source accounts. Check cPanel version compatibility, source connectivity, account mappings and database collisions first. Transfer Tool requires root or equivalent sudo/su privileges; for account-only source access, use WHM’s Transfer or Restore a cPanel Account workflow when available. Review each overwrite choice carefully because it can replace destination data.

Alternatively, create a cPanel account backup and confirm that the destination provider can restore that archive. A full account backup is not equivalent to a website directory archive and is not restored by every shared-hosting control panel.

If the source uses a custom VPS stack

Inventory the operating system, web server, runtime versions, services, database engine, scheduled jobs, TLS configuration, firewall rules and data stored outside the site directory. Back up files and databases with tools suitable for the installed versions; keep copies off-server and private. Do not reinstall or reimage the source server as part of an ordinary migration: Contabo warns that its cPanel installation/reinstall process erases existing server data.

Provision and secure the destination independently, restore the application and data, update configuration and secrets, and test against a preview hostname before changing DNS. Plan a final data synchronization for write-active sites. Move mail and DNS deliberately, and retain a rollback path until the new service is verified.

This Contabo VPS transfer must be managed by you or your administrator. InterServer does not provide VPS or dedicated-server migration services. The complimentary migration policy applies only to matching-panel web hosting transfers.

See cPanel’s current Transfer Tool documentation, our WHM transfer guide, and Contabo’s warning about installing cPanel on an existing server.