Pre-migration tests

How to preview a website on a new server before changing DNS

Before switching a domain, you can test whether the site works on new hosting by temporarily adding the server IP to the local hosts file.

When does it help?

During WordPress, shop or business website migration you can find PHP errors, missing files, database issues or Mixed Content before users see them.

The test works only on the computer where the hosts file was changed.

What should be remembered?

After testing, remove the temporary entry so the computer uses public DNS again.

If the website uses SSL, the certificate and domain configuration still need to match the target address.

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