Here is the NORMAL process for doing a Plesk migration between servers (specifically at GoDaddy): [NOTE: This process seamlessly allows you to migrate user accounts, domains, databases, files, file permissions, the whole damn thing!]

1. You backup EVERYTHING on the old server, including files and MYSQL databases.  (PHPMyAdmin is a good export tool if you don’t know how to back a database up via SSH.)
2. Go to the NEW server, click on the SERVER link on the left, and choose Migration Manager
3. Enter your OLD server’s IP address and the root password. If you do not have root access, you’ll want to get it, or at least have an account that has root level permissions.
4. Click on NEXT and follow the wizard as it takes you through the process of migrating user accounts and domains.

Now here’s where things get tricky. On a normal VPS, you’d have root access. On a Godaddy (boo) VPS, they don’t allow you to log in as root (for FTP or SSH), so you have to use “su -” (Note the ‘-’ sign) when you’re logged in as another user.

This is what typically shows up when you try to use the migration manager to transfer one Godaddy VPS to another:

Cannot send scout to the remote host

Failed to execute scout.
The return code is 1
The output on STDERR is
sudo: sorry, you must have a tty to run sudo

All this error means is that the user account you entered does not have sufficient permissions on the server to do the migration.  Normally you would simply use the root account and things would be peachy, but with Godaddy, they like to make it difficult.

Here’s the solution. [NOTE: This is technical and requires you to be damn careful else you'll really hose your old system up and TRUST ME, Godaddy DOES NOT offer support for VPS accounts beyond setting them up and tearing them down. [Everything you do is on your own shoulders..]

1. Using your normal user account, (not Plesk admin, but the user account you have for the server/SSH/FTP) SSH into your server.  If you don’t know what I’m talking about, download PUTTY.EXE and do the following: Enter the IP address of your server in the HOST NAME field, then make sure connection type is SSH.  Click on OPEN.  A black window should come up and you can enter your FTP username, then password, and you should be given a prompt.
2. Once you are logged into the Godaddy VPS server via SSH, you can type ‘SU -’ [no quotes] and enter your password again. This will change the prompt to say root on the left hand side.  If you use the ‘-’ it will give you access to the root PATH, which is necessary for the next step.
3. Type ‘visudo’ and hit enter. This will take you to the edit screen of the SUDO security configuration.  Find the section that has the following:  “root   ALL=(ALL)    ALL”  and below that, add your username along with the ALL entries.   “username  ALL=(ALL)   ALL”   [NOTE: To edit, move the insertion point to the space you wish to type, then start typing.   When finished, hit the colon key ":" and type W to write the file, then hit the colon key again and type 'quit'.]
4. At this point your username should have the appropriate configuration.  Go back to the NEW server’s Migration Manager and start it fresh, this time using the user account, it’s password, and it’s password again for the SUDO password.

That should take you through the entire Migration Manager wizard process and help you get your domains and client accounts transferred to the new server.

When you are finished with the migration, and if you plan on keeping the OLD server, be sure to remove the user entry from the sudo security config file using the process above.

Download the plugin for free here

Make sure you read the installation instructions here

Test it out by using your iPhone or BlackBerry and navigate to www.nickmattern.com.  Note the simplistic layout on the Black Berry and now it doesn’t try to download the main blog’s theme.

The information in this article will allow you to run WordPress permalinks on Windows Server 2000, 2003, or 2008 using IIS5, IIS6, or IIS7.

Ok, first of all there is no real MOD_REWRITE setting for IIS5 or IIS6.  That’s an Apache mod and though there are some ISAPI_MOD_REWRITE projects floating around out there, most of them do NOT do the exact same thing as MOD_REWRITE does and will not function in IIS as MOD_REWRITE does in APACHE.

For programs such as Wordpress that normally are designed for Apache installations, you can install the following ISAPI filter and all your Permalink problems go away.

First, what is a Permalink. A permalink is what Wordpress uses to form the URL of your posts/pages into something more SEO friendly or human readable. (HINT: Get to Permalinks by logging into your WordPress Admin Panel your http://www.domain.com/wp-admin/  Click on SETTINGS, Permalinks.)

By default, a wordpress standard URL on Apache is formed as such: http://www.nickmattern.com/2008/10/06/sample-post/, In IIS, the WordPress URL uses the index.php file to display your permalinks, ex. http://shelbygirl.com/index.php/2008/10/06/sample-post/

Obviously the IIS URL doesn’t help the user remember your URL  What most users and search engines want to see is a descriptive URL.  www.domain.com/index.php?a=4423 is a LOT harder to remember than www.domain.com/AboutUs would be.

Format your Permalinks in the following manner: /%postname%/, making sure to begin each string with a /% and end each string with a %/.  If I wanted my URL to have the Year/Date/Postname, I’d format my Permalink string as such: /%year%/%monthnum%/%postname%/

Now back to why this matters for IIS.  First, Apache forms URLs without the need for index.php to be involved with the URL.  Be default, in IIS, your permalinks will use this format: http://shelbygirl.com/index.php/2008/10/06/sample-post/ (Notice the index.php) whereas Apache will simply use http://www.nickmattern.com/2008/10/06/sample-post/. Now, according to numerous Google Blogs, the index.php shouldn’t really matter, and that’s mostly correct.  The problem you’ll find is your users not being able to remember the index.php, they’ll simply see the domain.com/postname, not the domain.com/index.php/postname.

By installing the filter listed above (You’ll need to have access to the IIS manager and your PHP.ini file) you can eliminate the need for the index.php to be included in any URLs that Wordpress cranks out.  Be sure to back up your PHP.ini file before you change it and while you’re at it, make a backup of your IIS Site as well.

Once the filter is installed, restart IIS and change your permalink structure accordingly, then test out your WordPress content. If it doesn’t work, go back and reread the instructions.

Keep in mind that a lot of the descriptions are from the vendor’s page.

The vendor is responsible for the accuracy of the description. I try to be very vendor neutral when giving advice. I’ll never endorse a product unless 1) I’ve used it or 2) It’s a recognized industry leader in it’s niche. I will from time to time review products like those below.

Server Operating Systems

Microsoft Windows Server 2003/2008: Windows Server 2008 is the most advanced Windows Server operating system yet, designed to power the next-generation of networks, applications, and Web services. With Windows Server 2008 you can develop, deliver, and manage rich user experiences and applications, provide a highly secure network infrastructure, and increase technological efficiency and value within your organization. [Microsoft Corp.]

CentOS: CentOS is an Enterprise-class Linux Distribution derived from sources freely provided to the public by a prominent North American Enterprise Linux vendor. CentOS is free. [centos.org]

Red Hat Enterprise Linux: Red Hat Enterprise Linux is available in two variants for servers. A base Red Hat Enterprise Linux server is designed for small deployments while Red Hat Enterprise Linux Advanced Platform is designed for mainstream customers and provides the most cost-effective, flexible, and scalable environment. Both versions are based on common core technology. Both include a comprehensive suite of open source server applications and virtualization capabilities. [Redhat.com]

Tools that connect you to your server

Putty.exe: PuTTY is a free implementation of Telnet and SSH for Win32 and Unix platforms, along with an xterm terminal emulator. I’ll cover a specific blog post about how to use this tool sometime. You need to know some basic Linux commands, but we’ll cover that in a later post. If you’re reading this and don’t see the post, flame me and I’ll get it done…

Filezilla: Filezilla is a great FTP client (and server). FTP stands for File Transfer Protocol, in short it’s the way you transfer files between computers, using the Internet. Similar to File Explorer in Windows, you can transfer files and folders from a local directory on your PC to a remote directory on a web server. [sourceforge.net]

Tools that monitor your server

IPCheck: Freeware (and commercial) tool that monitors your sites or hardware and reports service outages. Free edition give you up to 5 sensors. Have it check if a page is displaying, if a record is displaying, if an IP pings, and more. [Paessler Corp.]

Tools that your customers will want

Control Panels:

Plesk Control Panel: Parallels Plesk is a comprehensive control panel solution used by leading hosting providers worldwide for shared, virtual and dedicated hosting. The control panel is designed to simplify the management and administration of web sites. Plesk control panel automates a large number of tasks that allow service providers to reduce operating costs and resources while at the same time increasing profitability, efficiency and customer satisfaction. [Parallels Corp]

Helm Control Panel: Helm 4 is the leading windows control panel solution, empowering hosting providers to control, automate and sell virtually any product or service. Helm 4 allows service providers to keep their operational costs down and serve their customers better, resulting in efficient service, improved revenue and greater level of customer satisfaction. [www.WebHostAutomation.com]

cPanel Control Panel: cPanel and WebHost Manager (WHM) combine to form a fully featured web hosting control panel system. cPanel and WHM allow you to provide an interface for both your customers and your staff. [cPanel.net]

Ensim Control Panel: