Contents
Introduction
Migrating databases is often the most challenging part of moving a WordPress site from one environment to another. Whether you’re pushing changes from a local development setup to a staging server or migrating an entire site to a new host, pitfalls such as serialized data, misconfigured URLs, and timeouts can bring your workflow to a halt.
WP Migrate DB (formerly known as WP Migrate DB Pro) by Delicious Brains is a professional-grade solution designed to handle complex migrations with ease. This article provides a comprehensive guide to migrating databases using WP Migrate DB, covering installation, usage, advanced workflows, troubleshooting, and best practices.
Why Choose WP Migrate DB
- Serialization-Aware Find Replace: Automatically handles PHP serialized data to prevent corruption.
- Push and Pull Flows: Transfer your database seamlessly between two WordPress installations.
- Selective Table Export: Include or exclude specific tables or media files for tailored migrations.
- Rewrite Media Files URLs: Update paths for media libraries between environments.
- Compatibility: Supports multisite, WP-CLI integration, and popular hosting environments.
Installation and Setup
Prerequisites: Two WordPress installations (source and destination), database credentials for both, and WP Migrate DB installed.
- Obtain License: Purchase or access a free version from the WordPress plugin repository at wordpress.org/plugins/wp-migrate-db/.
- Install Plugin: In both source and destination sites, navigate to Plugins gt Add New, search for “WP Migrate DB”, install and activate.
- Configure Settings: Under Tools gt Migrate DB, enter your license key (Pro users) and set the default export method (download or push to remote site).
Basic Migration Workflow
1. Exporting the Database
- Go to Tools gt Migrate DB on your source site.
- Under Find Replace, enter old site URL and new site URL. WP Migrate DB auto-detects serialized data and adjusts correctly.
- Choose tables to include or exclude (e.g., exclude wp_posts if you want to preserve live posts).
- Select whether to save the export as an SQL file, download it, or push directly to a remote site.
- Click Export Database or Push to initiate.
2. Importing the Database
- If you downloaded an SQL file, import via phpMyAdmin or a database tool:
mysql -u user -p database lt export.sql. - If you pushed directly, WP Migrate DB on the destination automatically applies the changes.
- Clear cache plugins and browser cache to reflect updated URLs and content.
Key Features at a Glance
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Selective Tables | Include or exclude tables like wp_users or wp_comments for tailored migrations. |
| Media Files | Copy or rewrite media URLs between environments. |
| Multisite Support | Handle sub-sites and global tables in WordPress Multisite setups. |
| WP-CLI Integration | Automate migrations via command line: wp migrate db export. |
Advanced Usage
Automating with WP-CLI
For headless deployments and CI/CD pipelines, WP Migrate DB’s WP-CLI commands let you export and import databases without a browser. Example:
wp migrate db export --find=http://local.dev --replace=https://staging.example.com --tables=wp_posts,wp_postmeta
Handling Large Databases
- Enable chunked exports to avoid PHP timeouts. This splits the dump into manageable parts.
- Use SSH or direct MySQL connection credentials under Advanced Options for faster transfers.
- Compress dumps via Gzip: toggle Compress export file to reduce size.
Migrating WordPress Multisite
Multisite schemes add complexity with wp_blogs, wp_site, and per-site tables. WP Migrate DB:
- Select Multisite Mode to include network tables.
- Choose specific sub-site tables if migrating a single site from the network.
- Perform find replace on domain mappings, e.g.,
dev.local→prod.example.com.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
- Timeout Errors: Increase PHP max_execution_time or use chunked exports.
- Permission Denied: Ensure file permissions allow writing export files (e.g., 755 or 775 on wp-content/uploads).
- Broken Media URLs: Verify find replace rules cover both HTTP and HTTPS variants.
- Partial Imports: Check memory_limit and increase if necessary, or use SSH for remote connections.
Best Practices
- Always back up both source and target databases before running migrations.
- Test migrations in a staging environment before going live.
- Document your find replace rules, especially if you have customized table prefixes.
- Regularly update WP Migrate DB and WordPress core for security and compatibility.
- Use SSH authentication over HTTP where possible for enhanced security.
Conclusion
Migrating a WordPress database doesn’t have to be an arduous task. With WP Migrate DB, you gain a robust set of tools that handle serialization, selective exports, and direct push/pull connections between sites. Whether you’re a freelancer managing multiple client sites, or a development team automating your deployment pipeline, this plugin streamlines your workflow and reduces errors.
To learn more or purchase the Pro version, visit the official site at
deliciousbrains.com/wp-migrate-db.
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