If your WestHost Site Manager account only has website data and email addresses, then migrating your account to cPanel can be done in a few steps. Follow the steps outlined below:

Step 1: Migrate Your Website Data:

1.1: Purchase a cPanel account

  1. Click here to view the cPanel packages that we offer.

  2. Select the package that you would like to host and proceed through the checkout process.

  3. Enter your domain in the “Use an existing domain” field when it comes up during checkout.

  4. If you have a coupon code for your migration, enter the requested information within the payment screen.

  5. After you check out and your account is processed, you will have access to CHI, WestHost’s easy-to-use control panel.

1.2: Download your site content from Site Manager to your local computer using FTP


FileZilla is a free, open-source application for transferring files. It will allow you to download the content from your SiteManager account and upload it to your cPanel account.

Follow the steps below to download your files:

 

  1. Download FileZilla from the following link: https://filezilla-project.org/download.php?type=client

  2. Install the program on your computer.

  3. Run FileZilla.

  4. You will be using the Quickconnect feature in FileZilla as soon as the program opens. Fill in the following information at the top of the screen:

    1. Host: Enter [yourdomain.com] and replace [yourdomain.com] with your actual domain name or the IP Address of your Account.
    2. Username: Enter your Site Manager username.
    3. Password: Enter your Site Manager password.
    4. Port: Leave this field blank or enter 21.

  5. After filling in the information, click “Quickconnect”.

  6. FileZilla will then display the file directory for your computer in the left-hand side of your screen. The right-hand side of your screen will display the files from your website. The files from your website will be located in the “/var/www/html” file.

  7. Create a place on your local computer to store the data. We recommend in the downloads folder, but you can use any location. Drag the contents of the “/var/www/html” folder to that new file location.

Your website files are now stored on your local machine, and you are nearly ready to upload them to cPanel.

This is also a great way to store a backup of your Site Manager files on your local machine in the event you need them at a later time. Our technical staff highly recommends keeping a current backup at all times.


1.3: Obtain your cPanel IP address

The next step is to obtain the IP address for your new cPanel hosting account. This will allow you to Quickconnect to your cPanel account via FileZilla and transfer the files you previously downloaded. To obtain your cPanel IP address, follow the steps below:

  1. Log into CHI by going to CHI.WestHost.com

  2. Enter your username and password. You will obtain these after purchasing a cPanel hosting account.

  3. After logging into CHI, click on the Shared Hosting tab on the left-hand side of your screen.

  4. Click on your domain on the left side of your screen.

  5. Click on the cPanel tab from the menu at the top of your screen.

  6. On the right side of the cPanel interface, there is a “General Information” section. 

  7. Look at the “Shared IP Address” or “Dedicated IP Address” section and note the IP address. You will need this IP address a few more times in this step, so make sure you keep it close by for reference.

1.4: Upload your website files to your cPanel account using FileZilla


Now that you know the IP Address for your cPanel account, you are ready to connect to your new account via FileZilla and upload your website files. This process is similar to Step Two, but you will be transferring your files from your local machine to your cPanel account.


  1. Open FileZilla.

  2. Fill in the fields for the Quickconnect feature:

    1. Host: Enter the IP Address obtained in Step Three.

    2. Username: Enter your cPanel Username. (This can be found in CHI under the main page of the Shared Hosting tab).

    3. Password: Enter the cPanel/SSH/FTP password (This can be reset from within CHI).

    4. Port: Leave this field blank.

  3. Click “Quickconnect”

  4. In the left-hand side, locate the files you previously downloaded to your local machine. Drag them to the “public_html” folder on the right-hand side. FileZilla will then upload those files to the cPanel server.


1.5: Test Your Website Files

Now that you have migrated your files, it’s time to test the functionality of your website. Go to the temporary cPanel website and browse around to test the functionality. You can access this site by opening a web browser and going to http://[IPaddress]/~[cPanelusername].To complete the URL, insert the IP address you found in Step Three, add your cPanel username in the appropriate locations, and remove the brackets.

1.6: Update Your DNS To Point To cPanel

When you are satisfied with your website’s functionality in cPanel, you can then update your DNS to point to your new account. Follow the steps below to update your DNS:

  1. In CHI, go to the “Domains” tab.

  2. Choose the domain you are working with.

  3. Click on the "DNS" tab from the menu at the top of the screen.

  4. Enter the following information for Name Servers in the “Hostname” field:

  1. Nameserver 1: DNS1.WESTHOST.COM

  2. Nameserver 2: DNS2.WESTHOST.COM

  3. Nameserver 3: DNS3.WESTHOST.COM


Step Two: Migrate your email accounts:

Migrating your email account involves two steps: creating the email accounts in CHI and migrating your email data. The first step can be done within the CHI control panel, the second step requires an email client such as Outlook or Mac Mail.

2.1: Create email accounts in CHI

You will need to recreate all email accounts from your old account in CHI.
For help creating these, follow the steps below or watch this video.


  1. Log into your chi.westhost.com account.
  2. Click on the “Domains” tab on the left-hand side of your screen.
  3. Click on the specific domain you would like to create an email address for.
  4. Click the “Email” link from the menu at top of your screen.
  5. Click “Add A New Email”.
  6. Enter the email you want under “Account Name”. For example, info@example.com should be entered under “Account Name”.
  7. Enter the email password for that specific account, and once again to confirm.
  8. Click “Save” and your email has been added.
  9. Repeat this step for every email account you have attached to your website.

2.2: Migrate Emails

Migrate your emails by following our guide How To Migrate Email to cPanel.

Step Three: Test your website and email accounts

Navigate your website and send test emails to the accounts associated with your new account. If you encounter any issues, please contact our support team.