Moving the team wiki to a new host

Before this: the answer says the wiki moves to a new host and your team notices one new address.

Today one host does everything. After the move the new host does, and the old one stays on for a month in case we need to go back.

Remember: we copy and never move, and the old host stays on for a month.

Before this: we copy the pages and the address changes.

Three moments reach your team. Everything else happens out of their sight.

Remember: your team sees a message, then a new address, then one extra sign-in.

Before this: your team sees a message, a new address and one extra sign-in.

Each phase finishes before the next starts.

1. Decide what moves

   You decideA few days
   • Pick what comes across: pages, files and comments.
   • Answer the three questions at the end of this page.

   Team notices: nothing.

2. Copy and rehearse

   I do the workAbout a day
   • Copy everything to the new host.
   • Rehearse the move on a spare copy, then take a fresh backup.

   Team notices: nothing. The old wiki still works.

3. Announce the date

   You send itTen minutes
   • One message with the date and the new address.

   Team notices: a message with the date and the new address.

4. Switch day

   Both of usOne evening
   • The wiki is read-only for about an hour.
   • The new address goes live, and the old one forwards to it.

   Team notices: the new address, and one extra sign-in.

5. Watch and fix

   I do the workA week
   • Watch for errors and broken links.
   • Fix what turns up the same day.

   Team notices: nothing new.

6. Retire the old host

   You decideAfter a month
   • Check that nobody still uses the old address.
   • Say yes, and I switch it off.

   Team notices: nothing.

Take from this: four of the six phases happen out of your team's sight.

Remember: only phases 3 and 4 reach your team, and both are marked "Team notices".

Before this: only phases 3 and 4 reach your team, and we copy rather than move.

Take from this: two pieces stay behind on purpose, and the old host keeps all of them.

Remember: the old host keeps everything, so a piece we leave out is never lost.

Before this: six phases, with a part for each of us.

• Nothing live without your yes. Every step that changes the live wiki waits for you.
• Copy, never move. The old host keeps every page until you say it can go.
• A backup before every switch. A fresh one, checked that it opens.
• Rehearse first. Each live step runs on a spare copy with fake data.

Take from this: you decide and send, I copy and check.

Remember: you say yes to every live step, and the old host stays until you say it can go.

Before this: I do each live step, and only after your yes.

1. Y Send the heads-up. One message, a day before: the date and the new address.
2. M Take a fresh backup. I check that it opens.
3. M Make the old wiki read-only. Nobody can edit for about an hour.
4. M Copy the last changes across. Then I check the pages that matter.
5. Y+M Point the new address at the new host. You say yes first.
6. M Forward the old address. Visitors to the old address land on the new one.

Take from this: one evening, six steps, and the way back is one step.

Remember: on switch day the way back is one step, because the old host still has every page.

Before this: the way back on switch day is one step.

Take from this: the one high risk is about the weeks after the move, so it has a date on the calendar.

Remember: the biggest risk is forgetting the old host, so it gets a reminder.

Before this: one risk is high, and it has a reminder.

Take from this: running both hosts for one month is the only extra cost.

Three questions are left. Pick an answer for each. My choice is marked. The bar at the bottom copies your answers so you can paste them back to me.

Remember: three answers from you, and the copy bar at the bottom sends them back to me.