How to Migrate Your Server to Obsidian Servers

This guide walks you through moving an existing Minecraft server from another hosting provider to Obsidian Servers. Whether you have a small survival server or a large network with plugins and databases, the process is straightforward.

There are two ways to transfer your files:

Server Importer (recommended) - Pulls files directly from your old host over FTP/SFTP, no downloads to your computer needed
Manual transfer - Download files from your old host, then upload them via SFTP

Before You Start

Before making any changes, take time to prepare. A little planning here prevents headaches later.

Keep Your Old Server Running

Do not cancel your old hosting until the migration is fully tested and you have confirmed everything works on Obsidian Servers. Having both servers available lets you compare settings and recover files if needed.

Document Your Current Setup

Make note of the following from your old host:

Server software and version - e.g., Paper 1.21.4, Forge 1.20.1, Fabric 1.21
Java version - check your old host's startup settings
Plugins or mods - list every plugin/mod and its version
Custom startup flags - any JVM flags or startup parameters you use
Database details - if any plugins use MySQL databases (e.g., LuckPerms, LiteBans, economy plugins)

Back Up Your Old Server

Download a full backup from your old host before making any changes. Most hosts offer a backup or download feature in their panel. Save this to your computer as a safety net.

Note Your Old Host's FTP/SFTP Credentials

If you plan to use the Server Importer, you will need your old host's FTP or SFTP connection details:

Host address
Port number
Username
Password

Check your old host's panel or documentation for these details.

Setting Up Your New Server

Order a server at Obsidian Servers if you have not already
Log in to the Game Panel
Select your server
Set your server to the same software type and Minecraft version as your old server using the Version Changer (Game > Versions). See Choosing a Server Version (JAR Types) for help picking the right option
Go to the Startup page and verify the Java version matches what your old server uses
Do not start the server yet - import your files first

Transferring Your Files

Method 1: Server Importer (Recommended)

The Server Importer connects directly to your old host and pulls your files over, so you do not need to download anything to your computer first.

Log in to the Game Panel
Select your server
In the left menu, click Game
Select Importer
Enter your old host's connection details:
- Host - Your old server's FTP/SFTP address
- Port - The FTP/SFTP port (usually 21 for FTP or 22 for SFTP)
- Username - Your FTP/SFTP username from your old host
- Password - Your FTP/SFTP password from your old host
Select whether your old host uses FTP or SFTP
Connect and browse your old server's files
Select the files and folders you want to import
Start the import and wait for it to complete

Tip: The import speed depends on the size of your files and the connection between the two hosts. Large servers may take some time.

Method 2: Manual Transfer via SFTP

Use this method if your old host does not provide FTP/SFTP access, or if the Server Importer does not work with your old host.

Download your server files from your old host to your computer
Connect to your Obsidian Servers server via SFTP (see How to Access and Manage Server Files for full SFTP setup instructions)
Upload your files to your new server

Tip: To speed up the transfer, compress your files into a ZIP archive before uploading. Once uploaded, use the File Manager (Core > Files) to extract the ZIP - click the three dots next to the file and select Unarchive.

What Files to Transfer

Not everything from your old server needs to come across. Here is what to bring and what to leave behind.

Files to Transfer

Files/Folder	What It Contains	Required?
`world/` (and other world folders)	Your world data, builds, and terrain	Yes
`plugins/`	Plugin JARs and their config folders	Yes (if using plugins)
`mods/`	Mod files	Yes (if using mods)
`server.properties`	Core server settings (difficulty, MOTD, whitelist, etc.)	Recommended
`bukkit.yml` / `spigot.yml` / `paper-global.yml`	Server software configuration	Recommended
`whitelist.json` / `banned-players.json` / `ops.json`	Player access lists	Recommended
`server-icon.png`	Server list icon (64x64 PNG)	Optional
Custom JAR file	If using a custom server JAR	If applicable

Files NOT to Transfer

The default server JAR - Obsidian Servers provides this through the Version Changer
eula.txt - This is generated automatically
Host-specific files - Any files or folders specific to your old hosting provider (these vary by host)

Migrating Databases

If your plugins use MySQL databases (common for LuckPerms, LiteBans, economy plugins, and others), you will need to migrate those separately.

Step 1: Export From Your Old Host

Export your database from your old host. Most hosts provide phpMyAdmin or a similar tool:

Open phpMyAdmin (or your old host's database tool)
Select the database
Click Export
Choose Quick export with SQL format
Download the .sql file

Step 2: Create a New Database

Log in to the Game Panel
Select your server
In the left menu, click Data
Select Databases
Create a new database and note the credentials (host, database name, username, password)

Step 3: Import Your Data

Open phpMyAdmin for your new database (accessible from the Databases page)
Select your new database
Click Import
Upload your .sql file
Click Go to run the import

Step 4: Update Plugin Configs

After importing, update each plugin's configuration file to point to the new database. Look for settings like:

host or address - change to your new database host
database or name - change to your new database name
username or user - change to your new database username
password - change to your new database password

Updating Configuration

After transferring your files, several settings will need updating to work with your new server.

Plugin Configs With Old IP Addresses

Search your plugin config files for your old host's IP address or hostname and replace them with your new server details. Common plugins that store connection info include:

Votifier/NuVotifier - IP, port, and keys
BungeeCord/Velocity configs - server addresses
Dynmap - web server settings
Any plugin with external connections - webhooks, API endpoints

Server Properties

Open server.properties and check:

server-port - verify it matches the port assigned to your new server (shown on the Console page)
server-ip - remove any value here or leave it blank to let the server auto-bind to the correct address

Startup Variables

Go to the Startup page in the Game Panel and verify the startup variables match your old setup, including:

Java version
Server JAR file name
Any custom JVM flags

Testing Your Server

Before announcing the switch, test thoroughly:

Start the server and watch the console for errors
Check plugins - run /plugins in the console and verify everything loaded
Join the server and check that your worlds loaded correctly - verify builds, player inventories, and terrain
Test database features - permissions, economy balances, ban lists, and any other database-dependent functionality
Invite a few players to connect and test before going fully live

If you see errors in the console, check the Troubleshooting section below.

Going Live

Once everything is working, update your server address everywhere:

Minecraft server list sites - update your IP/address on all listing sites
Voting sites - update the server IP, port, and Votifier details on every voting site
Your website or Discord - update any posted server addresses
Custom domain DNS records - if you use a custom domain, update your DNS records to point to the new server. See Connecting a Custom Domain for instructions
Set up a subdomain - if you want a clean your-server.obby.host address, create one from Network > Subdomains in the Game Panel
Enable DDoS Protection - a migration is a good time to enable this since your IP is changing anyway. See DDoS Protection Explained for setup instructions

Once you have confirmed everything is working and your players can connect, you can cancel your old hosting.

Troubleshooting

Server Won't Start After Import

Check the console for error messages - they usually point to the exact problem
Verify the server software type and Minecraft version match your old server (Game > Versions)
Check the Java version on the Startup page
Make sure you did not transfer the old server JAR over the one provided by the Version Changer

World Not Loading

Check level-name in server.properties - it must match the name of your world folder exactly
If your old server used a different world folder name (e.g., survival instead of world), either rename the folder or update level-name to match
For servers with multiple worlds (e.g., using Multiverse), make sure all world folders were transferred

Plugins Failing to Load

Check the Minecraft version compatibility for each plugin
Verify that plugin dependencies were also transferred (e.g., Vault, ProtocolLib)
Look at the console output during startup - plugins usually log why they failed

Database Connection Errors

Double-check the database credentials in your plugin configs
Make sure you are using the new database host, not your old one
Verify the database was imported correctly by checking it in phpMyAdmin

Players Can't Connect

Confirm you are sharing the new server address (check the Console page for your connection details)
Make sure the server is online and fully started
If using a subdomain or custom domain, verify DNS has propagated
Check that server-port in server.properties matches the assigned port

Need Help?

If you run into issues during your migration, we are happy to help:

Support Ticket
Discord Server - use the /support command
Email: [email protected]