Video Tutorial: How to Migrate Your WordPress Site to Azure for Nonprofits

Before you migrate your WordPress site, ensure you have deployed a WordPress site on Azure. If you're unfamiliar with this process, scroll down to the reference section at the bottom of this blog. There is an article that will guide you through creating a WordPress site in Azure, complete with a helpful video.

Why Azure for Nonprofits?

Azure offers various benefits for nonprofits, including cost savings, scalability, and robust security features. Migrating your WordPress site to Azure can help you leverage these advantages to better serve your community.

Step-by-Step Guide

1. Access the WordPress Admin Portal: Go to your personal WordPress site and navigate to the admin portal by adding /wp-admin to your site's URL.
2. Install the WP Migration Plugin:
   • Select Plugins > Add New.
   • Search for "WP Migration" and press enter.
   • Install and activate the "All-in-One WP Migration and Backup" plugin.
3. Export Your Website:
   • Click on the plugin itself where it says "All-in-One WP Migration".
   • Select Export > Export Site to File.
   • Download the exported file.
4. Access the WordPress Site on Azure:
   • Navigate to the admin portal of your WordPress site on Azure by adding /wp-admin to your site's URL.
5. Install the WP Migration Plugin on Azure:
   • Select Plugins > Add New.
   • Search for "WP Migration".
   • Install and activate the plugin.
6. Import Your Website:
   • Click on the plugin and select Import.
   • Choose Import from File and select the file you downloaded earlier.

Handling File Size Limits

If you encounter a file size limit error (WordPress has a 50 MB limit), you can either purchase the unlimited extension or manually increase the limit:

1. Access Azure Portal:
   • Go to your Azure portal and type in "App Services".
   • Select your app service.
2. Use SSH to Modify File Size Limits:
   • Scroll down to Deployment Tools and click on SSH.
   • Click on Go to access the backend of the app service.
   • Create a file in the home site wwwroot directory named .user.ini.
3. Edit the File:
   • Use the command nano /home/site/wwwroot/.user.ini.
   • Add the following lines to increase the upload and post max size:
     upload_max_filesize = 1G post_max_size = 1G
   • Save the file by pressing Ctrl + X, then Y, and Enter.
4. Verify and Import:
   • Refresh your WordPress site on Azure.
   • Import the file again, and it should bypass the previous limit.

Final Steps

Once the migration is complete, you may want to delete the .user.ini file you created earlier. Use the command:

rm /home/site/wwwroot/.user.ini

References

1. techcommunity.microsoft.com/blog/nonprofittechies/deploying-a-wordpress-site-on-microsoft-azure-a-guide-for-non-profits-with-video/4415254?previewMessage=true
2. Resolving Host Restrictions on File Sizes Exceeding 50 MB in WordPress on Azure for Nonprofits | Microsoft Community Hub