Moving Your Server from IONOS or STRATO: A 5-Step Guide (2026)

In short: moving a server from IONOS, STRATO or another provider to OMC Cloud takes five steps: inventory, configuration, copying the data, testing and switching DNS. Existing Windows servers are migrated free of charge as they are, and the new server stays in Germany, in the Frankfurt data center.

Why companies switch providers

• Same price from day one: at IONOS, many VPS prices rise substantially after the first three months (for example M+ from €4 to €12). At OMC Cloud the same price applies from the start.
• No term, no setup fee: hourly or monthly billing. STRATO uses 1, 6 or 12-month terms and a setup fee on the monthly term.
• 24/7 support included: around-the-clock human support in English at no extra cost.
• Published SLA: 99.95% guaranteed uptime.

IONOS and STRATO offer German-language support and low entry offers. The full comparisons are on OMC Cloud vs IONOS and OMC Cloud vs STRATO.

The five steps

• 1. Inventory: servers, operating systems, applications, databases, domains, SSL certificates, cron jobs and IP addresses registered with partners or firewalls.
• 2. Configuration: create a server in Frankfurt on OMC Cloud with at least the same CPU, RAM and storage. You can scale up at any time.
• 3. Copy: for Windows, request the free migration; on Linux, copy files and databases (for example with rsync and a database dump) and reinstall the services.
• 4. Test: check the new server through your PC’s hosts file without changing public DNS: logins, outgoing email, scheduled tasks and backups.
• 5. Switch: lower the DNS TTL to 300 seconds a day before, sync the data one last time and change the records. Keep the old server running for a few days.

What not to forget

• Email: if the mailbox is with your current provider, you can leave it there and change only the website’s A records. MX records are handled separately.
• Domains: the domain can stay with its current registrar; you only change the DNS records.
• Cancellation: check the old contract’s terms and automatic renewals before switching everything off.

Frequently asked questions

How much does the move cost?
Migrating existing Windows servers as they are is free. Linux servers are moved by copying data and configuration, as described above.

Is the website offline during the move?
Usually not: the new server is prepared and tested in parallel, and a DNS switch with a low TTL takes a few minutes.

Does the data stay in Germany?
Yes, if you choose Frankfurt. In a measurement from 30 locations in Germany, median latency to Frankfurt was 6.7 ms.

Can I test before cancelling?
Yes: 30 days free on a server worth up to $100, no credit card required.

Read more: OMC Cloud vs IONOS · OMC Cloud vs STRATO · VPS in Germany · 30-day free trial