Todays success was to figure out how to clone the WP database from the live server to the backup server. Two parts required. First copy the document folder tree over, which is easily down through SAMBA, although I do have to go and change file ownership afterwards. Second is dump the SQL database out the front end machine and then write it back into the backup machine. I use “mySQL workbench” to watch the database before and after migration. Then checked record counts and sampled content. It all worked. Finally I switched the website serving duty over from the main server to the backup server, and it all worked. No one would know. Results!!
