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Can I migrate a domestic cloud server instance to an overseas region?

Yes, you can migrate a domestic cloud server instance to an overseas region, but the process involves several technical and compliance considerations.

Key Considerations:

  1. Data Transfer & Compliance – Ensure compliance with data sovereignty laws (e.g., GDPR, CCPA) when moving data across regions. Some countries restrict cross-border data transfers.
  2. Network Latency & Bandwidth – Cross-region migration may require high-bandwidth connections to minimize downtime.
  3. Instance Compatibility – The target region must support the same OS, instance type, and configurations.
  4. DNS & IP Changes – Public IPs may differ, requiring DNS updates or elastic IP reassignment.

Migration Steps:

  1. Create a Snapshot – Take a snapshot of the domestic server’s system disk and data disks.
  2. Copy to Overseas Region – Upload the snapshot to the target region (may require manual transfer via object storage).
  3. Launch New Instance – Use the snapshot to create a new instance in the overseas region.
  4. Reconfigure Network & Security – Update firewall rules, load balancers, and DNS settings.

Example Scenario:

A company in China running a web application on a domestic cloud server needs to expand to Southeast Asia for lower latency. They:

  • Take a snapshot of the server.
  • Upload it to Tencent Cloud’s Singapore region.
  • Launch a new instance and update DNS to point to the new IP.

Tencent Cloud Services for Migration:

  • Cloud Block Storage Snapshot – For backing up disks.
  • COS (Cloud Object Storage) – To transfer snapshots across regions.
  • VPC Peering & Direct Connect – For secure cross-region networking.
  • Server Migration Center (SMC) – Automates large-scale migrations.

If the migration involves large-scale databases, consider using Tencent Cloud Database Migration Service (DCS) for minimal downtime.