Backup Restore SharePoint or Restore SharePoint Site

SharePoint Sites like TeamSite, Collabration Site, Blank Site... with or without extensive custom code customization in functionality, can be moved from one server farm to another regardless of the farm size. This is obviously not the best practice but based on the external/internal factors in an organization, can be persued and sites can be migrated. BTW, undoubtely with hands up this is by far the winner when it comes for POC sites.


Came across different organization/people of all level and they spent hours trying different options, but finally what worked is (the following process proposed by me):

stsadm.exe -o restore -url "URL" -filename "filename" -overwrite -restoremethod new

Before executing the above command:
* Create a site collection with blank site
* Install all the third party webparts/templates
* Deploy all the custom code (wsp) to the farm
* Make sure SharePoint Version is same

The backup might be taken using the one mentioned below method or any other way:

stsadm -o backup -url  "URL -filename "FileName"

Other available options:
* Central Admin Backup/Restore
* SharePoint Designer, Yes the SPD
* Stsadm import/export
* SQL Content DB backup/restore
* Site templates
* and so on

Success rate almost 100% when you are using stsadm restore. Even though stsadm restore is not meant for migration but it serves the purpose.

Update:

Migrated a Highly Customized SharePoint Portal from one farm to another farm using the above technique.