=== Marathon Migration ===
Contributors: marathonhosting
Tags: migration, import, hosting, transfer, clone
Requires at least: 6.2
Tested up to: 7.0
Stable tag: 3.0.2
Requires PHP: 7.4
License: GPLv2 or later
License URI: https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-2.0.html

Move your WordPress site to Marathon Hosting in minutes — no FTP, no manual exports, no downtime.

== Description ==

Marathon Migration is the official plugin for moving your WordPress site to [Marathon Hosting](https://marathonhosting.com). It handles everything automatically — your files, database, themes, plugins, and media — so you arrive on Marathon Hosting with a complete, working copy of your site.

No FTP. No cPanel. No manual database exports. No downtime on your current site.

**How to migrate:**

1. Log in to your Marathon Hosting account and generate a migration token from your site's overview page
2. Install and activate this plugin on your current WordPress site
3. Go to **Marathon Migration** in your WordPress admin and paste your token
4. Click **Start Migration** — most sites complete in 2–10 minutes

That's it. Your current site stays online the entire time.

**What gets transferred:**

* Your complete database
* All WordPress core files (your exact version — no forced upgrades)
* All themes, plugins, uploads, and media
* Must-use plugins

**What does not transfer:**

* Server-specific configuration files — your new Marathon Hosting environment provides its own
* Cache files and cache plugin output — these are rebuilt fresh on your new server
* Log files and backup archives created by other plugins
* Host-specific platform code from your previous host — these belong to your old host, not your site
* The migration plugin itself — automatically removed after a successful transfer

**What is not supported:**

WordPress multisite installs are not currently supported. If the plugin detects a multisite network it will refuse to start the migration with a clear error before any data is transferred. Contact Marathon Hosting support if you need to migrate a multisite network.

== Installation ==

1. Log in to your Marathon Hosting account and generate a migration token from the site's overview page
2. In your current WordPress admin, go to **Plugins → Add New → Upload Plugin** and upload `marathon-migration.zip`
3. Activate the plugin
4. Go to **Marathon Migration** in the left-hand admin menu
5. Paste your migration token and click **Start Migration**
6. Wait for the migration to complete — typically 2–10 minutes depending on site size
7. Once complete, deactivate and delete this plugin from your original site

== Frequently Asked Questions ==

= Do I need FTP or cPanel access? =

No. Everything happens through the WordPress admin.

= Will my WordPress version be upgraded? =

No. Your exact WordPress version is transferred as-is. You can upgrade on your own schedule after going live on Marathon Hosting.

= Will my site go down during the migration? =

No. Your current site stays online throughout the entire process. The plugin only reads your data — it never modifies or deletes anything on your source site.

= What if my site is large? =

Large sites are fully supported. Data is pulled in batches rather than one giant archive, so very large sites transfer reliably. If a batch fails it retries automatically, and an interrupted migration can be resumed from where it stopped rather than starting over from scratch.

= Does it support WordPress multisite? =

Not yet. If the plugin detects a multisite install it will refuse to start with a clear error message. Please contact Marathon Hosting support if you need to migrate a multisite network.

= Is my data secure during the transfer? =

Yes. Transfers use a one-time token tied specifically to your Marathon Hosting account. Your database contents and credentials are never sent to Marathon Hosting's coordination servers — the receiving server (your hosting account) connects directly to your site to pull your data. All credentials are wiped as soon as the migration completes or is cancelled.

= Can I cancel a migration in progress? =

Yes. Click **Cancel Migration** on the migration page. Your source site's credentials are immediately removed and the receiving server stops pulling data.

= Do I need to keep the browser tab open? =

No. All transfers happen directly between your current server and the Marathon Hosting server. You can close the tab once the migration is underway and return later to check the status.

= What WordPress and PHP versions are supported? =

WordPress 6.2 or later and PHP 7.4 or later.

== External services ==

This plugin connects to the Marathon Hosting Gateway to coordinate your site migration. This service is required — without it the plugin cannot validate your migration token or connect your current site to your new Marathon Hosting environment.

The Gateway is contacted only after you paste a token and click Start Migration. No data is sent before you explicitly begin.

This service is operated by Marathon Hosting:

* Terms of Service: https://marathonhosting.com/tos.html
* Privacy Policy: https://marathonhosting.com/pp.html

== Screenshots ==

1. Enter your migration token to begin
2. Migration in progress — real-time status updates
3. Migration complete — ready to deactivate the plugin

== Changelog ==

= 3.0.2 =
* Cleaning up readme for public view.

= 3.0.0 =
* Initial public release.
