Moving server to a new host - extra "storage_" folder

[zraider13 5]

I'm preparing to migrate a server to a new host. The first thing I tried was copying the entire mpmissions directory, which includes storage_1. When I start the new server, I'm a fresh spawn and the bases and inventories are gone. Everything I have read tells me that I can copy the storage_1 directory to the new host and that will preserve the characters, bases and inventories. So I tried a fresh copy of storage_1 in place of the existing one. Same results. I noticed that I have a second storage directory now "storage_2403493". So I tried overwriting the contents of the (new) storage_2403493 directory with the contents of the (original server) storage_1, That seams to work. When I start the server and log in, I'm at my base with all of my gear. My question is, what is the purpose of the storage_2403493 directory? Can I get rid of it and instead tell the server to use storage_1 like normal? Or should I just leave it alone and keep using storage_2403493? Thanks!