Switching hosts
Hi,
One of my sites is on HostRocket, but I have had serious problems with this company as of late (site being been down for over 24 hours, poor tech support, finger pointing etc.).
First time through, how easy is it to transfer DNS, or do whatever needs to be done to seamlessly transfer to another hosting company? With no downtime. What's the procedure?
Thanks,
TonyMontana
ElectricMountain
Jaiem posted this at 04:53 — 26th April 2002.
They have: 1,191 posts
Joined: Apr 1999
Hello Tony.
First, are you doing the DNS change or do you want/expect your new host to do it? Most hosts will change the DNS for you (usually free) but it isn't hard to update the DNS record from your registrar's control panel.
As for moving the site, in a nut shell here's the game plan:
1) Make a full backup of your current site. All files - HTML, graphics, scripts, sound, databases etc etc.
2) Find a new host and sign up with them. If you must have seemly change between hosts tell your new host NOT to changethe DNS until you tell them to (or you don't change it yet). Just get the account and use the IP temporarily to access it.
3) Upload your site to your new host and make sure all is working properly.
4) Change the DNS to point to your new host. Then cancel service with your old host.
5) Done!
Good luck!
mjames posted this at 19:57 — 26th April 2002.
They have: 2,064 posts
Joined: Dec 1999
Jaiem is 100% correct - once you're ready, you could even setup forwarding on your old server to your new server.
I think you'll find this very helpful: http://www.webmasterbase.com/article/30
And: http://www.webmasterbase.com/article/313
TonyMontana posted this at 04:45 — 29th April 2002.
They have: 218 posts
Joined: Apr 2001
Thanks for the advice Jaiem and mjames. I found out that Hostrocket decided to change my site IP address without notifying me. I still can't update my site about 4 days later. Good thing we were paying monthly.
I've signed up with MT Hosting, I've heard good things about them. In a few days, I'll change the DNS to the new server.
Thanks again.
TonyMontana
ElectricMountain
TonyMontana posted this at 21:09 — 29th April 2002.
They have: 218 posts
Joined: Apr 2001
excerpt from http://www.webmasterbase.com/article/313
"email your old host...politely ask them to change the MX (mail) record on their DNS to point to the new host so that mail is re-directed to the new host"
I have three web email accounts with my old host: info@electricmountain etc, which gets forwarded automatically to my inbox in Outlook Express.
If I contact the old host and tell them to change the 'MX record' will my email accounts get transferred to my new host?
Thanks,
TonyMontana
ElectricMountain
mjames posted this at 02:16 — 30th April 2002.
They have: 2,064 posts
Joined: Dec 1999
Make sure you have setup forwarding on your new account, but I believe it will work then, yes.
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