Changing your Web Host can be an expensive, time consuming and
difficult practice; being the main reason why many dissatisfied
customers prefer to stay and put up with an awful hosting
service.
During most website migrations, through lack of knowledge or
experience, many website owners end up loosing clients and
damaging time-built company images, because their sites are
unavailable for days or weeks on end. Another problem is loss of
emails, some crucial, making migrations very expensive and even
dangerous.
Migration from one web host to another is not difficult; it can
be fast and safe when one knows what the experts know. By
following the steps below you will stand a better chance of a
smooth transfer.
The most important start to website migration is finding another
web host, one that will not give you reason to migrate again, or
soon. A whole book can be written on how to choose a web host;
or by searching on ‘choosing a web host’ in a major search
engine, there will be many articles available.
The steps below will give you an idea on how to start and how to
avoid a lot of the pitfalls.
· First, make a list of all the features your website uses or
requires, and will require in the future, be prepared.
· Make a list of web hosts who offer these features; you can
find hosts in web hosting directories, message forums, or by
searching on a major search engine.
· Read the information on their websites carefully, specially
their terms and conditions.
· Avoid any long-term contracts and full-payments in advance.
· Ask questions about all things you have a doubt about.
· Email their support department at various times (both day and
night) and check the response time.
· You will find customer reviews on hosts in web hosting
directories. (Unfortunately they may not be the most accurate
due to much web host guerilla activity, but greater scrutiny
will often help.)
· Talk to people in web hosting related message forums; you may
find useful information on hosting companies by their existing
or past, customers.
Sign-up an account with your new host. Upload all of your files,
databases and test your site using the IP address given to you
with your new account. Make adjustments in the coding, necessary
for the change in the server environment. Then check each and
every page, link and image on your website.
On your new mail server, re-create all email accounts currently
in use; and set up auto-responders, forwarders and aliases at
the same time. If available, enable the “catch-all” feature;
this will help you to retrieve all emails sent to a non-existing
email account; which you may have forgotten to create! Remember
though, the new email addresses will only work after the
transfer of domain is complete. Unfortunately, there is no way
to test them on new server before the transfer.
The next step is transferring the domain; to do this you need to
start by changing the DNS server details, which is pretty easy
to do. Obtain the Primary and Secondary nameserver details from
your new web host. Go to your domain registrar’s site (the site
from which you registered the domain name) and login into your
control panel, offered by most of the domain registrars, to
maintain your domain name. In the control panel, look for the
‘DNS’, ‘Nameserver’ or ‘Delegation’ option and change the
previous nameserver details, with the new one (you just obtained
from your new host).
Some domain registrars confirm these changes by sending an email
to the address you nominated while registering that domain. You
will need to reply using that email address. Most of the hosts
offer a free domain transfer service and will be happy to make
the necessary transfer changes for you. The domain transfer can
take 24 to 72 hours to be confirmed by the domain registrar;
and, so too for the new host, if doing this service for you. If
it is not transferred within 72 hours, it is advisable to
contact the domain registrar and look into the matter.
Once your domain is transferred you will start receiving emails
from your new mail server and see your website from your new
account. Leave your old web hosting account open for 3 or 4 more
days, just to ensure you receive all emails, including those
losing their way in the domain transfer and directed back to
your old email account.
After a few days, ask your previous web host to cancel your
account. Make sure you follow all of your previous host’s
closing procedures, and leave cleanly. You will find that the
transfer should go smoothly and all parties will be more
helpful.
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