The process of changing hosting providers is simple and can be
accomplished with minimal hassle and downtime provided certain
steps are followed in order. Clients changing hosting service
are usually already frustrated and unsatisfied at some level
with web hosting. It is our hope that this guide will serve as a
road map to a hassle free and successful web hosting experience
moving forward.
Firstly there is this
one important thing you need to remember, DO NOT TERMINATE
YOUR EXISTING HOSTING ACCOUNT until the very last step. You
may be very unhappy with your current hosting but it is
essential that your current hosting account remains active until
you are 100% sure your site is all operational with us.
If you follow the
steps below you should be able to transition from your old host
to us without any downtime to your web site.
1.) Backup All Your Files From Your Old Hosting
Account
This is a relatively simple process, but can be time
consuming depending on the size of your web site. Ensure
that you have a full working copy of your website files,
databases, etc... stored on your computer. Download or
record any pertinent email address settings, passwords,
log file data, statistic reports, etc. from your current
host. Remember that you cannot cancel this account yet
even though you have backed up all your files.
2.) Order Your New Hosting Account Simply select a web hosting package
from this page and follow the
online ordering process. Save and print your
"Activation Letters", and/or send this email to your web
designer. (they'll know what to do with this
information.)
3.) Upload All Your Files To Your New Account
Once you have backed up your files on your old hosting
account, it is time to go to your new hosting account
and upload the backups. Using the details provided in
the Activation Letters; upload (using FTP) your website
files to your new service with us, install and configure
any databases, scripts, etc.
4.) Create Your Mail Accounts
To avoid losing any of your email when you later change
your domain name server addresses, it is imperative that
you now create all the same email accounts that you had
with your old hosting provider in your new hosting
account. Once this has been done, all email addresses on
the new account should match the email address on your
old account.
5.) Checking of Your Files and Links
Now it is time to check all the pages of your web site
and verify that all links are working correctly on your
new hosting account. To do this you will need to use the
temporary URL that is provided in your Activation Letter
for your web site.
6.) Changing Your DNS (Nameservers) - Domain Transfer
If you are now certain that your files have all been
uploaded correctly and the links within your site are
working correctly, you can change your DNS (domain name
servers).
Do It Yourself The place to change the DNS addresses is
whoever your domain name is registered with. If you
registered the domain name through a registrar, you will
need to login to their control panel and change the DNS
servers there. If it was registered with your old host,
you will need to login to their control panel and change
the DNS entries there.
Let Us Handle The Domain Transfer For You After the account has been
setup adequately let us know and a domain transfer
request will be sent through by a Support Staff Member.
All you have to do is contact the organisation managing
the domain and inform them of the transfer and as to
accept the transfer request.
7.) Wait For DNS Changes To Propagate
After you have changed your DNS (domain name servers)
you will need to wait between 24-48 hours for your
domain to propagate across the internet. During this
waiting period your site will still be served from your
old hosting account, as the DNS propagates your site
will be served from your new hosting account. Once the
propagation has completed all requests to your domain
will be served from you new hosting account.
Double-check the email settings in your email software
to make sure your settings work with the new service.
(your mail server entries should read something similar
to "mail.yourdomain.com")
8.) Cancel Your Old Account
Make sure you wait at least 48 hours for the domain name
to propagate, and make sure that your domain name is
resolving to your new hosting account before cancelling
your old account.
* The process of
modifying a domain name (commonly referred to as transferring)
is the area most customers incur problems. Close attention to
this step will insure a smooth transition.
By following these
steps you should now have successfully transferred your web site
from your old host to us without any downtime. We are always
here to help, should you require any assistance or have any
queries do not hesitate to
contact us.
