How To Avoid Downtime When Transferring Web Hosts?
Many of us already have web sites and for one reason or another we may choose to transfer our web sites to a different host. The idea of transferring a site and having a problem occur can be frightening, especially if that web site is tied into your business and your emails.
The reality is that avoiding downtime when transferring your site is very easy and so long as you have taken the necessary steps you should have no problem.
Presuming that you already have a web site, the nuts and bolts of what is happening is that you have created web site files which you have placed on a server, you have created emails which you have placed on the same server and you have pointed your domain name through the DNS (domain name server) settings to the server where your web site files and emails are located.
So what you want to do to get up and running on a new server (through a new web hosting company) is you want to put your web site files on that server and setup your emails on that server and then point your domain name through the DNS to that server and then your site and emails will be live on that server.
Here is a step by step procedure of what to do:
- Do not cancel your old hosting service or change your DNS settings yet.
- Signup for a new web hosting package with a new web host.
- Backup all of your latest web site files
- Login to your new web hosting provider and upload your latest web site files and setup all of your email addresses for that domain name. Make sure that the web site files look good and that you have double checked the passwords for the email accounts. **Please note that at this point we have not pointed your domain name to the new DNS and so you will need to use a temporary login to get into your web hosting account. Each web host will provide you with that temporary login once you have signed up for their service.
- Once you are satisfied that the web site files look good on the new server and that the emails are all set up then you can change your DNS to the new server settings. Each web host will provide you with their unique DNS in your login information email which they send to you. If you need help changing your DNS most web hosts can assist you and most of the ones we list here will personally assist you in making this change. *Now what is happening is that your domain name is “propagating” from your old host’s servers to your new host’s servers. This is like turning off 1 light switch and turning on another light switch simultaneously so that your web site is never down and you don’t lose any of your emails.
- The last thing you want to do is backup your emails from the old host’s servers. Most of us use an email program like Microsoft Outlook that automatically backs up those emails into that program but if you only have the emails on those servers then you will need to go back them up off that server.
Now you can cancel your account with the other web host and you are completely hosted with the new web hosting service provider.
