Switching To A New Hosting Server

You always have the right to change your web host provider whenever you want. Sometimes your current host provider’s equipment becomes outdated and you end up with a lot of site down time. Then perhaps another reason is, you have just found a cheaper host. If you have paid your current host by the year, you should make sure that you did not lock yourself into a yearly contract and will not be able to get your unused money back.

Host changing is not an easy job, so do give it some serious thought, that it is really what you want to do. You can run into all kinds of issues. The following are some steps that you can take to help your transition go smoothly. Do not terminate your current plan until each of these steps has been fully carried out.

Step One: File Download What you are going to be doing is downloading everything from you website which is all of the files. Everyone of them that is used in your site. Start the transferring way ahead of the time you plan to leave the current host. Its takes time to do a smooth transfer. You want as least amount of problems as possible. Otherwise your site will end up being down for an undetermined amount of time until you get things rectified. . If at all possible take a least a month to do the download transfer.

Step Two: Domain Name Change Remember when you choose your new web host to ensure they have everything your site needs to operate at its optimum level. It would be wise for you to handle your own name transfer. Reason being, you need to get your files transferred before the domain name. The new hosting accounts are usually set up within a 24 hour period so you need to make sure your files are transferred then do your domain name switch.

Step Three: Backups are Critical . Backup absolutely everything you have on your website. In fact make two copies. Then you have one to work with during your transition, and the original is left in tact. This way if anything goes wrong with the working copy, you can get rid of it, recopy the original and start over again. In addition try to create your new directory as closely structured to the old one as possible. This makes the download go much smoother.

Step Four: Your new host probably gave you a temporary log in section. It will not be activated yet for publishing. You can transfer all your files over while you are waiting for this. Then once the transfer takes place all of your work will be done. Make sure to create a catchall email address so you do not miss any incoming site mail.

Step Five: Name Change: You really aren’t changing the name of your website; you are only updating the information connected with it. You are changing the company who held its registration which is your old hosting server. It will be replaced with this new one that you have chosen.

Step Six: Depending on your domain registrar, you need to get one or more emails confirming the domain name change. Once the change has been initiated it usually takes around 24 to 48 hours for you and your users to see the change. This period is generally called propagation. All the DNS servers around the globe take the same amount of time to “catch up” and take note of your domains new location. Once the propagation course is completed you are free to safely cancel service with your previous host.

Want to find out more about Green Geek Hosting, then visit John Vopel’s site on how to choose the best Web Hosting for your needs.

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