The process of changing web hosts is fairly painless
if you have control over your domain name.
A hosting transfer typically works like this
1. NEW HOST - Sign-up with
the new host for your new hosting plan.
2. NEW HOST - Upload your website files
at the new host.
TIP: You should ALWAYS have a copy of your website
files local. Never rely on the web host to have a backup.
Most claim that they backup your site regularly but
then never seem to have a backup when you actually
need one. While RTS keeps daily, weekly, and monthly
backups of client files for quick restore convienence,
it is still the responsibility of the client to have
a copy of their own website files in case our backup
cannot be restored.
3. NEW HOST - Create your e-mail addresses
so that your e-mail continues to flow right into the
correct accounts during the hosting switch. This is usually
done via a hosting control panel.
TIP 1: If e-mail loss is a real concern, it is recommended
that you set your e-mail at the OLD host to simply
forward a copy to your ISP e-mail address during the
transition. This way you're ensured to receive a copy
of e-mail that may route to the old host after your
own ISP has updated their DNS records to the new host.
TIP 2: Your new e-mail addresses at the new host
will not work until you do step 5 below. The nameservers
have to be changed to the new host before you'll be
able to access the e-mail using the domain itself.
4. NEW HOST - Double check and make
sure that everything is working on their servers before
making the switch official.
TIP: You can access your website prior to the domain
switching over at the new host by way of an IP. This
would either be by using the IP directly (e.g. http://1.2.3.4
or by using your username http://1.2.3.4/~username/
5. REGISTRAR - Now you need to switch
the nameservers on your domain to the new host's nameservers.
This change is done with the domain registrar which is
neither the old or new host. This is where the tricky
part comes. If you have control over your domain (meaning
you are listed as the registrant and admin contact of
the domain INCLUDING your e-mail address) then you should
have no problem requesting a password or getting access
to your domain with the domain registrar. After you change
the nameservers over, this change will take 24-72 hours
to propagate across the internet.
TIP: Changing nameservers from one host to another
is FREE. Some hosts will include a transfer for $x
when you signup for their hosting. A transfer in that
capacity is referring to a REGISTRAR change NOT a hosting
change. For some people this is advantageous as they
might be able to get better domain renewal pricing
if they change registrars. When you transfer your domain
to a different registrar, it also renews the domain
another year. RTS charges $15 for registrar transfers.
6. OLD HOST - Once the domain has propagated
(24-72 hours) and you are seeing your website come from
the new host, it's time to cancel your hosting with the
old host.
TIP: ALWAYS make sure you receive confirmation of
your cancellation.
That's basically it.
The hardest step for most hosting transfers is really
the nameserver change. Unfortunately many people do not
have control over their own domain. It often is notregistered
in their own names and/or does not have a valid e-mail
address that is accessible to the person who owns the
domain.
If you have additional questions about changing your
hosting over to RTS, please feel free to e-mail sales@hostmatters.com.
