Moving Your Website - The Process
by Effect Web Media, an Indiana Web Design Company
Moving a website can be tricky business. We’re assuming your new webhost has all the software you need running on their server.
Important: Do not close your old hosting account until everything is up and running for a few days on the new server.
Step 1: Backup ALL of your website’s data locally
This includes: all pages, images, scripts, databases that have to do with your website. If you need source files for graphics, contact your designer to get them (optional). Store a copy on CD, DVD or your hard drive. If you have any special scripts or files that require certain permissions, make note of these permissions, so you’ll be able to give these files the appropriate permissions on the new server.
Step 2: Create a list of current Email Accounts
Put together a list of email addresses, passwords, and forwarders (if an email address has one). This will be very useful in migrating email accounts.
Step 3: Setup Hosting Account on new server
Sign up for hosting with your new web host provider if you have not already done so. See our hosting packages for details, or call us at (574) 831-6299 and we’ll get your account ready ASAP.
Step 4: Upload Website Content & Databases
Using FTP, upload your website content and adjust file permissions if Necessary Create your database and import your database information (if you have one). Use the test url for your new hosting account to see if everything looks ok. Some files may not show up correctly if their link relies on having your domain name in it. This is because your domain has not yet been “pointed” to the new server. If you are Hosting with Effect Web Media, your preview url will most likely be http://srv1.effect-web-media.com/~USERNAME/ . Replace USERNAME with your ftp username.
Step 5: Setup Email Accounts on new server
Using your email account list, setup your email accounts with the Control Panel. Make sure to use the same passwords as before or notify your staff that you have reset their password to a new one. Don’t forget to setup an email forwarding, if you need to.
For information on Setting up Email on your PC with your Email Client program, click here.
IMPORTANT: If you are moving email accounts with your website:
Since the domain name records will be inconsistent throughout the internet for the next 2 days, we need to change your incoming and outgoing mail server values in your PC’s email client program. We will need to change it from whatever it is now (most likely mail.yourdomainname.com) to the ip address of the current mail server. IP addresses won’t change. This way your mail program will know exactly where to go to get your mail until DNS has switched completely. To get the ping of your current mail server, simply go to http://network-tools.com/, choose Ping, and type in your current incoming mail server value and click submit. It will say “Ping <IP ADDRESS HERE>”. That long number is the ip address of your current mail server. Put that in for incoming mail server. If your Outgoing mail server value is not the same as your original incoming mail server value, then leave it alone. It’s probably set to use your ISP’s outgoing mail server. Some ISP’s require that. If it was the same value, then enter that IP address into the field for outgoing mail server also.
Some of your email may be delayed, but you shouldn’t lose any. Changing DNS Nameservers on early Friday, is a good idea most of the time - by Monday, DNS will most likely be completely switched.
Step 6: Change DNS Nameservers
This is the part of the moving process when you tell the internet that your website is now going to be located on a new server. You will need to Login to the Domain Name Registrar Company’s website. Once you’re in their control panel, select your domain name and find the “Nameservers” properties or “Modify Nameservers”. Now you will delete whatever nameservers are currently in the text boxes and put in NS1.effect-web-media.com and NS2.effect-web-media.com in separate text boxes. Click submit. The DNS propagation process takes about 12 to 48 hours to completely travel throughout the internet.
—Wait 2 full days for DNS to Propagate—
Step 7: Update Your Email Client Settings
Now that DNS has propagated you’ll probably notice you haven’t got much mail. Update your Email Program Settings to reflect the new server’s values. For information on setting up your email address in your email program, click here. After you’ve modified your settings, send a few test emails.
*Do not use Microsoft Outlook’s Email Test Function - It’s not reliable.*
Step 8: Confirm Everything is functioning Properly
Make sure the site is working properly and that their are no missing pieces. Also, make sure everything is normal with your email addresses.
Step 9: Say Goodbye to your Old Web Host Company
Once, you are sure everything is fine, you can cancel your old web hosting account.
Note: If your domain name was in a package deal with your hosting, contact us at (574) 831.6299 to get it transferred.
