Upgrade Your Web Hosting Services Painlessly (Buddy U. McLellan)
Feb 19, 2010
When your time is up it is up. With many webmasters many come to the realization that at some point its time to move or change web hosts. The web or host master may simply have come to the conclusion that its time for a wholesale change on upgrade to theirs site or sites. Sometimes it's a case of failing to locate important files, while others have messy file structures overall. Here a series and collection of tips will surely help new website owners to keep on track of and as well have ideas and procedures to avoid hosting failure and catastrophic failures of data.
First rule of the thumb is to save or create a backup of all essential file from your old web host. If you have a good practice and set of procedures to regularly creating backups, then it will lessen the files needed saved. However, there are some web hosts with different control panel. Backup all files manually to be sure that you gathered necessary files from the old web host. File structure, either ASCII or binary, might be different so you need to note the old server configuration before transferring. But be sure where you've save it to remember the type of file to avoid host transfer failure. Another essential file is to save the server logs before changing your web host.
You need to have an FTP program before planning for a web host transfer. DNS and a temporary URL can be obtaining from the newer and upcoming host provider. But if the new host is controlled by a domain, you for sure will need to inform them not to change DNS - that is the dynamic names service, until you informed by yourself or your agent. Try to recover the original installation guide and scripts. You never know if the new host will perform well. Retrieving them is an assurance to get back in track if something goes wrong. Provide an alternate email address to keep connected to costumers while having an update.
Transferring host can be in periodic state which gives you time to notice customers that there are some non working areas of your site. But if you have a large site structure, try to update on least traffic to avoid failure. Try to upload those pages with errors, next are the most visited web pages.
Before and during transfer, you must inform your customers and visitor about your planned hosting transfer. What you can do is to give an alternate email address so you will not lose their concerns during web host transfer. You have two options, first are to have periodic updates, and second are to transfer during least traffic. The first option lets you inform customers and visitors that there are some areas of site not working. The last option gives you enough time if you have huge site structure. Transfer first pages with custom errors, then, upload the most visited page. But be sure to transfer them in different days to avoid failure. Final step is to change DNS, it usually takes 1-2 days before it go in effect so you have enough time to enhance some part of your site. Do not throw the old host because you'll never know what might happen to the new host. In addition, try to check for remaining concerns on the old email account. Monitor the new host for two weeks or until traffic and email goes well. If you feel comfortable it and it works fine, then, cancel your old account and enjoy using the new one.
About the AuthorSEO Search Engine Link Building Service.