Sometimes your web host company is not giving you the service or statistics you need to run your web site most efficiently. At some point you finally realize you need to change web hosting firms. Here are some tips that should help you make the transition to a new hosting firm smoothly.
Can the new site handle your traffic volume? Is there enough bandwidth to keep you from being charged high fees for extra bandwidth? How many email names and aliases are allowed to you? Can the new site handle your database needs? All these issues and more should be at the forefront of your mind as you make the decision to change.
Here are some key indicators to look at when you switch hosting companies.
- Will the new site be able to handle your current traffic?
- Who currently manages the DNS Name?
- Who will copy your files over, you or the new hosting company?
- Will you have time to test all pages at the new server before the change occurs?
- What happens to your current emails?
- Make sure the database switch over is smooth.
- When will the DNS Name change actually occur?
- Will you be billed for another month or year of service at the old web host site?
Will the new site be able to handle your current traffic
Before you commit to making a change of web hosting companies, make sure the new site can handle your current traffic and the expected new traffic you will receive in the future. If you are continually adding new content, then you should be receiving new visitors and repeat visits from former visitors. The more pages served, the more bandwidth that is used. So make sure you have covered the amount of growth your web site will experience.
Who currently manages the DNS Name?
Once you make the decision, then your DNS name (domain name server) or the name of your website has to be moved over to the new IP address. The company holding your dns name might have a lock on the name that has to be removed by the old hosting company. This might require contacting the old hosting company. It normally takes a couple or more days before the DNS name change occurs.
The wise decision is to make sure everything is in place at the new web hosting company before the DNS name is completely changed over. If the DNS name change over occurs before you have the new site up and running you might have potential customers thinking your site is dead? You never want to risk having customers stop coming to your site because of a one day malfunction.
Who will copy your files over, you or the new hosting company?
Getting the new site set up means you get your database on the server. You also need to figure out who will copy the files over. If you decide to do it yourself, be sure the change over occurs when you have time to copy all your files. Otherwise, have the new hosting company copy everything over. They will need your password and info from your old web hosting company to allow the new company to get the files. Once the files are copied then you need to test the new site. This will require the new web hosting company to give you an IP address so you can check out that everything is okay. Remember that the DNS name hasn't been switched over to the new IP address yet.
What happens to your current emails?
During the transition, there will be a short time where your email servers will be out of sync. Some of your mail may be sent to the old site and some will be sent to the new site. So maintain your status at the old site for a few days after the change to make sure you get all your email. Make sure you have a copy of all the important emails from the old site, before it gets shut down. You don't want angry customers.
When will the DNS Name change actually occur?
There is a transition period that will take about a week. You tell the DNS servers to switch your web site name to the new IP address. This transition will take approximately 3 days. But for all the servers to get the message it takes another 3 days. After the first 3 days, you begin to see your website on the new server. But, you also will on occasion see your website on the old web hosting site. Within another day or two the complete transition occurs and every time you go to your site it will be at the new web hosting company.
Will you be billed for another month or year of service at the old web host site?
Your old web hosting company is going to invoice you along their normal billing cycle. So before you are done transitioning to the a new web hosting company, you must make sure that you notify the old company to cancel your remaining contract with them. Otherwise you will look at your credit card bill and see another few hundred dollars removed from your account.
Just some of the key items to look at when changing web hosting companies. It is never an easy decision to make, but sometimes you have to bite the bullet and do what is right for your web site. If you plan and manage the web hosting change with good communication between you and both web sites, you should have a relatively smooth transition.
Author Ken Brown © 2005 Ken Brown is a Microsoft Certified Professional with over 10 years of programming experience. He has been programming in ASP.Net and C# the last 3 years.
