| Changing web hosting plans is a chore for any | | | | online shop, there's a tendency for users to worry |
| website owner. As with many things that involve | | | | that you have disappeared with their money if they |
| change, a lot of problems can end up making a | | | | find they cannot access your site after they've paid |
| tedious but necessary task an all-out nightmare. | | | | for something and don't know why. |
| 1 - Don't forget to BACKUP | | | | Offering a temporary or alternative e-mail address is |
| Easily the most important step, making a backup of | | | | always a good idea, too, and keeping users |
| everything with your current web hosting company is | | | | up-to-date on the change process will help make the |
| crucial. Things can get lost, damaged or deleted | | | | move smooth for them. |
| accidentally during any web hosting move, whether | | | | 4 - The actual move |
| you've got an account with the best enterprise web | | | | Schedule the actual switch between web hosting |
| hosting solution or a budget, affordable web site | | | | providers for a time that your hosting logs show is |
| hosting plan. Remember that if your site relies on a | | | | less busy. Perform one final backup for the latest, |
| database, that needs to be backed up, too. Create | | | | most up-to-date information, and then start copying |
| two copies of your backup and store them in | | | | files. You can help your users by uploading the parts |
| separate physical locations to minimise the risk of the | | | | of the site they use most, such as the main page. |
| backups being damaged. | | | | Getting error pages up there early is also a good |
| The best way to backup is to manually copy all your | | | | idea, as it will allow you to inform visitors about the |
| files from your web hosting provider. Some hosts | | | | web hosting switch and apologise for problems. |
| offer backup features, but these sometimes rely on | | | | If your website is really big, you may want to span |
| specific technology that is not compatible with other | | | | the web hosting move over a few days. Prioritising |
| web hosting companies. If you need to backup a | | | | sensibly by uploading the most important parts of |
| database, you can create a simple PHP, ASP or Perl | | | | your website first can really help make the whole |
| script (depending on your web hosting solution) to do | | | | transition much more seamless. Constantly check that |
| the job. | | | | pages and scripts are working by using the |
| 2 - Tedium Extra | | | | temporary URL to your web host. |
| Once you've done your backups, you'll be ready to | | | | 5 - Press the big red button |
| make the switch. The checklist below will help you | | | | Once you're satisfied with everything, it's time to |
| gather your thoughts: | | | | change your DNS over to the new server. The |
| (a) Find out your new web hosting provider's DNS | | | | process, once started, will take between 24 and 48 |
| (b) Check environmental factors such as PHP/MySQL | | | | hours, so there'll be a space of time during which you |
| versions, settings and other differences that may | | | | can tweak your site if you need to. |
| require changes to scripts | | | | By making a tiny change on the main page of the |
| (c) Find out the temporary address to your new web | | | | site on the new web hosting provider, you'll be able |
| hosting space so that you don't have to wait for the | | | | to tell the difference between the new and old |
| URL to be transferred to see if it all works OK | | | | hosts, and see if the DNS has resolved (has been |
| (d) Some scripts may not work correctly after being | | | | assigned to the new host). |
| directly transferred across, and so may require | | | | 6 - Keep those eyes peeled; you're not out of the |
| re-installation on the new servers. Ensure that you | | | | woods yet! |
| have copies of the installation instructions so that you | | | | Keeping your old web hosting account for at least a |
| can do this, if necessary. | | | | fortnight after you make the move is a really good |
| 3 - Let the world know | | | | idea. Check for server activity, e-mails and online |
| Good and courteous practice dictates that | | | | contact systems (such as web form messages). |
| webmasters should inform their users of a web | | | | Once you are satisfied that all of your users are |
| hosting change in good time. This allows users to | | | | being directed to the new web hosting provider, it's |
| prepare for (or at least not be surprised by) a | | | | safe to close the old account. |
| sudden loss of operation. Particularly if you run an | | | | |