| I have a few websites and I used different website | | | | up correctly on the new host. The Hostgator support |
| hosts for some of them. | | | | gave me clear directions on how to do that. |
| A few of my hosting companies allow to host | | | | You have to update the host file on your computer |
| unlimited domains and sub-domains and I realized that | | | | with the addition of the new Domain Name Servers. |
| I could save some hosting costs by moving all my | | | | The file under Windows is called hosts and can be |
| domains and sub-domains to this single host. | | | | found in different directories according to the |
| I had been happy with the service and support | | | | Windows version, I normally use Linux and I had |
| provided by all companies. It is difficult to identify a | | | | therefore to update the file /etc/hosts. |
| best website host, but finally I chose Hostgator. I | | | | The changed allowed me to browse the Website |
| think that their hosting costs are very competitive | | | | pages before doing any change to the old host. |
| and they provide excellent services and support. | | | | 5) Changing the Domain Name Servers |
| The activities to be considered and planned are the | | | | It is possible to request a transfer of the Domain but |
| following: | | | | I decided to change only the name servers. |
| 1) Identification of all domains and sub-domains that | | | | After testing that everything worked correctly I |
| had to be moved | | | | could change the domain name servers. To update |
| I had to transfer a Domain with many Sub-domains | | | | the DNS for your domain you would go to your |
| and therefore I made a list of all of them to be sure | | | | registrar and go into the domain management panel |
| that none could be forgotten. | | | | and there should be an Update Name Servers/DNS. |
| 2) Creation of the same domains and sub-domains in | | | | Once the change has been made at your domain |
| the new host | | | | name registrar it will generally take 24-48 hours |
| Both hosting services use a cpanel interface. It was | | | | (though in most cases it's a lot quicker) for the |
| easy to create on the target host an add-on domain | | | | change to spread and propagate. So during the |
| for the main Domain to be transferred and then I | | | | propagation time expect to still see some people |
| created all its sub-domains. | | | | access the site from the old server while over time |
| 3) Transfer of all files (HTML pages, images etc), to | | | | more and more people will be reaching the new |
| the new host. | | | | server until eventually everyone has the domain |
| I had all of them on my home computers, but I | | | | resolving to the new server. So you won't actually |
| wasn't absolutely sure that they were the same | | | | see any downtime due to the act of changing your |
| version as those on the old host. | | | | domain's name servers. |
| I decided therefore to download all files from the old | | | | 6) Adding the email to the new host |
| host and then upload all of them to the new host. | | | | The email address of the transferred file, must be |
| This could have been done by using the cpanel file | | | | recreated on the new server. This can easily be done |
| options, but it would have taken a long time, because | | | | by using the mail options in the cpanel of the target |
| I had to transfer a large number of files. I decided | | | | host. |
| therefore to use gftp which is an open source visual | | | | 7) Cancellation of the hosting contract with the old |
| client which simplifies the bulk transfer of files. | | | | host |
| 4) Testing the transferred Website (Domain and | | | | After checking that everything worked correctly, I |
| Sub-domains) | | | | just sent an email to the old hosting company asking |
| Before updating the Domain Registration, it is | | | | them to cancel my hosting service with them. |
| important to be sure that everything has been set | | | | |