How to Transfer Your Web Site to Another Host Without Losing It

>then use the PUTcommand to transfer all your files
You want to change web hosts because you haveand html pages. This willensure that your whole web
found a lessexpensive solution for your web site. Youwill remain intact with the transfer.
are not happy with theservices your host is providing.FrontPage — create a new Web from the site
The response time for technicalsupport is too slow.files you haveimported from your old host, then
You make the decision to change web hosts.publish them to the new host.
Now you are faced with the daunting task ofMake sure your new host has Front Page extensions
switching web hostswithout losing the files andinstalled.
beautiful design of your web site.This process will transfer your complete site to your
How do you achieve this? Here are the steps younew Host.
need to take:5. Transferring web pages to the New Host.
1. Make a complete copy of your web site.Dreamweaver or FrontPage editors make it very
Use your favorite FTP utility (I use SmartFTP.com),easy to transferhtml web pages. They keep most, if
to downloadall files to your computer from your webnot all your web site intactfor the transfer (as
host. Don’t assume youalready have all theexplained above).
files on your computer — you may haveAnother way to transfer your web pages is to copy
addedsome scripts from the Net that are on yourthe sourcecode by right clicking on the page as you
server but not on yourcomputer.see it when you visitthe site and select 'view/source'.
If you are using Dreamweaver, use the GETIt will come up on Notepad.
command to copy allyour files.Select 'file/save as' and save to a place of your
If you are using Frontpage, use the import featurechoice as an
to make acomplete copy of the old web site.HTML file. To do this, at the bottom of the box just
2. Choose your new Web Host.before yousave it, it will say '.txt'. Change the drop
Choose a new Web Host that meets the needs ofmenu to 'all files'and then change the '.txt' at the end
your web site (of the name you're savingit as to '.html', then save it.
If you don’t know how much space youYou will then have a completepage ready to load to
need, read the article:wherever you want. If you have imagesthough, you'll
“How Much Hosting Space Do You Need”?have to save them separately.
6. Amending your web site.
(Sometimes your web site may not look exactly the
3. Transfer your domain namesame as onyour last Web Host. This is because the
Contact the domain name registrar (place where youhtml code and/or filesdid not completely transfer. This
registeredyour domain name) and change the Domainmay happen more often withthe editors. FrontPage
Name Server (DNS)or Name Server information towill do this more because it uses FrontPage
your new hosts DNS information.extensions for publishing (extra files for easy
Your site is going to experience a downtime whilepublishing).
your DNSrecord is being changed and propagatedMake the necessary design changes to mirror the
through the world's WHOISservers. It will take aboutsite you hadpreviously hosted. You may have to
24-72 hours for the process to becompleted.eliminate or add some code tocompletely reflect your
Maintain any existing services set up on your oldoriginal site.
domain namesuch as email forwarding, web pointing7. Testing your web site.
and website hosting untilthe transfer is complete toOnce the domain name and your web site files have
ensure continuity of your service.been transferred,you should test that all services are
You can check the progress of your domain nameworking on the your new Host
transfer by usinga Domain Name Search facility such(i.e. email services, etc). If it’s working
as Whois.net. You should seethe details change fromcorrectly, go ahead and cancelall your remaining
your previous Host to your New Host whentheservices with your previous hosting service.
transfer is complete.Transferring your web site to a new Host
4. Upload all files to your new Web Host.doesn’t have to be sucha nerve-racking task,
When you are sure your domain name has beenonce you know the exact steps to take. Nowyou
transferred, uploadthe files to your new Web Host.can enjoy the savings and services of a new home
Dreamweaver — define your site first, andfor yourweb site.