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QUESTION: Moving site from Host A to Host B -- Will site disappear for a while?

by Jillian Slack
6 replies
QUESTION: If I move my web site from one host to another, will there be a period of time where my site does not show up online at all?

Also -- Right now, it consistently ranks high in Google organic searches (first page). If I move it from one host to another, will this make it fall out of its spot for a while?

I need to make a few changes to a web site, and I'd really like to move it from one host to another. However, I am entering a contest and people will probably go take a look at my site after they watch my the video application that I submit. I would hate for them to go try and look at my site and see nothing (if, in fact, a change in hosts would make it disappear).

If it doesn't make a difference, I'll go ahead and find someone to move it for me now.

If it DOES make a difference, I'll find someone to make a few changes to the site where it lives right now, and then make the big move after this contest is over.

Hope that makes sense.

Thanks!

Jill
#disappear #host #moving #question #site
  • Profile picture of the author Jay Sullivan
    You shouldn't experience any outages at all...it will be unoticable. As for search engines, is the server you are changing to in another country compared to your old server?

    If so, it could experience some changes in terms of search engine traffic. Everything else should be ok if you don't plan on changing any file or folder names though.

    Will your new host move your site for free? Most hosts will do... if you ask nicely!

    IMHO, i would wait until the contest is over...then move everything...just to be on the safe side!
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  • Profile picture of the author tecHead
    Originally Posted by Jillian Slack View Post

    QUESTION: If I move my web site from one host to another, will there be a period of time where my site does not show up online at all?

    Also -- Right now, it consistently ranks high in Google organic searches (first page). If I move it from one host to another, will this make it fall out of its spot for a while?

    I need to make a few changes to a web site, and I'd really like to move it from one host to another. However, I am entering a contest and people will probably go take a look at my site after they watch my the video application that I submit. I would hate for them to go try and look at my site and see nothing (if, in fact, a change in hosts would make it disappear).

    If it doesn't make a difference, I'll go ahead and find someone to move it for me now.

    If it DOES make a difference, I'll find someone to make a few changes to the site where it lives right now, and then make the big move after this contest is over.

    Hope that makes sense.

    Thanks!

    Jill
    Hi Jill,

    Firstly, kudos to you for having the guts to even think along these lines; lotta people suffer out of fear.

    Secondly, nothing TheWriter has said to you is wrong.

    Yet, I tend to like to be a little more, (for lack of a better vernacular), anal when it comes to things like this. (I think its an Aries thing; you might relate).

    Anyway... I've always told my clients something a very wise man once told me.. The best way to eliminate a problem is to not allow it to become one, in the first place.... in this regard, just don't allow any problems to happen; even the ones that could happen based on Murphy's law.

    What I always do is ...
    - purchase either a temp domain OR a .net/.org or whatever version of the domain. The purpose of this being that I wanna take my time and not be rushed with the fear of the site going offline for any reason because I moved too slow. So, I just eliminate the possibility of a problem and relax.

    - set that new domain up on the new host with all the features I'm going to want for the new house. I like to take my time when moving so I know everything is right before I make the final move.

    - I'll then move content/graphics/css/scripts... all that good stuff piece by piece over to the new host under the new domain; leaving the originals in place where they are on the 'real' site.

    - I make sure everything is running correctly and like I'm expecting it to. I mean, I spend a couple days even following every link backwards and forwards.. emails.. scripts.. databases.. the whole 9.

    - Once I'm sure everything is working as it should, I'll take this opportunity to make any changes I might wanna make... test those... then ask a couple friends to run through the "fake" site and see if they can find anything wrong.

    - Then after all that... I just go to my registrar and do a name server change.

    At the most, you're talking 72hrs for full propagation across the entire internet; while in the interim, you're not worried about anybody hitting the site during this propagation period and finding nothing.

    Granted, you'll have to keep an eye on your support tickets for those 3days; just in case somebody gets caught in "the middle"; meaning half on the original and half on the new original... but, that will be rare if at all.

    Then, finally... once full propagation is done.. just use IP-FTP access to get your original content off the old host; (easy stuff when you tell them what you're planning on doing ahead of time and you're current with their billing dept.).

    What you wind up with is your new site on your new host with not even the SEs the wiser, (really), that you moved. Might even get a little SEO boost IF you did the .net/.org version.

    Hope this helps
    PLP,
    tecHead
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    • Profile picture of the author Alton Hargrave
      If you are in the middle of some sort of promotion, wait until it is over to change the dns. I moved a site last week. It was a large site, about 700mb. It took me several days to get all the files moved. While I was waiting for the dns to re-propagate, I sent out a special offer to my list. This was a mistake. I had links failing, frustrated customers, and lost sales.

      To top it all off, my main email address was running off the same domain. I had people trying to email me for help and I had to scramble to use other email addresses to answer them.

      Propagation doesn't just happen in a snap. After the changes occurs, there is often a period of a few hours in which it wanders back and forth between the two servers. It is best to pick a quiet time to make the dns change.
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      • Profile picture of the author theimdude
        Jillian,

        If you have cpanel it is very easy and you wont have any issues.

        1) On you new host when they have setup a new account log into cpanel
        and goto you backup wizzard
        2) Select Backup then full backup
        3) On the next screen from a dropdown menu select "Remote FTP Server
        4) Enter a email for notification when backup done
        5) Enter remote server: Ask you new host for the new IP address
        6) Enter the username
        7) Enter the password

        Important to tel your new host when they create the new account to use the same username and password as you old account

        8) Generate backup

        When done contact you new host and ask them to restore the full backup. When they done you can test you new location but as the files will be only be accessed on IP some of the stuff might not work but this way all files, databases, email is moved over

        When you host confirm the backup restored then only change the DNS to the new host. For the next 48 hours don't change anything on you website and ping the domain to check for the new IP. As soon as the new IP shows on your domain check your site if all is well.

        If there is something wrong you can always revert to where you old domain is and start again.

        Do not

        1) Contact you current host telling them you moving (as some can get spitefull or some support might just delete you account)
        2) If you have to move and need to give 30 day notice do so but move your domain first and pay double hosting for a month.

        I am not sure how big you site is but if very big it will take a knock on the SERPS so be care full before you do this

        This is for cpanel so other methods can get a lot more complicated and your new host won't do it for free unless it is cpanel move

        If you need help give me a shout

        Needed to add - If done this way you site will not disappear and will be fully functional at all times but I wont do any specials during this time
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        • Profile picture of the author Love2Blog
          I just did this same thing, nothing regarding Google was affected, rankings or otherwise.

          Basically the only thing you are changing are the nameservers, and that has no affect on rankings.
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          • Profile picture of the author The Pension Guy
            Originally Posted by Love2Blog View Post

            Basically the only thing you are changing are the nameservers, and that has no affect on rankings.
            While that's true, please keep in mind that the propagation of the new nameservers info throughout the net can take up to max. 72 hours.

            What it means is that for the site to be fully functional at the new location (host) it might require 24-72 hours, depending on the location of the visitor. After that everything will be fine.
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