How to Move to Another Web Hosting Provider Without Any Downtime

It is not very unusual for website owners to switch web hosting providers. Switching usually happens when their current provider offers terrible customer service, are too expensive, or they found a provider that offers more services for what they pay.

Granted, most of these reasons are legitimate, but many have opted to stay. Why? Well, it is because many website owners do not have time to move it themselves, worry about downtime during the move, or could not find a provider that will move it for them.

The following steps will help you, the website owner, to make the move without any downtime:

• You have to know your existing website. Some website owners have others build and manage their website for them. Well, you want to make sure you (or your developer) know how much disk space you use, approximate amount of monthly data transfer used, software (and their version) that is essential to keeping your website up and running, and your email accounts.
• When you start looking for a web hosting provider, be sure that they have the above specifications in their hosting plan before you make the purchase. Failure to prepare can lead to downtime with no other choice than to move back to your previous provider.
• Once you find your new web hosting provider, purchase the web hosting plan. Although you are now paying for 2 web hosting plans (one from each provider), this is essential in order to keep your website from going down during the move. If you did your homework, then the move should be pretty quick.
• At this time, your domain name is still pointed to your old web hosting account while you can access your new web hosting account using an IP address or a directory (ex. http://123.452.1.1 or http://host1.server.com/~fred). This is important because while your website is still available to your users, the new web hosting account is accessible on the web so you can test the new website during the move.
• Copy your web pages and directories from your old hosting plan to your new web hosting plan.
• Create the same email accounts on your new web hosting plan
• Now, test your new website using its IP address or directory. If everything functions correctly you're all set.
• Access your domain registrar account (the management system that allows you to update your domain name information) and change the Name Servers. The Names Servers are used by your domain name. When someone accesses your domain name using their browser, the domain name will go to the name servers to direct all traffic to the proper web hosting account. If you do not know the name servers of your new web hosting account, contact their technical support for assistance.
• Once the name servers are changed, it usually takes about 48 hours before the update is completely changed throughout the entire internet.
• Once it is completely changed, you should be able to access your website that is now pointed to your new web hosting provider. In addition, all your emails should now be accessible from your new account. You may need to access your email account from your previous hosting provider one more time in order to receive the last emails that were left right before the move was complete.
• Once everything looks good, you can move forward and cancel your other web hosting provider.

There you go, all set!