Transferring web hosting.
-
My web hosting is due to expire soon, and thanks to the fact they are totally rubbish and don't answer support emails I am planning on switching provider. I need to change two things. Firstly, who my domain names are registered with, and secondly, the actual host. Having never done this before, Is there anything specific I should be aware of before I attempt to make the transfer? I'm hoping it's going to be as simple as just signing up with the new host and instructing them to make the transfer. It's not a high volume site, and I don't really care about downtime or anything like that, I just want to make sure I don't lose my domain names in the process of transferring. (I'm going to have a look around, but I'm currently planning on switching to Arvixe[^] - although I'm open to any suggestions if people can recommend any good ones)
Simon
Regarding the hosting itself - no real recommendations. Regarding the domain hosting, we've been using Simply Names[^] for a few years, and they are very good. You get a full control panel, and can create A and MX records, CNAMES and so on. They are also real people in real offices - you dial the telephone number on the web site, and a human being answers. It's amazing. They also do hosting, but we don't use that (for other reasons - not because of any quality or service issues).
-
My web hosting is due to expire soon, and thanks to the fact they are totally rubbish and don't answer support emails I am planning on switching provider. I need to change two things. Firstly, who my domain names are registered with, and secondly, the actual host. Having never done this before, Is there anything specific I should be aware of before I attempt to make the transfer? I'm hoping it's going to be as simple as just signing up with the new host and instructing them to make the transfer. It's not a high volume site, and I don't really care about downtime or anything like that, I just want to make sure I don't lose my domain names in the process of transferring. (I'm going to have a look around, but I'm currently planning on switching to Arvixe[^] - although I'm open to any suggestions if people can recommend any good ones)
Simon
I used to use UK2 years ago, but switched to 1and1. I started with 1and1 web hosting and then transferred all my web hosting to a virtual server as I wanted to start doing more and more. The Domain Name transfer was seemless, and the internal package upgrades over time went without a hitch also. I have found the whole 1and1 experience very good, and had no issues with them. Currently use Joomla as a CMS on my website with mySQL as the backend. click the Web link in my signature and you will see my site.
-
Regarding the hosting itself - no real recommendations. Regarding the domain hosting, we've been using Simply Names[^] for a few years, and they are very good. You get a full control panel, and can create A and MX records, CNAMES and so on. They are also real people in real offices - you dial the telephone number on the web site, and a human being answers. It's amazing. They also do hosting, but we don't use that (for other reasons - not because of any quality or service issues).
Is there any real reason why I should use someone different for the domain name as I do for the hosting? (Small, very very low traffic, personal/test site only)
Simon
-
Is there any real reason why I should use someone different for the domain name as I do for the hosting? (Small, very very low traffic, personal/test site only)
Simon
Because you know that while godaddy is incompetent they won't try to maliciously hold your domain hostage; it's been a while but I've seen stinks from when someone discovered that their cheap registrar was abusing the anonymizing service they offered to claim ownership in all registered domains and keep their customers
victimsfrom transferring their business to someone else.3x12=36 2x12=24 1x12=12 0x12=18
-
Is there any real reason why I should use someone different for the domain name as I do for the hosting? (Small, very very low traffic, personal/test site only)
Simon
None that I can think of. Simply are a very reputable firm - so the other point about domains being held hostage, while valid with some companies, doesn't apply here. I only didn't recommend their hosting simply becuase I hjave no direct, personal experience of it - I can only comment on their DNS / domain name services.
-
Because you know that while godaddy is incompetent they won't try to maliciously hold your domain hostage; it's been a while but I've seen stinks from when someone discovered that their cheap registrar was abusing the anonymizing service they offered to claim ownership in all registered domains and keep their customers
victimsfrom transferring their business to someone else.3x12=36 2x12=24 1x12=12 0x12=18
Dan Neely wrote:
cheap registrar was abusing the anonymizing service they offered to claim ownership in all registered domains and keep their customersvictims from transferring their business to someone else.
That's exactly how I feel with my host, Bluedomino.com. I have wanted to change web hosts several times and they make the domain name transfer to the new web host sound like such a pain in the ass, that it keeps people from leaving.
"The clue train passed his station without stopping." - John Simmons / outlaw programmer "Real programmers just throw a bunch of 1s and 0s at the computer to see what sticks" - Pete O'Hanlon "Not only do you continue to babble nonsense, you can't even correctly remember the nonsense you babbled just minutes ago." - Rob Graham
-
My web hosting is due to expire soon, and thanks to the fact they are totally rubbish and don't answer support emails I am planning on switching provider. I need to change two things. Firstly, who my domain names are registered with, and secondly, the actual host. Having never done this before, Is there anything specific I should be aware of before I attempt to make the transfer? I'm hoping it's going to be as simple as just signing up with the new host and instructing them to make the transfer. It's not a high volume site, and I don't really care about downtime or anything like that, I just want to make sure I don't lose my domain names in the process of transferring. (I'm going to have a look around, but I'm currently planning on switching to Arvixe[^] - although I'm open to any suggestions if people can recommend any good ones)
Simon
I have a feeling your new host will need to contact the old host to transfer the domains, so if they really don't answer mails, they may have as much of a problem as you. I moved my hosting from someone useless to someone really good (Bytemark hosting[^]) who thankfully managed to deal with the general uselessness of my old hosts, and had me back up and running in very little time - I'd definitely recommend them to anyone else, as their support team consists of the people who actually run it, all of which answer support issues quickly and knowledgably! [edit](They're mostly linux based, though, so probably not suited to you if you're after Asp.net stuff!)[/edit] Your best bet is to get your new provider to set up your hosting on a temporary vhost first, so you can get everything transferred over from your old site before you ask them to flip the domain name over.
Help me! I'm turning into a grapefruit! Buzzwords!
-
None that I can think of. Simply are a very reputable firm - so the other point about domains being held hostage, while valid with some companies, doesn't apply here. I only didn't recommend their hosting simply becuase I hjave no direct, personal experience of it - I can only comment on their DNS / domain name services.
Do they give you a page to edit your records/etc directly? If you're keeping the server up for a while while making the new one work being able to set a really short TTL on your records so you can seamlessly toggle from the old to the new (and back if it turns out you didn't have everything carried over) with very little delay would be useful.
3x12=36 2x12=24 1x12=12 0x12=18
-
Do they give you a page to edit your records/etc directly? If you're keeping the server up for a while while making the new one work being able to set a really short TTL on your records so you can seamlessly toggle from the old to the new (and back if it turns out you didn't have everything carried over) with very little delay would be useful.
3x12=36 2x12=24 1x12=12 0x12=18
You can't set the TTL on the records, but in reality, that doesn't matter. A lots of ISPs configure their DNS servers to ignore the TTL anyway. We have changed A records for a web server with a 24 hour TTL, and were still getting hits on the old IP address a week later.
-
My web hosting is due to expire soon, and thanks to the fact they are totally rubbish and don't answer support emails I am planning on switching provider. I need to change two things. Firstly, who my domain names are registered with, and secondly, the actual host. Having never done this before, Is there anything specific I should be aware of before I attempt to make the transfer? I'm hoping it's going to be as simple as just signing up with the new host and instructing them to make the transfer. It's not a high volume site, and I don't really care about downtime or anything like that, I just want to make sure I don't lose my domain names in the process of transferring. (I'm going to have a look around, but I'm currently planning on switching to Arvixe[^] - although I'm open to any suggestions if people can recommend any good ones)
Simon
I use arvixe and am 99% happy with them. I had some unusual hosting requirements and they were very accommodating. The 1% was a single instance on a weekend where the support tech seemed worthless, but a short time later ( possibly the next shit?) I was contacted and the issue was resolved.
-
I used to use UK2 years ago, but switched to 1and1. I started with 1and1 web hosting and then transferred all my web hosting to a virtual server as I wanted to start doing more and more. The Domain Name transfer was seemless, and the internal package upgrades over time went without a hitch also. I have found the whole 1and1 experience very good, and had no issues with them. Currently use Joomla as a CMS on my website with mySQL as the backend. click the Web link in my signature and you will see my site.
I second 1and1. I've also been using them for years with no problems. And support was a real and helpful person the one time I called. Nick
---------------------------------- Be excellent to each other :)
-
My web hosting is due to expire soon, and thanks to the fact they are totally rubbish and don't answer support emails I am planning on switching provider. I need to change two things. Firstly, who my domain names are registered with, and secondly, the actual host. Having never done this before, Is there anything specific I should be aware of before I attempt to make the transfer? I'm hoping it's going to be as simple as just signing up with the new host and instructing them to make the transfer. It's not a high volume site, and I don't really care about downtime or anything like that, I just want to make sure I don't lose my domain names in the process of transferring. (I'm going to have a look around, but I'm currently planning on switching to Arvixe[^] - although I'm open to any suggestions if people can recommend any good ones)
Simon
Most hosts are good about releasing the domain so it can be moved to a new host. But my daughter had registered with GoDaddy and then asked me to develop a site for her. Fine, but GoDaddy did not offer the support she needed, so we put in a request to move the domain. Spent hours on the phone and days of exchanging emails. GoDaddy never did release the domain. They claim they are protecting their customers from fraudulent transfers (and there is some validity to that requirement). But they essentially hold your domain hostage. We ultimately had to allow the domain to expire and re-registered the name with the new host.
Melting Away www.deals-house.com www.innovative--concepts.com
-
You can't set the TTL on the records, but in reality, that doesn't matter. A lots of ISPs configure their DNS servers to ignore the TTL anyway. We have changed A records for a web server with a 24 hour TTL, and were still getting hits on the old IP address a week later.
-
My web hosting is due to expire soon, and thanks to the fact they are totally rubbish and don't answer support emails I am planning on switching provider. I need to change two things. Firstly, who my domain names are registered with, and secondly, the actual host. Having never done this before, Is there anything specific I should be aware of before I attempt to make the transfer? I'm hoping it's going to be as simple as just signing up with the new host and instructing them to make the transfer. It's not a high volume site, and I don't really care about downtime or anything like that, I just want to make sure I don't lose my domain names in the process of transferring. (I'm going to have a look around, but I'm currently planning on switching to Arvixe[^] - although I'm open to any suggestions if people can recommend any good ones)
Simon
I just switched to Arvixe about 2 months ago. I'm still playing around with the site and throwing up different installation sets but so far they seem ok. I've seen others that do a bit better on email handling, but really no complaints so far. Nick
This are my own opinions. You know the rest.....