How To Move A Website Without Any Downtime

Sooner or later, you might want to, or need to, change web hosts. Perhaps you’ve found a better package. Or maybe your website needs more features. Either way, you might be reluctant to move your website for fear of downtime, data loss, or incompatibility issues (in the case of a dynamic website which may rely on a certain configuration).

Fortunately, it is possible to move a website without any downtime.

Step 1: Plan The Move

The key to a successful move is planning. Do your research and choose a web host that meets the requirements of your site.

Dynamic Websites: If you have a website that is coded in PHP, ASP, or another programming language, you will need to choose a host and plan that supports the language. Give special attention to the versions of languages and software that are available. (For example, if your application runs using PHP5, your new host should support PHP5 or later. If your host only has PHP4 support, it is likely that your application will be adversely affected.) And for complex applications, it is a good idea to pay attention to the configuration of your new host, and whether or not you can customize it.

And to minimize downtime, your host will need to have the following features:

• Temporary Url. This will enable you to view a functioning version of your website prior to moving your domain name. If your plan gives you a unique IP address, it is likely that you can view your site by inputing the IP address in your browser.
• Temporary FTP Address. You will also need an FTP address — in addition to the ftp address at your domain — so that files can be uploaded in preparation of the move.
• Access To Control Panel. Sometimes, a control panel can only be accessed by using a domain. Make sure that you have an alternate url by which you can access your control panel.

 Alright, now we’re ready for the move.

Step 2: The Move

To move your website, take the following steps in order:

1. Download Your Entire Website. DO NOT DELETE ANY FILES. Additionally, if you have databases, you will need to export all data.
2. Upload Your Files. To restore your databases, you will need to create a new database in your new hosting account and import all data.
3. Preview The Website. Verify that all files have been uploaded and that your website is functioning as it should be previewing it using the temporary url.
4. Update Your Nameservers. You will have received at least two name servers from your new host. Updating your nameservers are crucial to moving your website because nameservers are responsible for mapping a domain name to an IP address. To do this, you will need to return to your domain registrar. Each registrar varies, but there should be some documentation on how to do this.

All done. Of course, this process isn’t instantaneous. Instead, it may take anywhere from 24 to 48 hours for domain propagation. (Domain propagation is the process by which your domain location is updated, so that all requests for your website are now directed to your new host instead of your old host.) So there will be no downtime, but during this 24 -48 hour period, visitors to your domain with either be taken to your old hosting account or your new hosting account.

Step 3: After The Move

Once your website has been successfully moved, you can cancel your old hosting account. While you can cancel within 48 hours of updating your nameservers, it’s probably best to wait a full 72 hours. In addition, it is likely that you have created email accounts @yourdomain.com. So you will need to recreate these accounts on your new host. To save the mail currently in your folders, you should easily be able to forward the mail to yourself.

And there you have it! You can move your website with absolutely no downtime.