Web Hosting Talk : Web Hosting Main Forums : Web Hosting : Switching webhosts - how to not lose a single email?

[Insey]

I am changing web hosts next month for one of my sites and I've already begun the process of transferring my 1.2GB website. I am going to switch DNS'es to the new host even before my old host expires. I want this transition to be as smooth as possible so none of my users have any downtime.

However, email is going to pose a problem. There will be a small window of time where the new DNS has to update so emails directed to my domain will be received between my new and old host depending on how fast the user's ISP updates their DNS. I want to be able to check the email on my old host using webmail but how would I access the domain without DNS? I could use the IP but I am on virtual hosting with cpanel. Would that still work? Does anyone have any other ideas? Thanks.

[Rob83]

Yes. Whatever the server's IP is, just use that to log into webmail on the old/new host and that will work.

[fish]

If you have an email account somewhere else (your isp, free webmail, other website) just redirect the email from your old account to that one. Maybe a bit unpractical to get the email in the wrong account but there's no need to log in to your old account after the move.

[Insey]

ok I am going to go with rob83's idea. I just got the IP of my server and tried logging in with cpanel and everything works. Thanks!

[NexDog]

If you have WHM access you can lower the TTL of the domain to 60 under "Edit a DNS Record" and then wait for 24 hours for dns servers to cache the new setting.

Then you move your site's files, login to the old WHN and edit the domain's A record to the point to the new IP and also edit the mail A record to point to the new IP. If mail is a cname, delete it and replace with an A record that points to the new IP.

Then you switch nameservers but HTTP and mail traffic is already flowing to the new server. That's how you get instant propagation.

[Insey]

Originally posted by NexDog
If you have WHM access you can lower the TTL of the domain to 60 under "Edit a DNS Record" and then wait for 24 hours for dns servers to cache the new setting.

Then you move your site's files, login to the old WHN and edit the domain's A record to the point to the new IP and also edit the mail A record to point to the new IP. If mail is a cname, delete it and replace with an A record that points to the new IP.

Then you switch nameservers but HTTP and mail traffic is already flowing to the new server. That's how you get instant propagation.

uhh....you lost me after the second word

it's all good though I got it taken care of. thanks

[NexDog]

Just thought I'd add it in case anyone searched and did understand. Instant propagation is very necessary for people with dynamic sites.

[sprintserve]

Either that or you have to shut down their sites for the time between the move till it propagates (which obviously isn't a good solution).

Instant propagation though from experience is a bit spotty and doesn't work throughout the whole internet. Somehow somwhere, some ISP will refuse to recache their records, and you may end up with some people going to the old site. Just some possible quirks. But by far, the superior method in this case.

[NexDog]

Any ISP worth their salt will update in 24 hours......You can wait 48 hours before you switch IPs if you want to be really sure but 24 should be enough and you do need to terminate the old account right away to avoid dns bouncy games.

[sprintserve]

Unfortunately not all ISP are worth their salt. Yes. deleting the account on the old server is an important step.

[ksstudio]

Make the DNS changes on Friday night or Saturday morning, DNS takes 24 hours to be fully propagated. Usually people get less emails and traffics on weekends.

[cbrwn]

Make sure you grab a backup on the emails still on the server; CPanel's fullback should include it.