How to Make a Painless Move to a New Web Host

There are two things that can go seriously wrong when you move to a new web hosting provider. Follow this simple guide to doing it all without too many dramas.

A normal move to a new hosting provider can mean huge losses to your business if things aren't done correctly. Specifically:

1. Your new web site doesn't "behave" the way it should.

2. Your email goes "missing" for several days

SETTING UP THE NEW SERVER

Setting up the new server correctly easily solves the first problem.

Set up the new server with your existing/main domain name details (but do NOT change the DNS settings - yet).

Once the server is set up, you can then PARK another/spare domain name at the same server.
For example, most servers with cPanel allow you to easily park one - or more - domains on top of an existing one. If you don't happen to have a spare/unused domain name you can use for this purpose, it won't cost much to register a new .com just for this purpose.

Now, make sure that the DNS information for the PARKED domain at your domain name registry points to the new server.

Once you can see your web site under the parrkeddomainname.com address in your web browser, FULLY TEST IT to make sure all the interactive routines - i.e. search routines, contact forms, forums, feeds, etc., work as they should.

Once you are 100% certain that it works properly, AND you've got your email sorted out (see next bit) then you can organize to have the DNS for your main domain name changed to point to the new server.

BIG TIP: Make a small change to the NEW home page so you can easily tell which site (old or new) you are looking at in your web browser. When you can see the change, it means your DNS has been updated.

DON'T LOSE ANY EMAIL

The problem with a DNS change is that it can take some time to go through - up to 72 hours or even longer for it to propagate across the whole Internet.

During that time, some of your customers will be seeing the OLD version of your site, and if they send you email, it can be delivered to the OLD server.

And you might not be able to check it because your ISP has updated the DNS and you can only see the new server.

AT THE OLD SERVER, simply set up a FORWARD or REDIRECTION to send all your mail to your existing ISP email account, or perhaps even a new Hotmail type address.

For the final time, in Outlook (or whatever email client you use) click on Send/Receive to get any mail that might be waiting on the old server. After this new email (to your old server) will come in through your ISP email box.

Next, set up your email accounts AT THE NEW SERVER. You should ALSO set up redirects here to send any mail it receives to your ISP address. That way, if you're unlucky and your DNS takes forever to propagate, you will still get your new email.

Finally, when you are all ready to go, lodge the DNS change with your domain name registrar to point your main domain to the new server.

WHILE THE DNS IS UPDATING

If everything's been set up correctly, then while the DNS is updating, several things will happen:

1. Any email being sent to the old server will be redirected to your ISP email address.

2. Any email that's sent to the NEW server is ALSO being redirected to your ISP address, so you won't lose any email during this period.

3. Your email client should keep checking the old server until the DNS change goes through. When that happens, it will most likely display an "unable to connect" error message.

4. Now, check to make sure you can see your new server in your web browser.

5. If you can, then change your email settings to the new server settings and check it works both sending and receiving.

6. Now remove the redirections from the new server.

Finally, in about another week or so, contact your OLD hosting provider and CLOSE YOUR ACCOUNT. It's an important step, but so many people forget to do it, until they get re-billed for another month (and lot's of luck trying to get a refund).

Why a Romance is possible with Online Dating Services

In this modern world, people have been so hectic with their work that they may not even have the time to start a relationship. And with new technology, people have been buried in their computers and some don’t realize that they could actually find romance in the Internet. Well, this is what we called online dating and people who are too busy can even find romance in the Internet with just a click away.

Over the last few years, there are millions of people who have joined online dating services that could be found everywhere in the Internet. Some of these online dating services are FREE while some require a 1 time or monthly fee. So what are the advantages of joining online dating service? Below are just some examples:

1. Most of the online dating services provide features for members to provide their personal profiles on the Internet. With the number of members increasing over the years, one could access these profiles and find someone that matches their preference.

2. In addition, one can remain anonymous during online dating and have no obligation to meet her/him if she/he is not comfortable with the other party and can stop the online dating immediately.

3. Also, with these tons of profiles available, one can then move on to another new one if the previous online dates are not successful. So, with all the available choices, when one finally finds someone that suits her/him, then she/he can decide to meet offline after they are comfortable with each other during the online dating adventure.

With so many online dating services available on the Internet, which one should a person choose?

The PAID or FREE ones?

Well, FREE online dating service may come with a price as most of the members may not be pre-screened and hence the profiles provided may not be genuine. However, with paid online dating services, most of them pre-screen any participants before accepting them as a member. Of course, it can't be guaranteed that all profiles can be verified 100% correct but it will definitely provide a safer environment for members to date online as their members are pre screened and hence providing a better experience than FREE services.

So, even with the hectic life that you have, there is no reason why you can't find romance, as there are so many people out their waiting to be friends and maybe develop into a romantic relationship in these online dating services.