Points to Remember When Switching Web Hosts
(Page 1 of 4 )
There's a lot to keep track of when you're transitioning from one web host to another. This article will help you keep the important issues in mind.
Switching your website to a new web host is a lot like moving in real life. You don't want to do it unless you really have to. You try to get all your research about the new location completed before you have to move. You do your best to see that it suits your needs as well as, or better than, your old location. And it involves so many details that you practically despair of getting it done without forgetting something unless you're compulsive about making lists.
Fear not. I'm going to give you some gentle reminders about the things you need to accomplish. While the precise details will vary depending on your website's particular needs, if you keep these points in mind, you'll feel right at home with your new host in no time. Well, you might still need to track down the closest good Italian restaurant, but you know what I mean.
They say that location is the most important thing in the real estate business, but for websites, we're going to start with the new residence itself--which, in this case, equates to storage, at least for openers. How much space is all your stuff taking up now? Does your new home (the new web hosting plan you've chosen) offer you at least that much space? You should check with your current web host as to how much space you're using now, or you can check your web hosting control panel. If you expect to add files to your website that are likely to take up a lot of space as time goes on, you might want to start with a little more space than you're using now--and even check whether your new host has plans to which you can upgrade.
By the way, storage in cyberspace may not be as straightforward as storage in the real world (storage in the real world isn't entirely straightforward either, but that's another matter). If your web host's storage plan offers you 1 GB of storage, what is counted against that amount? Does that include only the files of your website, or does the space taken up by your emails and log files count as well? You need to find out this information from both your old host and your new host. If they count storage differently, it could be unpleasantly similar to moving into a technically larger apartment with a less open layout and smaller closets.
Next: Do All the Utilities Work? >>
More Web Hosting Articles Articles
More By Terri Wells
/ 3 
