Switching to New Host

Hi,
I'm considering moving my website to a different host. Currently it's hosted by F2S and I haven't had any particular problem with them but I think I can get cheaper service with more options at Nethosted among others.
Just wondered if anyone could help me with a few questions.
F2s are the registrars for my .UK domain, does anyone know what the procedure is for switching when that is the case?
Currently my site is pretty near the top when I do a Google search - will shifting to a new host affect that?
How do I go about switching the email accounts that I've got set up for the domain, is that easy to do?
Thanks in advance and aoplogies if I don't answer any replies staraight away as I have to be away from my computer this pm.
Cheers
Allan

You should continue just your domain name registry with F2s and open up a webhosting account with another provider. The new provider will give you the IP-address of the new webhost, so you can start moving your pages over to your new webhost right away. Then log into your old F2s account and re-point the DNS settings to the IP-addresses of your new webhost's DNS servers. It will take up to 48 hours for the latter change to propagate throughout the worldwide web.

Of course this assumes that F2s allows you to keep an account just for the domain name registry only, without a webhosting package.

In general, it is always a good idea to keep the domain name registry separate from the web hosting provider. This way, if the web host becomes overcrowded you can easily swap the web hosting to somewhere else and re-point your DNS settings to the new web host's DNS servers.

Edited by deleted (Sat 06-Jun-09 14:13:56)

In reply to a post by JNeuhoff:

In general, it is always a good idea to keep the domain name registry separate from the web hosting provider. This way, if the web host becomes overcrowded you can easily swap the web hosting to somewhere else.

Agreed.

But I would have the domain at a registry which gave me full control over the SOA and A Records.

In reply to a post by JNeuhoff:

It will take up to 48 hours for the DNS change to propagate throughout the worldwide web.

Not if done properly.

If the OP has full control over the SAO Records, then the Time To Live value can be set as low as he wishes and the "propagation" can be almost instantaneous.

Hi,
Thanks to you both for the assistance. I can see on the F2S website that I can set A and MX records etc, and point at different nameservers - but can't see that I'd have any authority over anything else. Are there registrars to which one can move a domain registration that give such control? All the ones I find also seem to want to host the site.

In reply to a post by Allan1:

Are there registrars to which one can move a domain registration that give such control?

Good question.

I have my domains registered with Heart Internet. (They only allow you to change the Name Servers).

I then use a Reseller Account at Nethosted to manage the SOA and A records. They give you full control.

Some of the sites are also hosted by Nethosted using their reseller account to create my own hosting accounts (But note that primary control of the domains is with Heart Internet.)

I also run my own Name Servers (and hosting) here on my two ADSL Connections, where I really do have total control

Edited by Sandgrounder (Sat 06-Jun-09 21:20:08)

Thanks for the assistance.
regards
Allan

I recomment Lewcy.co.uk as its £1.99 a month witht he coupon code 20off it gues 150GB storage and 1TB or transfer!

Thanks for that. I'll look at them.

You could move to a registrar like Easily. Then all you do is to get F2S to change the Nominet tag to the Easily one.

A knowledgebase article here describes the process.

Then you can change the nameservers to point to your new hosting.

The best order to do things is:
1. Set up an Easily account
2. Set up Easily for a transfer in (specifying keep existing name servers
3. Get F2S to change to the Easily tag
4. Set up Nethosted account
5. Transfer website content to Nethosted
6. Check site is operational using the IP address Nethosted give you
7. Log on to your Easily account and change the nameservers.

I have used Easily and Nethosted as an example because I have been through the process with them for several accounts.

Go to the Nethosted forums and ask in the presales forum for guidance. You will be amazed by the speed and helpfulness of the response!

Hi,
Thanks very much for that.
regards
Allan