Changing Your Hosting Server

  1. What is a DNS?
    1. DNS stands for Domain Name Server. It is needed because people prefer to work with names instead of numbers. You see, the Internet goes by what is called I.P. addresses. These are numbers like, 74.54.143.18. The "Internet" knows exactly what server that is and exactly how to route a browser to it.
    2. So, if people prefer to work with names, instead of numbers, what do we do? Someone came up with the idea of having computers (servers) host a database of names linked to these I.P. address numbers. That way, when you want to tell someone how to get to your website, you can say "Go to 'mygreatwebsite.com'" instead of, "Go to 74.54.143.18".
    3. There are central sites with the main domain name database and each ISP (Internet Service Provider - the people who you pay each month to provide the service that lets you log into the Internet) updates its database regularly from one of these central sites. (Some ISPs update more regularly than others, that's why when you change hosting servers, some people can see your new site before others do.)
    4. Who controls this database? Each domain registrar is responsible for handling changes to the database. A domain registrar is a company that handles registration of domain names (like 'mygreatwebsite.com'). If you have purchased a domain name, you did so through a domain registrar. You also told them (or they told you) where you wanted your domain hosted. You did this by giving them the names of your hosting name servers. These typically list from two to four servers and look like this:
      1. NS1.SMBIZHOSTING.COM and NS2.SMBIZHOSTING.COM
  2. How do I change to a new hosting server?
    1. As you may have guessed by now, you move your website to a new hosting server by having your domain registrar change their DNS to point to your new server. If you don't recall who your domain registrar is, you can find out by using what is called a "WHOIS" ('Who Is?'). When you browse to a WHOIS site, type in your URL (like: 'www.MyGreatWebsite.com') and have it show you the registration info, owner, registrar, etc.

      Here are some WHOIS links:
      1. http://betterwhois.com/
      2. http://swhois.net/

        (Be sure and let us know 24 hours before changing DNS, so we can be prepared!)
    2. Now browse to your registrar's website and log in. If you have lost your registrar login info (a bad thing to do!!), you'll have to look through their support pages or telephone them to see how to proceed. Most likely they will want you to fax your drivers license or perform some other action to prove your identy.
    3. Once you have logged into your Registrar's website, look for an option that looks like one of the following:
      1. DNS Settings
      2. Change DNS
      3. Move Your Website
      4. Change Hosting Server
    4. If you can't find an option similar to one of the above, you will need to utilize their support pages or telephone them for instructions.
    5. Once you arrive at the page for changing your DNS settings, you'll find input fields (areas of a form into which you may type text), for from two to half a dozen name servers. Enter the following:
      1. NS1.SMBIZHOSTING.COM
      2. NS2.SMBIZHOSTING.COM
        (don't include the preceding '1.' or '2.', just the part in blue)
    6. Be sure and SAVE your new settings!

It usually will take from four to twenty-four hours for the change to take effect. Some registrars are slower than others and may take a couple of days.

We strongly recommend that all our clients change their registrar to GoDaddy.com. I don't like their sexist commercials, but they are a great registrar company that is easy to work with, has low rates and contracts that are more favorable to customers than most. Do not change registrars while you're in the middle of changing your DNS though. Wait until your website(s) is/are safely moved, and then change your registrar.

- Hank Castello
Admin, SmBizHosting.com