A step by Step Guide on How to change your Hosting Service Provider

Website hosting plays a major role in success of a website and it is vital to choose a good hosting service for long term hassle free operations. However, if you are not satisfied with their services or have found a web hosting service provider that is offering better deal as well as better services, opting for the new website hosting service provider is a good idea. Other circumstance that might compel you to find another hosting service provider is hike in the hosting plan and decrease in the quality of service. Furthermore, if you wish to expand your online business and the current service provider is not providing enough space on the server for expansion, you can think of changing your service provider. However, the question arises as to how to change the web hosting service provider?

Steps for changing the web hosting service provider

Comprehensive research
A comprehensive research is required before choosing a website hosting service provider. It will help you finding the best web hosting service provider that offers good deals as well as sufficient space for future expansion of business.

Sufficient time
It is very important to give yourself sufficient time before switching to another service provider as it will give you enough time to figure out the problems and solve the issues with the new service provider.

Backup
The most essential thing is taking the back up of all your data available on the server of your current service provider. Take back up of every web page of the website, especially of the latest updates and the database of the website. To be on the safer side, make at least two copies and store them in separate places so that if any one of them gets corrupted, you can use the other one.

Inform the domain registrar
Before changing the website hosting service provider, it is mandatory to inform the domain name registrar about your shifting. Furthermore, it is important that the information of your present as well as the new hosting service provider is handy. This is because you will need to provide the domain name and IP address, among others, of your current as well as new server to the domain name registrar before shifting.

Change your DNS
When you change the website hosting, switching of DNS is important. However, you can get a temporary URL on your new website and once you are contented with the service, you can change the DNS then.

After completing these steps, it is a good practice to inform your visitors and customers about the shifting of your server. It will surely help in building and gaining trust of your customers. Individuals can also change their hosting service provider without domain transfer.

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How do I transfer my domain to a new registrar?

Domain Name Transfer

In order to transfer your domain from one registrar to another, individuals need to follow some basic steps. Since a registrar is only responsible for managing the domain records of an individual, the transfer from the current registrar to a new one does not affect the functioning of a website, domain name server and connected email service, if any. A pre-set pattern is followed by almost every registrar while transferring a domain name, which is as follows.

In the first step of domain transfer process, individuals need to verify that email address in the whois admin contact with the current registrar is correct and updated. Thereafter, they need to register and complete the purchasing process with the new registrar. The new registrar will then dispatch an email to the individual, containing the transaction ID and a security code.  It should be noted that the user must unlock the protection on the domain with the current registrar prior to making a domain transfer request.

In the next step, individuals need to login to the existing registrar account and obtain an authorisation code. This code is required to authorise the new registrar to start the domain transfer process on your behalf.  Then, users need to simply sign in their new registrar and start the transfer process using that authorisation code. A message will appear on the screen, stating ‘authorisation required’ and users are recommended to select ‘begin transfer authorisation’. With the completion of this step, the window will pop up a new message, stating ‘pending current registrar approval’ upon which individuals are advised to select ‘accept transfer at current registrar’. Following the completion of all these steps, an email notification will be received from the current registrar, confirming that the transfer request has been initiated with the new registrar. Users get a notification from the new registrar when the transfer process is completed. Following these steps, you can easily transfer domain to a more cost-effective and trustworthy registrar.

Generally, the process of domain name transfer completes within 5-7 days after processing the request, but in some cases it can even take up to 14 days. It must be noted that the current registrar has a leverage of five days to confirm the request of domain transfer to a new registrar. Remember that a newly transferred domain can’t be transferred again to a new registrar for the next 60 days. The domain name transferring process is quite easy and does not demand much efforts and time. However, it is quite beneficial to understand the proceedings of the entire process so that individuals can avail cheap domain name transfer services. Also, if a user has several domain names, it is advised to maintain all of them under a single registrar.

Why is domain transfer process considered a taboo?

Domain Name Transfer

The domain transfer process involves transferring a domain name from one registrar (Losing registrar to another registrar (Gaining registrar). This simple process involves various checking steps to ensure the transfer is carried out by the authorized person. This domain transfer process sometimes involves change of domain ownership also, but it does not happen all the time.

All the registrars follow the policies, rules and regulations set by ICANN which is called the Inter-registrar Transfer Policy. Transferring a domain name to another registrar may require a few days and involves a number of cumbersome processes. Even though all registrars follow the same policy and rules of ICANN, the procedure followed by each registrar vary. If the steps are not carried out correctly and promptly then the domain name transfer process may result in failure. If the registrars procedures (both the gaining registrar and the losing registrar) are not followed by the end user in each and every stage,   the domain transfer process results in complication, which cannot be handled.

Requirements for Domain Transfer Process:
Before starting the transfer process, check the following for successful accomplishment of transfer.

• Check whether the Domain name is expired or nearing the expiration date (minimum one month)
• Check whether the Domain was created before 60 days or renewed before 45 days.
• Check for the updated information of the current registrar such as Whois, email addresses
• Verify whether the administrative contacts as well as the owner of the domain are aware of this transfer.
• Check whether the domain is not locked for particular reason such as security, pending dispute, domain expiry etc.
• Do the payment for the domain name transfer to the new registrar.
• Provide the authorization key to the new registrar for .com .net, .info, .name, .org domains and provide the documentation to the registry for .BE domain. The new registrar will send the Form of Authorization by email with the authorization key to the owner as well as to the current administrative contact of the domain.  If both the persons return the authorization key, then the registrar authorization takes place. The possible state in this Form of Authorization stage are (1)wait contact with 5 days delay or (2) failed contact due to refusal of the transfer.

As soon as the new registrar transfers the request to the registry, it forwards the request to the losing registrar. Within 5 days the losing registrar has to reply having the provision to stop or speed the process. If the losing registrar does not reply, it is considered as the transfer is accepted.

Here the possible states are (1) the wait registry as the registrar has not replied within the 5 days delay. (2) The failed registry as the losing registrar refused the transfer due to various reasons such as expired domain, domain locked by default etc. If the losing registrar refused the transfer, the end user has to contact for more information.

Once the transfer is accepted, it takes about 24 to 48 hours for registry update for .com and .net domains. As soon as the domain end user receives the transfer confirmation, the domain transfer is succeeded.

Failures of domain transfer
If your domain name transfer is not successful, there may be a lot of reasons. For these various reasons, it is better to contact the current registrar.

• Domain contact did not respond to verification email.
• Invalid Authorization key
• Domain is locked by current registrar
• Domain registration is not yet 60 days old
• Domain was not re-tagged in time by the losing registrar
• The domain transfer rejected by the Current registrar

To get rid of these failures, the domain owner or the end user has to follow the registrar’s procedure and respond to administrative contact promptly and correctly otherwise the transfer is really a taboo for the domain owners.

How to Move a Blogger Blog to Your Own Custom Domain



Domain Redirection



Do you know a Blogger Blog can be redirected to your Own Domain?

Instead of having your blog as myblog.blogspot.com, you can have your blog in your domain, mydomain.com.

Why to opt for moving a blogger blog to your own Custom Domain?

1.      Your domain serves as a one central hub for your all online function, instead of remembering different and multiple URLs for your website.

2.      The content given in your blog will be indexed by search engines under your domain. If the blog is on the BlogSpot, the search engine indexes your blog but your website is not benefitted by the traffic and the incoming links.

3.      The blog is hosted for free and web hosting service is not needed.  It is located at mydomain.com instead of myblog.blogspot.com

4.      Most of the blogs in the BlogSpot are of low quality. The blog in your own custom domain gives more credibility and professional appearance to the visitors. The blogger will also forward the visitors of the blog from Old URL to new URL.

5.      There is no need for study of new platform for Blogging. Even if you blog your posts in the Blogger it will be directed to the new domain.

The one and only drawback of moving the Blogger blog to your own domain arises if your blog in the Blogger is well developed with good traffic. If the blog is moved to the new custom domain, there may be a drop in the traffic and search engine rankings. This can be easily rectified, once the search engine recognizes the new address of the blog.

Just because you have a blog in a blogger for more than a year and having handful of visitors is not considered as an established one. Nowadays the experts expect and consider having more than couple hundred visitors for heavy traffic. Ultimately, it is good to have your blog in your own custom domain.

If you are not having the domain, you can get it from any of the Domain registrars. Google offers you the provision of having a domain for $10. Some registrars like Godaddy provides a domain for $9 and even some registrars provide it for $7 a year. Once you obtain the domain, you are ready to set the process to begin hosting your blog to your new website address. After completing the process, make everyone know of your blog address.

Steps to move your Blogger Blog to your Custom Domain

Login your Blogger account. Select and click “Settings tab”. Next click “Publishing” to access the “Custom Domain” link. If you have to purchase a new domain now, then the blogger takes you through the process of registering a new domain name.  Next you can click the button “Switch to Advanced Settings’

A text box is provided in which you can type your domain name and then to save, click “Save Settings”. Now your blogger blog redirects to your own Custom Domain.

You have to note that the blogger does not impose you any charges for moving to your own domain and whenever you need, move it to your BlogSpot subdomain. If you are registering your domain with a company you have to create a CNAME record so that the blog would function properly. It is company specific, and so your domain registrar will provide the information

Steps to Be Taken after Moving the Blogger blog to Your Own Domain

You have to do a few more things after moving your blog to your own custom domain.

·         Make everyone know about your new domain address and the visitors will update their links.

·         If you have trackers installed, update the address to include your new website address for the blog.

·         Reclaim your new blog on the search engine Technocrati. If the old address of the blog is no longer needed inform them by sending a note that the old ones can be marked as irrelevant.

·         If you have registered and member of social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter, then update the address of your blog with your domain name.

·         Finally update the links mentioned in your website to reflect your new domain and blog.

Domain Transfer - How to go about it

Domain Transfer - How to go about it from Net4 India Ltd.

HOW TO TRANSFER A DOMAIN FROM ONE REGISTRAR TO ANOTHER



Domain Name Transfer



A domain name transfer is in effect. According to Domain name transfer of registration policy, a registered name holder of a domain can transfer the domain management from one registrar to another registrar. A registrar is responsible to carry out the management of records and it will not affect the website, DNS or the relevant email.

To carry out the domain transfer process, you should have a domain registered in your ownership and a registrar to transfer that domain. It is fairly a simple process, but we have to understand the workings, so that it would not get complicated while handling the procedures. Now let us see the steps involved in transferring the domain name registrations between the registrars.

Check with the domain name renewal date

The transfer of domain name may take upto 10 days. So if the renewal date of your domain is within 10 days, then it is good to renew with the current register so that it will not affect the hosted website or email service. The transfer of domain name to another registrar does not affect the website hosting or email services. So we need not worry about the transfer of domain name as it will not  bring down the working of the website.

Get ready with the EPP key to initiate the domain name transfer

The domain name transfer occurs between the current registrar and a new registrar. If the current registrar details are unknown, we can query by doing a WHOIS lookup of the domain name, which helps to find where the domain is registered and the administrative contact details of the registrar which we may need it later. The domain name transfer can be carried out only with the EPP which is also called as authorization key. It is a unique security code required by domain registry to initiate the domain name transfer. Logon to current registrar website and obtain the EPP key.

Check the lock status of the domain name for domain name transfer

To proceed with the domain name status, the domain name should be in the unlock status. Usually the registrar provide the ‘lock’ and ‘unlock’ facility to prevent fraudulent domain name transfer. This lock/unlock status of the domain name can be checked by doing a WHOIS lookup of a domain name.

Initiate the transfer to the new registrar with the EPP key and lock status of the domain name.

Once the EPP key is obtained, and the status of the domain name is checked in unlock position, the transfer procedure can be carried out. Go to the new registrar and initiate the domain name transfer. The EPP key obtained from the current registrar should be prompted while carrying out the transfer to the new registrar.

Approve the domain name transfer to the new registrar through administrative contact email.

The new registrar contacts the domain name owner through administrative contact email address to approve the domain name transfer. By clicking the link given in the email of the new registrar, the transfer is approved. The responding time is 5 days. The domain name owner may allow or deny the transfer. If the domain’s administrative contact email address is not known, it can be retrieved by performing a WHOIS lookup. 

Domain name transfer confirmed through New Registration Confirmation email

After the transfer approval from the domain name owner, the transfer usually takes about a couple of days or a week, which depends upon the new registrar. The successful (or failed) domain transfer is confirmed by confirmation email from the new registrar.

REASONS FOR FAILURE OF DOMAIN NAME TRANSFER

1.      If the EPP key is incorrect, the transfer cannot be carried out as it is needed by the domain registry.

2.      If the domain is in REGISTRAR LOCK status or Client Transfer Prohibited Status, the transfer cannot be carried out.

3.      If the administrative contact email address is not accessible, the transfer approval email cannot be received

4.      The time constraints also influence the activity of domain name transfer. According to ICANN transfer registration policy,   the domain transfer cannot be carried during the first 60 days of the registration or during the first 60 days of domain name registrar transfer.

5.      If the domain name registration with the current registrar has already expired, then it cannot be transferred to another registrar.

As per the transfer registration policy, the domain name transfer can be done without the approval of the losing registrar. The losing registrar can resist the transfer only under certain scenarios such as evidence of fraudulent domain transfer, court order, domain status in ‘REGISTRAR-LOCK’ for non payment of previous registration charges etc. All the requirements of domain name transfer are stated in detail in the ICANN policy on transfer of domain name registrations.