How to know when propogation completes

[dderolph]

Obviously, a new website knows it's domain name is propagated by simply verifiying that the site will display at a normal www address. But, in the case of a change of hosting service (changing to Total Choice), is there a way to absolutely confirm that propagation has occurred and the web files can be removed from the former host? In others, would not want to cause downtime by pre-mature removal of files from old host.

Edited July 21, 2006 by dderolph

[TCH-Bruce]

Place something on the old or new site that is different. When you either see it or don't see it depending on which way you make the change you know it has completed.

[Deverill]

There's no real way to do it. There are too many places from which to access your site that to verify all of them is impossible.

 

One thing you could do is to create a new dummy page at the new site, say TEST.HTM and then go to http://www.hyperspin.com/quicktest.php and use their website test and put in the URL of that new dummy page. This will at least tell you if it can resolve from 5 US locations, Amsterdam, Singapore, Brisbane, and Hamilton Ontario, Canada. If any come up 404-not found then they are resolving to the old address. If they all come up as OK then it's a good chance that all propogation is done, but it's not guaranteed since your sample is only 9 sites.

 

It's not surefired, but it's as close as I know you can get.

[dderolph]

Thanks. I should have thought of making a change to one or the other and testing. I'll do that.