Transfering Domain And Webmail

[Z3NiTH]

Hi,

 

First of all a short description of my current situation:

 

- registration of domain name until 22-07-2004 with registrar Namesdirect

- domain-base e-mail forwarding

- domain URL forwarding

- webmail (Horde)

 

My web site is hosted at various free hosting services (subdomains). The domain URL forwarding allows me to show the desired content from these free hosts at my domain name.

 

 

At this moment I'm seriously considering purchasing one of TCH's hosting plans. Reason for this is to end the hassle that is involved with using free web hosts and the possibility to further develop my web site using PHP and mySQL, etc. I've looked around on the TCH web site and forum, but I still have some questions regarding a "smooth" transition to TCH.

 

 

domain name

I understand I can either keep my current registrar or tranfer my domain to TCH. Although I believe the latter involves an extra fee, I would prefer this option. What is the transfer fee for a .com domain? Does this fee involve registration for another year, or are these costs additionally?

 

webmail

I would like to know whether it is possible to transfer all the valuable information that is currently in my Horde webmail account, i.e. archived e-mails and addressbook, to one of the new ones used by TCH (NeoMail, Horde, or Squirrel Mail)? If yes, how can I do this?

 

free hosts

Is it possible if I'm a customer of TCH to temporarily show the content of the various free web hosts at my own domain name (after my domain name has been transfered to TCH)? This in order to prevent any down-time that may be involved when transferring to TCH?

 

 

Finally, I would like to know what steps I have to take and in what sequence in order to achieve the above? E.g. do I have to end my subscription with my current registrar or does TCH do this for me? etc.

[ThumpAZ]

Hello there!

 

Glad you found us. Now, on to the questions...

 

Domain transfer:

Yes, both options are available to you. The transfer of registrar is $10.95, but that includes a one year exptension on your registration.

 

Email:

There should be files and folders on your existing site that are downloadable to your machine. Once you download these files and get your new account and email setup, you can re-upload them to the correct place and your amil will be there. The TCH Staff (red-lettered names) can help you more with this.

 

Content transfer:

Since you already have absolute links to the free host material, your uploading of your current main site information should still work. You will want to check your files on the free sites to make sure they point in the right direction (to the new TCH location, although links of h*tto.domain.com/whatever will still work correctly)

 

You can leave everything in place for the time being. Once you get your new site all setup over here (purchase and uploads). During purchase, you can request that transfer be included in your package, but you can talk with one of the "red-coats" prior and make sure that everything stays put until you make the request for transfer.

 

Pre-emptive Welcome to the Family!!

-Glenn

If I am wrong with any of this, then someone will surely step in to help in correcting me.

[Z3NiTH]

Hi Glenn,

 

First of all, thanks for your prompt response to my question and the welcome to the family . I think I got it all more or less "figured out" now. I will summarize it below, so if you would be so kind to make sure that I've got it all OK such that there are no misunderstandings.

 

1) backup existing emails/folders and addressbook of my current Horde webmail account to my hard disk

I don't know how I can achieve this yet, as I can only obtain this data online through the Horde webmail interface as I don't have direct access to the files and folders of my email account on a physical drive. I'm currenlty consulting with my present registrar how to do this, and I will contact the TCH-Staff as well as you suggested.

 

2) purchase TCH hosting including the transfer of my domain

Does this domain name transfer require additional action from me? E.g. that I have to request my current registrar to free the domain, repoint the DNS servers, or will this all be handled by TCH?

 

3) setup webmail interface and e-mail forwarding

This involves restoring my email/folder/addressbook backup to the new webmail account at TCH of my choice. I don't know yet for which interface I will eventually choose.

 

4) setup my existing web site

At this moment my web site content resides at different free web hosts (e.g. myname.freehost.com). All the URLs in my HTML-files are absolute, i.e. http://****/file.html or http://mysubdomain.com/file.html. Through URL forwarding (masked) I point mydomain and mysubdomain to the correct myname.freehost.com.

 

At first I would like let the current web site reside at the free webhosts. So this would only require that I can also point **** and a number of mysubdomain.com to the corresponding myname.freehost.com using my TCH account. Is this indeed possible?

 

5) create and test new web site on TCH webspace

This would give me the opportunity to create and test my new site with added functionality at TCH while the old web site is still "online". Once the new site is OK, I will redirect the URLs from the old to the new site at TCH.

 

 

Well, this more or less sums up what I had in mind. Does this make sense? Or are there some points that I should better reconsider?

[ThumpAZ]

You seem to have a very good grasp of what needs to be done.

 

1. you are right on track here, and I cannot really offer any other advice. You say that you do not have foler access on the server where your horde mail resides. If not, then I am not sure how to get the files to your HDD. One of the red coats may be able to help, or the site admin where your email is served.

 

2. When you purchase the hosting, and add in the domain transfer, you will get emails that you need to reply to. This will give TCH authority to transfer the domain. If you do not respond to the email, then the domain transfer will not happen. I will verify that these emails are separate so domain transfer can wait while hosting setup continues.

 

3. You are correct in your thoughts on this part. Until you can get to the files, there is not a lot I can tell you.

 

4. Until you transfer the domain registration and/or repoint the nameservers to TCH, your site will stay put... provided you do not cancel the accounts with the free servers.

 

5. Until name server changes are made, you will just use the temporary site address sent to you in the hosting account setup email from TCH. This will, though make your absolute links inactive as they will try to go to where the nameservers point to ****** or yoursub.com.

 

You have it all pretty well figured out. The only difficult part I am seeing here is the webmail portion, as you indicated that you do not have access to the files.

One thing to think about, though, is that during propagation your site may act very odd as the links at free1 that point to free2 may go haywire for a period of time. This can happen if Free2 updates DNS cache before Free1 or your current ISP. Your best defense to that is to make it clear on your homepage that you are moving the site and if folks have problems then to try back later or contact you.

[TCH-Rob]

I will verify that these emails are separate so domain transfer can wait while hosting setup continues.

 

verified

 

These are not related to each other.

[Z3NiTH]

2. When you purchase the hosting, and add in the domain transfer, you will get emails that you need to reply to. ...snip...  I will verify that these emails are separate so domain transfer can wait while hosting setup continues.

OK, so I could purchase a hosting acount now and postpone the actual transfer of my domain name until I've figured out how to backup my existing webmail account.

 

4. Until you transfer the domain registration and/or repoint the nameservers to TCH, your site will stay put... provided you do not cancel the accounts with the free servers.

OK, and I assume that after the domain registration and/or nameservers are repointed to TCH all NEW e-mails that are sent to someone@**** will automatically end up in the new TCH webmail account.

 

Also, after the transfer of **** to TCH this URL wil actually point to my webspace at TCH. Is it possible to create e.g. a subdomain free.**** that still points to my free hosts? If so, I don't have to wait with the transfer of my domain name until after I've created the new site.

 

You have it all pretty well figured out.  The only difficult part I am seeing here is the webmail portion, as you indicated that you do not have access to the files.

Thanks, "better safe than sorry" could be my motto. Hence, my rather extensive questioning. And I'm positively surprised by the valuable response I'm getting on this forum. Really great! I'm working on the webmail portion right now...

 

One thing to think about, though, is that during propagation your site may act very odd as the links at free1 that point to free2 may go haywire for a period of time. ...snip... Your best defense to that is to make it clear on your homepage that you are moving the site and if folks have problems then to try back later or contact you.

Good suggestion, I will certainly bare this in mind.

[ThumpAZ]

While you say you are asking a lot of ?'s... at least the list is getting shorter. Means we must be doing something right

 

OK, and I assume that after the domain registration and/or nameservers are repointed to TCH all NEW e-mails that are sent to someone@**** will automatically end up in the new TCH webmail account.

To do this, you would need to purchase the hosting from TCH, and then have your current mail host change your MX (Mail eXchange) record to point to your TCH space. Do not do this until you know how to get those files from the old host to reduce the number of lost emails. There may be a propagation time for this part as well, but it is typically less than a domain change.

 

Also, after the transfer of **** to TCH this URL wil actually point to my webspace at TCH. Is it possible to create e.g. a subdomain free.**** that still points to my free hosts? If so, I don't have to wait with the transfer of my domain name until after I've created the new site.

 

You can create as many subdomains as you want, and use redirects/forwarding to point anywhere you need to. As long as it is legal and does not violate the TCH Acceptable Use Policy (AUP).

 

You seem well on your way, young grasshoppah

Let us know if there are any further questions.