Transferring Your Domain vs Migrating Your Website: What’s the Difference? #

Congratulations on choosing HostHuski as your new website hosting partner! As you prepare to make the switch, you may have heard two terms thrown around: “domain transfer” and “website migration.” While they’re related, they’re not the same thing. In this article, we’ll break down the differences and guide you through the process of transferring your domain and migrating your website to HostHuski.

Transferring Your Domain #

A domain transfer involves moving your domain name (e.g., hosthuski.com) from your current registrar to a new one. This process updates the global domain name system (DNS) to point to the new registrar. When you transfer your domain to HostHuski, you’ll still need to migrate your website separately.

For more details on transferring your domain to HostHuski please see this article.

Migrating Your Website #

Website migration, on the other hand, involves moving your website’s files, databases, and settings from your current hosting provider to HostHuski. This process ensures that your website remains functional and intact on our servers.

Steps to Migrate Your Website to HostHuski #

Checklist you MUST follow before requesting us to migrate your WordPress website for you: #

• Website is a WordPress-based website (login URL typically ends in “/wp-admin/“)
• Website is live on your current hosting provider.
• Hosting service with current provider is not expired or suspended.
• Website’s WP Admin can be accessed with username and password.

To migrate your website to HostHuski, we follow these steps: #

1. After purchasing the HostHuski hosting plan you like, you fill out our Migration Request Form: Provide us with the necessary details about your current hosting setup, website, and domain. We’ll verify these are correct before proceeding to the next step.
2. We copy your website from the previous host: Our team will create a copy of your website files and databases in the form of one or more backups.
3. We upload the copied website to HostHuski: We’ll upload the copied website to our servers, ensuring that everything is set up correctly.
4. Change your domain’s DNS settings: You’ll need to update your domain’s DNS settings to point to HostHuski’s servers. Our team will provide you with the necessary DNS information, or we can do this for you if you request it in the Migration Request Form.
5. Wait for DNS propagation: This can take anywhere from a few hours to 48 hours. During this time it is important not to make any changes to the website until you confirm you are opening the copy of the website on HostHuski’s servers.
6. Cancel your old hosting service: Once you’ve confirmed that everything is working correctly on HostHuski, you can cancel your old hosting service, including email if applicable. Remember to double and triple check that everything is moved over before cancelling anything.

What to Expect During the Migration Process #

Our team will work closely with you to ensure a smooth migration process. Here are a few things to keep in mind:

• Downtime: Depending on the complexity of your website and the speed of DNS propagation, your website may experience some downtime, or time in maintenance mode. This is normal and most people may not notice this.
• Email: If you’re using email services with your current hosting provider, you may need to set up email accounts with HostHuski or update your email settings.
• Content updates: During the migration process, it’s essential to avoid making any changes to your website’s content or structure. These will not carry over to the copy of the website on HostHuski.

Conclusion #

Transferring your domain and migrating your website to HostHuski are two separate processes that require attention to detail. By understanding the differences and following the steps outlined above, you’ll be able to complete a successful website migration and start enjoying the benefits of hosting with HostHuski. If you have any questions or concerns, our support team is always here to help.