FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Here are some helpful FAQs regarding the move to new servers:

Q. Why are we moving to new servers now?
A. To make a (very) long story short, our managed server and data center provider for the last 7.5 years was acquired by a new company. The new company (Navisite) decided to close the Baltimore network center and consolidate the servers into their existing facility in Andover, MA. The rest is history, and we are now experiencing the aftermath of perhaps the most-bugled, worst-handled migration in data center history. The new servers provided to us are unstable and we continue to have serious problems obtaining support when needed. We are therefore moving quickly to relocate our accounts onto brand-new dedicated servers we've obtained in a highly-regarded data center. See www.5dollarbackup.com for the long version, in both the blog and the message boards.

Q. Will there be downtime associated with this move?
A. There should be none at all. In essence, you will have 2 accounts up simultaneously. Once you have checked your new account and everything is working as expetced, the nameservers will need to get updated at your registrar. (We can do that for you if you registered through one of our partners). Once that is done, the site will begin pointing to your new hosting account on our new servers, and the switch will be seamless for you and your visitors. Some sites have had near-instant propagation, others are taking a few hours to update. Either way, the old account won't be closed until you tell us it's okay to do so.

Q. Will I have to move my site myself?
A. If you are able to publish your site and set up your email accounts on the new servers, you can get started immediately. See the Early Adopter application here. For everyone else, we have automated scripts that can move the vast majority of sites quickly and easily to the new servers. We'll be making announcements prior to starting any of the moves on a particular server. In most cases, you won't need to do anything.

Q. What, if anything,will I need to do after the site is moved to the new servers?
A. Not much. The format for checking email is different on the new servers (see the "Important Stuff" page), so if you use email software such as Outlook, Eudora, etc., you will need to make some easy adjustments. This info will be provided to you directly in the move announcements as well as posted online. Depending on how your site is coded, you may also need to make adjustments to configuration files for software that uses a database, as the naming scheme is different on the new servers. We are ready to assist with that and in many cases will take care of that as part of the automated move we perform.

Q. Will everything work the same on the new servers?
A. No, but many things will work better. Check the "New versus Old" feature comparison page for a look at the new set of tools you will be getting. The new cPanel does everything you're used to and a whole lot more. Also, the new servers are fully modernized, including newer versions of PHP, MySQL, and other components that were very antiquated on the Alabanza machines. And a marked improvement has been made in mail scanning and delivery. You should find a much better overall experience with spam/junk mail, even if you had the AntiSpam Suite on the old servers. (Note: spam/virus scanning is now standard for everybody). The old OpenWebMail is replaced with your choice of 2 newer programs, Horde and SquirrelMail. You get to pick which one you like best.

Q. What incompatibilities/things to watch out for should I be aware of?
A. There are some, but not many. They are covered in detail on the "Important Stuff" page, but here is a summary:
- ASP is not available on the new servers
- SiteXpress will be left behind, although an alternative will be provided
- Some restrictions on email setup exist on the new server (no default "catch-all" address, no forwarding to certain ISPs)

Q. Will my customers/visitors notice a difference?
A. They shouldn't - although the new servers will be fast and stable which is a difference from the uncertain environment we've been left in recently. Your web site will look & feel the same as it does now.

Q. How is this going to benefit me?
A. The new servers, in addition to being superior hardware-wise, are also in a data center that is responsive. The cPanel environment has many features our clients have been wishing for as well. And because the servers are modernized, we can offer a greater amount of resources and tools to all our clients. See the "New Plans" page which shows you the great new packages we're able to provide you with.

Q. Is the price going to change?
A. For many of you, yes. But in a good way. The SimplePlan® got even simpler, you see. We consolidated our packages and eliminated nearly all add-on services, giving you more for your dollar - or more stuff for less dollars in many cases. See the "New Plans" page for details on the packages we will be offering. You'll be getting the benefits of the new plan immediately, and when it's time to renew, you'll likely be saving money too (not that we were an expensive proposition to begin with!)

Q. When will it be finished?
A. Our aim is to have all sites moved and active before the end of calendar year 2007 - which is an ambitious goal indeed.

Do you have a question that wasn't answered? Contact support and we'll be glad to help.