If you have any specific questions about transferring your domain name that are not answered in this document, please do not hesitate to contact the BWSD Hostmaster.

Transferring a Domain Name to BWSD

1. Order
   your new BWSD Virtual Server System using our on-line Order Online. When you are prompted for the domain name of the new Virtual Server, enter the domain name you would like to transfer. The Order Processing System will detect that it is currently registered. Be sure you pay close attention to the E-mail Configuration Letter you will receive regarding your new Virtual Server, the letter will include important domain name registration information tailored specifically to your situation.
2. Upload
   After your new Virtual Server System has been configured, upload your existing content from your current hosting provider to your new BWSD Virtual Server using any FTP client. After you have uploaded the files to your Virtual Server, you can review the content by using either the temporary domain name we will provide you or the IP address given you in the E-mail Configuration Letter. After you are sure that your new site is working correctly, you are ready to submit a domain name modification request to the domain name registry (described in the next step).

   
   

3. Modify
   You now need to modify the Domain Name Service (DNS) information for your domain name. This can be accomplished using one of two methods, each of which is completely valid - both methods are described below:
   1. Preferred by BWSD - You can modify your Name Server information with your domain name registrar (such as InterNIC) by sending them a domain name modification request. Basically, you will want to change the Primary and Secondary Name Server information such that you use the BWSD Primary and Secondary Name Servers (rather than the Primary and Secondary Name Servers of your former hosting provider). The BWSD Primary and Secondary Name Server information is included below for your convenience.

          NS1.BWSD.COM     192.41.1.247
          NS2.BWSD.COM     161.58.9.173
      

      If your domain name is one which the InterNIC acts as registrar (i.e. your top level domain is ".com", ".net", or ".org"), then a domain name modification request form is included in your E-mail Configuration Letter. Simply forward this form to the InterNIC hostmaster - "hostmaster@internic.net". You can also generate a domain name modification request form using our on-line Domain Name Modification Request Generator.

      For non-InterNIC top level domains, please contact your local domain name registrar for a domain name modification request form.

   2. If you would like to continue to use the Primary and Secondary Name Server that currently services your domain name, then you will need to request that the address (A) record be changed in the zone file for your domain name. The address record should be changed from your old IP address to the IP address of your new Virtual Server. The new IP address is included in your E-mail Configuration Letter you receive after your Virtual Server is configured.

   
   

4. Wait
   After you modify your Domain Name Service (DNS) information, you will want to have both sites active for a period equivalent to the "time to live" (TTL) information for your domain name. The time to live is the amount of time that any name server on the Internet is allowed to cache the data (such as the IP address) associated with your domain name. After the time to live expires, a name server discards cached data and contacts the authoritative name server (the Primary or Secondary Name Server for your domain name) to retrieve updated data.

   In short, don't cancel your current account with your previous hosting provider until after a time equivalent to your TTL has elapsed. You can check the current TTL information for your domain name by entering your domain name in the text field below and selecting the "Check TTL" button.

   Your TTL information should be highlighted in bold.

   
   

5. Cancel
   Now that the TTL for your domain name has expired (see previous step), you can safely cancel your account with your previous hosting provider.

   
   

6. Enjoy!
   You should be set to go with your new BWSD Virtual Server. Please contact the BWSD Hostmaster if you have any questions not answered in this document.