If you are going to make multiple sites, then get a reseller account.

Any one know a good SEO hosting site? This is special hosting where you can host multiple domains on different IP addresses?

I’ve been using a host called LunarPages for years now, and they are one SWEET host with a ton of funcationality for almost ridiculously low prices. Their support has also been great whenever I’ve had a problem. They have starter accounts under $10 that provide 5 GIGS of space and 400 GIGS of bandwidth per month (lots of GUI control panel-based capability, but no shell access in the low level accounts). They probably won’t cut it for some higher-end applications, but on the lower end, they offer an incredible deal for the money.

– Swerb

If you actually have to change the name server’s IP with your registrar then yes, the situation you describe will require some more planning. If you trust the db on the new environment, you can point both the old and new webserver to that db so all data is stored at that one source. It’s harder if you use files or other data sources for your data. But with a database (you trust) it should be pretty easy.

Also, I’ve found that the DNS change propogation takes btwen 24-48 hrs max. So I normally kick it off Friday 6pm PST. If I have to take a site down for a day (or view only), c’est la vie. A nice message for a one-time move is usually quite acceptible by users unless you’ve got them really addicted ;>

You are right, for a static site.

It is not so easy if you have any kind of dynamic content (perhaps blog comments or a web application.) You will have to figure out a way to keep the content synchronized during the change.

The simplest way may be to just block updates for 72 hours (is this what you did with Dogster?) But if the site is busy, you may disappoint many of your users, unless you invest time in configuring or customizing and testing a sophisticated synchronization tool.

A web store should be OK - as long as you remember to update stock availability on both servers. Each server should happily keep taking orders during the changeover (but for goodness sake do a trial run first.)

How did you keep the Dogster users happy during the IP change?

>Changing IP adresses etc while you growing isn’t what you want. So I still don’t know where to host…

This is not a problem in the slightest. When you change a host you simply update DNS entry with your domain registrar about where to point to the new host’s nameservers. As long as you keep the old host and new host live during the 24-72 hours update period users won’t know there was a change.

Another more technical option is for you to host your own nameserver fromt he get go so you have complete control over what IP to point to, but this requires a dedicated server from the get-go.

I think what every entrepreneur looks for is a cheap but scalable solution. In other words: almost free until you get visitors, then a bit more expensive when you get a bit more visitors and then still cheap when you turn into the next google (yeah, everything scalable expect the price!). So where do you go for that? It seems that when you start at Laughing squid you are in trouble when your business is succesful? Changing IP adresses etc while you growing isn’t what you want. So I still don’t know where to host…

Boris

Whats also interesting is that Laughing Squid is also a Rackspace customer… :)